Elisha Hoffman

Elisha Hoffman
Background information
Born(1839-05-07)May 7, 1839
Orwigsburg, Pennsylvania
DiedNovember 25, 1929(1929-11-25) (aged 90)
Chicago, Illinois
Occupation(s)Presbyterian minister, gospel hymn writer

Elisha Albright (E. A.) Hoffman (May 7, 1839 – November 25, 1929)[1] was a Presbyterian minister, composer of over 2,000 hymns and editor of over 50 song books. The son of an Evangelical minister, Hoffman grew up singing sacred hymns both in church and in the home with his parents.[2] After completing high school, Hoffman furthered his education at Union Seminary in New Berlin, Pennsylvania, and was subsequently ordained as a Presbyterian minister in 1873.[2]

Following his seminary education, Hoffman began work with the publishing branch of the Evangelical Association in Cleveland, Ohio.[3] After serving in this position for 11 years, Hoffman held several pastoral positions in the midwest. He pastored churches in both Cleveland and Grafton, Ohio, in the 1880s; moved to Benton Harbor, Michigan, and the First Presbyterian Church in the mid-1890s; and finished his ministry in Cabery, Illinois from 1911-22.[4] Hoffman died in 1929 in Chicago, Illinois, and is buried there in Oak Woods Cemetery.[5]

During the course of his life, Hoffman composed over 2,000 hymns, and edited over 50 song books, including: The Evergreen, 1873; Spiritual Songs for Gospel Meetings and the Sunday School, 1878; Temperance Jewels (Boston, Massachusetts: Oliver Ditson & Company, 1879); Bells of Victory (Boston, Massachusetts: Oliver Ditson & Company, 1888); Pentecostal Hymns No. 1 (Chicago, Illinois: Hope Publishing Company, 1894); Favorite Gospel Songs: A Tune Book (Jersey City, New Jersey: J. N. Davis, 1894); and Jubilant Voices (Chicago, Illinois: Hope Publishing Company, 1907).[2]

  1. ^ "Elisha A. Hoffman American pastor, gospel hymn writer - Christian Biography Resources". www.wholesomewords.org. Retrieved 2022-10-18.
  2. ^ a b c Jacob Henry Hall. Biography of Gospel Song and Hymn Writers. New York: Fleming H. Revell Company, 1914.
  3. ^ Donald Paul Hustad. Dictionary Handbook to Hymns for the Living Church. Carol Stream, Illinois: Hope Publishing Company, 1978.
  4. ^ George W. Sanville. Forty Gospel Hymn Stories. Winona Lake, Indiana: The Rodeheaver Hall Mack Co., 1943.
  5. ^ William Jensen Reynolds. Hymns of Our Faith. Nashville, Tennessee: Broadman Press, 1964.