Born Lorenz Hoffmann (his branch dropped the last "n" after moving to the U.S.) in Schweppenhausen, Germany, about 13 km west of Bingen am Rhein. He worked in his father's shop as a bootmaker in Germany. Family lore says he fled to the U.S. after throwing a pair of boots at a Prussian officer after the officer berated his work. Family lore also says he and a Mr. Eichenlaub stowed away when they left Germany. They found two unused bunks on a steamer and stayed there during the voyage. Upon docking, they learned the men who occupied those bunks had died of typhoid fever.

Lorenz settled in Pittsburgh, learned the barber trade, and practiced that the remainder of his life. His shop was in the basement of the Union Bank building on the corner of Penn and Butler in the Lawrenceville section of Pittsburgh. His home was in a 3-story building across the street. In addition to shaves and haircuts, he also had copper bathtubs in the shop where men could bathe once a week (if necessary).

In those days, barbers used leeches to suck out the blood in bruises. After the leech dropped off, his grandkids liked to put salt on leeches to make them disgorge the blood that shot across the room in a stream.

Barbers were noted for cleanliness and were allowed to perform some surgeries, including cupping, until the American Medical Association put a stop to it. Lorenz's son, Harry (my grandfather), told a story about a man who came into his father's shop bent over. His father made an incision in his back and applied a cup. Soon there was a splash in the blood. A clot had been discharged. The man left the shop walking upright.

Lorenz was a Selectman from the Lawrenceville section of Pittsburgh before the advent of the more modern City Council. There was a great deal of graft at the time and Lorenz was caught up in a probe of that graft. He was initially named as one receiving money for a favorable vote, but was quickly exonerated. He was once told he wouldn't make it as a selectman because he was too honest.