JAMES A. HOGUE
James
A. Hogue is one of the representative agriculturists of Benton
township, where he owns three hundred and thirty acres of
land, which he has developed into one of the valuable
properties of the county.
He is a native of Wayne county, his birth having
occurred in Washington township on the 18th of
June, 1858. His
father, James Burton Hogue, was born and reared in Vigo
county, Indiana, his natal day being February 15, 1830. In his early
manhood he crossed the plains to California, making the
journey with an ox team soon after the discovery of gold. He there engaged in
prospecting for a while and then came back to Indiana,
returning by way of South America and New York city. Soon after his return
he was married to Miss Persis Jane Knight, who was a native of
Illinois, her birth occurring October 12, 1828, but a resident
of Indiana at the time of her marriage. In the early days
of their married life they came to Iowa, settling in Wayne
county, where the father took up a tract of government land
located in Washington township about four miles north of his
son James’ present farm.
He there engaged in general farming and stock-raising
during the remainder of his active life, meeting with success
in his undertakings. He
was thrifty and industrious and as the years passed extended
the boundaries of his farm until he owned about four hundred
acres of land. To
Mr. and Mrs. Hogue there were born nine children, as follows: Jasper N.,
Ardillia, who died at the age of twelve years; James A., our
subject; Margaret, who died in infancy; Rosa, Mina and William
T., all of whom are unmarried and residing in Wayne county;
Lillian, who married S. H. Perkins, of Wayne county; and Sula
Jane, who became the wife of Frank Moore, of Wayne county. The parents are
both deceased, the father having passed away April 30, 1902,
and the mother on the twelfth of April, 1898.
The
early years in the life of James A. Hogue were passed in very
much the same manner as those of other pioneer lads reared in
the rural sections of Iowa.
In the acquirement of an education he attended the
district schools, and while engaged in the mastery of the
common branches of English learning assisted his father with
the cultivation of the farm.
He remained at home until his marriage, when he bought
eighty-seven acres of land and began farming for himself. His efforts in this
direction met with a good measure of success, and as
opportunity offered he increased his holdings until his
homestead now comprises three hundred and thirty acres, which
he has brought to a high state of cultivation. His fields are
planted to such crops as in his judgment are best adapted to
the soil, and in connection with his diversified farming he
raises stock. As
the years have passed Mr. Hogue has enhanced the value of his
place by the erection of substantial buildings, while he has
installed about the premises many modern appliances and
conveniences. That
he is a man of progressive ideas and enterprising methods is
evidenced by the appearance of his well cultivated fields and
the condition of his buildings and fences, all of which
manifest the exercise of competent supervision and practical
management.
On
the 19th of March, 1890, Mr. Hogue was married to
Miss Rose McMains, a daughter of Leroy and Mary (Bedwell)
McMains, natives of Indiana, who subsequently removed to Iowa,
locating first in Lucas and then in Wayne county. Here the father
engaged in farming and the mercantile business. Mr. and Mrs.
McMains were the parents of fourteen children, of whom four
are living. To
Mr. and Mrs. Hogue there have been born three children: James Leroy, who
died in infancy; William Ernest, whose natal day was the 15th
of July, 1892, a student at Iowa State College at Ames; and
Chester Clare, who was born on the 8th of October,
1894, and is attending school at Corydon, Iowa.
The family attends the Methodist Episcopal church, of which the parents are members. Mr. Hogue has been township trustee and school director and is a director and stockholder in the First National Bank. In all of these positions he has manifested ability and concern for the public welfare. He is one of the widely known and highly esteemed residents of his township, in the progress and development of which he takes an active interest, extending his endorsement and cooperation to every worthy enterprise or commendable movement.