Howard County IN Archives Biographies.....Hogg, Taylor N. 1842 - 
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Author: Jackson Morrow

TAYLOR N. HOGG.

    The biographies of the representative men of a county bring to light many
hidden treasures of mind, character and courage, well calculated to arouse the
pride of their family and of the community and it is a source of regret that the
people are not more familiar with the personal history of such men, in the ranks
of whom may be found tillers of the soil, mechanics, teachers, as well as
lawyers, physicians, bankers and members of other vocations and professions. The
subject of this sketch is distinctively one of the leading citizens of the
township in which he lives, and as such has made his influence felt among his
fellow men and earned a name for enterprise, integrity and honor, that entitles
him to worthy notice in a work on the nature of this volume.

    Taylor N. Hogg, farmer and stock raiser, is a native of Virginia, and a
worthy representative of an old and highly esteemed family of the commonwealth,
the genealogy of which is traceable through many generations to England, where
the name appears to have its origin. It also occurs in connection with the early
history of Virginia, and figures quite prominently in the Indian wars of that
and other colonies, as well as in the Revolutionary struggle. The subject's
great-grandfather, a native of Virginia, joined the English army when a young
man for which King George granted him a large tract of land west of the
Alleghany mountains, said to have contained eight thousand acres though not all
in one body. This ancestor took part in the old French and Indian war and was
with General Braddock's command when that ill-starred leader lost his life and
the greater part of his men in the overwhelming and disastrous defeat, known in
history by his name. When the war of the Revolution broke out, he was made an
officer in the British ranks and served as such throughout the entire struggle,
after which he returned to his estate in Virginia and settled down to the quiet
life of a planter. Being a surveyor he laid much of his land off into farms,
which he sold to settlers at very low figures, at one time exchanging for a
negro a well situated tract, which is now conservatively estimated at thirty
thousand dollars. On another occasion he is said to have deeded two hundred
acres for a cow and a shot gun, but within a short time returned the animal as
it was the only property the neighbor possessed, and made a present of the gun
to a friend. The land in this deal would now sell readily at two hundred dollars
per acre. He was one of the first men to introduce the breeding and raising of
live stock west of the mountains, and he is said to have made the business
profitable. He cleared and reduced to cultivation a portion of that grant and
became a successful planter, although greatly annoyed at first by Indians, whose
continued depredations caused him much trouble and no little loss. The subject's
grandfather crossed the Alleghany mountains in an early day and settled on- his
father's estate as a planter and stock raiser, though he too experienced much
trouble from the savages whom he was obliged to watch almost constantly to keep
them from burning his buildings and destroying his crops and other property.
Subsequently he took part in the war against the red skins and rendered valuable
service while hostilities were in progress, having been made an officer before
the war was brought to a close. He married and reared a family of nine children,
some of whom became widely and favorably known in their native state, while
several moved to other parts and were highly esteemed in their respective places
of residence.

     Abner Hogg, the subject's father was born and reared on the ancestral
estate and after receiving his portion of the same he engaged in farming and
stock raising and it was while living there that he freed all of his slaves in
order to comply with a provision of his father's will to that effect. Like his
antecedents, Abner Hogg was a man of intelligence, energy and good judgment and
by judicious management he so conducted his agricultural and live stock
interests as to accumulate a competency. His death occurred in February, 1871,
at the age of fifty-four years. Mary Skeen, wife of Abner Hogg, was also of
Virginia birth and a lady of amiable qualities and sterling moral worth. She
bore her husband seven children, four sons and three daughters, and departed
this life at the age of fifty years in 1867. Both husband and wife were devout
Presbyterians, active in all lines of moral and religious work under the
auspices of the church and their lives were shining examples of the faith which
they professed.

