Cheryl & Gil Hoffman

“‘You’re a fifth-generation Californian. Your family came in 1843 and were working for Captain Sutter when gold was discovered. I grew up with those words ringing in my ears,” says Cheryl. “They launched my lifelong journey into tracing my family history. I discovered I had many ancestors who made that journey in the very early years. The earliest were James Williams (my 3rd great-grandfather) who came with the Chiles-Walker party of 1843, and Mary Patterson, who was with the 1844 Stephens-Townsend-Murphy party, and who would marry James the next year.”

Before moving to Washington, the Hoffmans were active members of the California/Nevada Chapter for 10 years, where Cheryl served as membership chair in the mid-1990s. They participated in many OCTA conventions and events over the years, including the Lake Tahoe convention in 2015.

“I attended my first OCTA convention in Sacramento in 1991,” adds Cheryl. “I met so many interesting people and returned home with a burning desire to learn more and eventually be on the same trail so many ancestors trod. “At the Rock Springs convention, what an experience it was to actually be out on the trail, find the markers, and on August 11, 1992, be standing on the bank of the Green River, 149 years to the day that my ancestors had crossed it!

“Last year we realized there had been many changes in life and it was past time to review and update our Living Trust. At the top of the list was to join the Trails Legacy Society and add a bequest to OCTA. OCTA has provided many opportunities to discover and experience some of the adventures and trials my pioneer families experienced. Through our Living Trust bequest, we hope to aid OCTA in providing similar discovery opportunities to the next generation of trail enthusiasts.”

Gil adds: “We are especially interested in OCTA’s core work of identifying and preserving the trails for all to enjoy and push to see that this part of our history is taught in schools.”