A successful business career on the Nez Perces Indian reservation, and a mover in all lines of improvement, a leading farmer and stockman at the present time, entitle the subject of this sketch to a place in the annals of his County. Mr. Hogue was born in Macon County, Missouri, on August 6, 1851, being the son of John and Sarah A. (Culter) Hogue, natives of Pulaski County, Kentucky. The father was born in 1819 and was a successful farmer and stockman. He died in August, 1859, possessed of five hundred acres of fine soil in Macon County, Missouri. The mother was born on August 2, 1826, came with her parents to Missouri in 1838, married in 1844, and died in November, 1900.
Our subject was reared and educated in Macon County and remained with his parents until he was twenty-six, being then married. When eighteen he received one hundred acres of land as an inheritance and added seventy-five acres more, which he farmed and also did a lumber business until his health broke down and he came to Moscow, on April 15, 1892. He took tire insurance and real estate until 1894 and then obtained from the government license to establish a trading post on the Nez Perces reservation and on June 22, 1804. He moved his family thither, settling on the north fork of the Clearwater. He opened a store and supply house for the Weippe country and the Pierce mining district, continuing in the same until 1898. When first there he traveled twenty-three miles to Southwick for mail but soon had the post office of Gilbert started with himself for postmaster.
At the opening of the reservation he secured his present place, four miles south from Orofino and he is now handling a half section to general crops while also he raises Shorthorn cattle and Berkshire hogs. He is prosperous and a leading citizen of the community.
On April 10, 1876 Mr. Hogue married Miss Nanie daughter of Samuel C. and Sarah A. (Blackwell) Hamilton. Mr. Hamilton was born on January 7, 1820, in Wayne County, Kentucky and died April 11, 1890 having been a successful business man and prominent in politics. The mother was born June 15, 1825, married February 20, 1845, and died in Moscow, August 13, 1892 Mrs. Hogue was born in Macon County and has the following brothers and sisters: William J., James H., Sidney F., Charles L., Samuel C. R., deceased, Bessie Branscombe, Robert E., deceased. Mr. Hogue has two sisters, Susan E. Davis, Annie Parcells, and one brother, Harlen M. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hogue, Gilbert H., born February 23, 1877, and now a civil engineer in the service of the government; Wilbur W., deceased at the age of eighteen; John F., born August 23, 1884.
Mr. and Mrs. Hogue are members of the Christian Church and are estimable people. He has been justice of the peace for a long time and was appointed probate judge by the state of Idaho for Clearwater County, which was formed on April 6, 1901, but which was declared illegal by the Supreme Court three months later.
Back to: Nez Perce Biographies
Source: An Illustrated History of Northern Idaho, Embracing Nez Perce, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone Counties, Western Historical Publishing Company, 1903