     Taylor Hogg was born October 3, 1842, and spent his early life in Virginia,
receiving his education principally under the direction of private tutors. He
remained with his parents until twenty years of age, when he severed home ties
for the purpose of entering the military service, enlisting August 13, 1862, in
Company B, Thirteenth Virginia Volunteer Infantry, with which service he shared
the fortunes and vicissitudes of war, in some of the noted campaigns and hard
fought battles which deluged the soil of his beloved state with fraternal blood.
He received a severe wound in one engagement, which necessitated his retention
in the hospital for a period of six months, and from the effects of which he has
never fully recovered, nevertheless he rejoined his command as soon as able and
remained in the ranks until honorably discharged at the close of the war. Mr.
Hogg's military record is eminently a creditable one as his discharge and the
medal of honor presented to him by the state for gallant and meritorious service
abundantly attest.

    At the close of the war Mr. Hogg returned to his home near Point Pleasant
and during the ensuing two years devoted his time and attention to agricultural
pursuits in which his success was gratifying. At the expiration of the time
indicated he disposed of his interests in Virginia and moving to Howard county,
Indiana, in 1867, purchased the farm in Center township, which he still owns and
cultivates and which, by his efficient labor and successful management, has
become one of the most productive and valuable places of its area in the county,
as well as one of the country's most beautiful and. attractive rural homes. The
farm contains one hundred and twenty acres, about half of which is under
cultivation, the rest being devoted to pasturage. The fertility and
productiveness of the soil have been greatly enhanced by a thorough and
successful system of tile drainage, while the elegant and stately brick
residence containing all of the latest and modern improvements, together with
the artistic and attractive lawns, gardens, beautiful trees yielding both shade
and fruit, commodious barns and other substantial outbuildings, bespeak the
presence of a proprietor who is a master of his calling and whose efforts in all
of his undertakings have been crowned with abundant and happy results. The model
farm is just one mile and a half from the court house and extends to within a
very short distance of the city limits, the close proximity to Kokomo adding
much to its value and desirability as a place of residence.

    In connection with farming Mr. Hogg handles live stock on quite an extensive
scale, devoting especial attention to blooded horses, and fine cattle, hogs of
the superior Poland-China breed. which he buys and ships in large numbers, and
for which he never fails to receive the highest prices the markets afford.

    By the judicious rotation of crops and a plentiful use of natural and
artificial fertilizers he not only retains the soil's original fertility, but
increases its productiveness and seldom if ever does he fail to realize liberal
returns from the time and labor expended on his fields. Although primarily
interested in his own affairs Mr. Hogg manifests an abiding regard for the
advancement and welfare of the community and for any measure or enterprise by
which his fellow men may be benefited. He encourages churches and schools, is a
respector of law and order and has no use or sympathy for any calling or
business which tends to lower the moral status of the country or degrade the
youth of the land. Fraternally he is identified with the Independent Order of
Odd Fellows and has long been an active member and influential worker in the
Grand Army of the Republic.

     On the 29th of March, 1868, Mr. Hogg was united in the bonds of wedlock
with Eliza Price, daughter of Franklin and Sarah (Hobson) Price, of Virginia,
the father a near relative of General Sterling Price, a distinguished
Confederate leader in the late Civil war. Mr. Price came to Howard county in an
early day and was the first man elected to the office of clerk of the circuit
court. He bore an influential part in public affairs, and for many years was one
of the enterprising men and prominent citizens of Kokomo.

    Mr. and Mrs. Hogg are the parents of thirteen children whose names are as
follows: Frances, wife of Daniel Oldham; Nora, deceased ; Ardilla; Camden;
Jennette June, deceased: Mary, now Mrs. L. Dye., of Indianapolis; Walter Earl,
and Susan Viola, and others dying in infancy unnamed. Before her marriage Mrs.
Hogg was one of Howard county's successful and popular teachers and her oldest
daughter, Frances, was also engaged in educational work for some time prior to
her marriage.

    Mr. Hogg occupies a conspicuous place among the leading men of Howard county
and enjoys the confidence and esteem of all who know him. His record
demonstrates that where there is a will there is a way and that obstacles to
success may be overcome by courage and self-reliance. His career though
strenuous has been fraught with good to his fellow men and his example is
cordially commended to the youth of the land whose life work is yet a matter of
the future.


Additional Comments:
From:

HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY INDIANA
BY
JACKSON MORROW, B. A.
ILLUSTRATED
VOL. II
B. F. BOWEN & COMPANY
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA

(circa 1909)

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