Archives West Finding Aid

Carl Julius Hoffmann, M.D. was born in Portland, Oregon on December 17, 1882. As a school boy at Couch Grade School, he managed a newspaper route. He also raised pigeons, selling them to Chinese customers. Hoffman later worked for The Oregonian, first in the mail room and later promoted to the business office after taking several business courses.

After saving enough money, Hoffman began medical school while also working weekends for the newspaper. He graduated from the University of Oregon Medical School with the class of 1907. As a senior at UOMS, he was class president, graduated valedictorian, awarded a medal of excellence in anatomy, and received the "Saylor Award" for maintaining the highest scholastic average across the four years. After graduation, Hoffman served a one year residency at St. Vincent Hospital, where his work in surgery and relations with the medical board, specialists, and head nurse drew professional endorsement.

At the invitation of Dr. C. R. Zener, whom he met while an intern at St. Vincent, he moved to LaCenter, Washington to take over Dr. Zener's practice while he recovered from an illness. Known as the "saddle bag doctor," he would ride his horse Billy to logging camps, mill sites, and settler's cabins at a moment's notice, day or night.

When Dr. Zener recovered, Dr. Francis Longaker sent a note to Hoffmann that there would be an opening for a doctor in nearby Woodland. Within a week, he moved and set up practice in a town with seven saloons and one church. Included in the deal struck with Dr. Longaker, he inherited a buggy and a team of horses, Trix and Pet, to transport office and medical equipment. He also bought a saddle horse to use when the roads became impassable. Hoffman occupied an office at 557 Goerig Street in Woodland where he practiced for 62 years. He lived next door to his upstairs office in the Bryant building, carrying water and cutting his own for wood for heating and cooking. Earle Bryant, who became a fast friend, had a pharmacy on the first floor. In the absence of a nurse, Earle would serve as anesthetist.

These were the days without telephone and automobile. Many of the injuries sustained in the mills and logging camps required immediate on-site surgery. Bryant remembered that there were some very tense moments in those days. Hoffmann also assumed the practice of another town physician, retiring Dr. Alice Chapman. When the roads in the valley were improved, he would drive his Model T Ford to care for injured loggers, deliver babies, and assist with other ailments or injuries.

After marrying Ethel Gerding, the local school teacher, on May 10, 1912, they spent a year in Europe while he completed post-graduate work at the University of Vienna. Ethel and Carl gave birth to two children, Helen and Ernest Carl.

Dr. Hoffmann retired in 1970. During his career he was distinguished for his hard work. In 1948, he was named the Washington State Medical Association's, "outstanding general practitioner in the state." On August 24, 1947, a picnic was held in his honor, attended by 3,000 Lewis River Valley and Woodland residents with a parade of hundreds of "Dr. Hoffmann's babies." The Woodland community presented Hoffman with a leather bound scrapbook documenting his 40 years of service. It was found in his library at the time of his death. Over the course of his career, Hoffman received a variety of honors. As time passed, he began avoiding any form of public recognition.

Carl J. Hoffmann died at the age of 88, lauded by anyone who had the pleasure of meeting him. Earle Bryant said that in all of the years spent with Dr. Hoffman, he had never seen him angered or swear. His children Ernest Carl and Ethel both died in 1968, just 6 months apart.

Memberships:

Washington State Academy of General Practice

American Academy of General Practice

Independent Order of Odd Fellows

Free and Accepted Masons

Alpha Kappa Medical Fraternity

Woodland school Board

City Councilman

Mayor of Woodland

Honors:

Washington State Medical Association: Outstanding General Practitioner in the State, 1948

Woodland Community Club: various honors

Woodland Service Club: elected 1st Citizen