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Compiled by John H. Wheeler Published in 1903 by B. F. Bowen Biography Page 202 - 203 |
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JOHN R. HOGUE
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If one desires to gain a vivid realization of the rapid advance in civilization during the last few decades, he can listen to the stories of men who are still living and by no means burdened with the weight of years, who tell of their early experience, when the country was new and social conditions in this part of the state of Michigan were in their formative period. It is now a generation ago, 1870, since John R. Hogue, the subject of this review first took up his abode in Wexford county. The inhabitants of the county were then few in number, the farms mostly clearings, a large majority of the residences log structures, few roads of any description, with a limited number of schools and a much less number of churches. Contrasted with the conditions which prevail here at the present time, those days are indeed well classified as primitive. John R. Hogue, of section 22, Colfax township, is a native of Pennsylvania, born in the township of Worth, Mercer county, December 3, 1841. His parents were William and Sarah (Kyle) Hogue, natives the father of Ohio and the mother of Virginia, Both are now deceased. The first thirteen years of the life of John R. Hogue were spent in his native county. He attended school a few terms during the winter months and was employed the remainder of the time upon the farm. In 1854 the family moved to Berrien county, Michigan, and located in Pipestone township. There the subject grew to manhood, completing a course of education in the common schools. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Company B., Seventeenth Regiment Michigan Volunteer Infantry. At that particular time the cause of the Union was most desperate, so, with very little time afforded for preparation, the regiment was ordered to the front. In less than a month after enlistment it participated in the battle of South Mountain, Maryland, September 13 and 14, 1862, and two days later took part in the battle at Antietam. It was in the fight at Fredericksburg, Maryland, and saw service at Jackson, M1ississippi, and participated in the seige of Knoxville, Tennessee. In every one of the engagements in which the regiment took part the aggressive young soldier bore his part with honor. In the battle of the Wilderness, Virginia, May 5 to 7, 1861, and nearly all of the sanguinary encounters of the time and of the locality he played his part as became a true warrior. June 3, 1865 he received his discharge, after having served nearly three years, and being in the thick of the fight nearly all of the time. Returning to Berrien county, Michigan, immediately on
quitting the service, he turned his attention to farming in Pipestone township
for the next five years. In Berrien county, September 2, 1866, John R. Hogue was
united in marriage to Miss Susan King, a native of England, born in July, 1848,
who came to America with her parents while yet a child and resided the greater
part of her life in the county where she was married. The union was a happy one,
and three children were born to bless it, viz Nora B., Horace H. and Luemma.
Nora is the wife of William Sager; Horace is a joint owner in the farm with his
father and assists in its cultivation, and Luemma brought joy to the home for
the brief period of eighteen months only, when death called her to a better
world. In November, 1870, the family moved to Wexford county, where Mr. Hogue had taken up a homestead on a part of section 22, Colfax township. On this place he has erected a comfortable residence and all other necessary farm buildings. He and his son Horace together own one hundred and twenty acres, about eighty of which is cleared, improved and under cultivation, the other forty acres being in timber. It is a nice, productive farm, from which the owners and managers derive a very comfortable income. The education of the young has always been a matter of much
concern and interest to Mr. Hogue. |