He was an upholsterer who, after immigrating to the United States, he started a furniture business in Jersey City.

In 1897, he was pushed by Democratic political boss, Robert Davis, to run for Mayor of Jersey City.

[5][6] Hoos won re-election over Republican Edward M. Watson by an even bigger margin of 7,000 votes on April 11, 1899.

[7] Hoos had served two terms (May 3, 1897, to December 31, 1901), but Boss Davis knew the voters wanted a change and dumped Hoos from the ticket in 1901 in favor of Edward L. Young, son of Edward Faitoute Condict Young (Davis' financial backer).

Hoos died on October 24, 1912, and was buried in Bayview – New York Bay Cemetery in Jersey City alongside his wife and three of his children.