OGG BIOGRAPHIES, Henry County, Missouri
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OGG, Thomas W. - b: 1859 Madison Co, KY
source: 1919 History of Henry Co MO, Uel W. Lamkin, Historical Publishing Co - 
page: 497
residence: Bethlehem Twp

Judge Thomas W. Ogg. Popular with all classes of the people of Henry County, 
well read and progressive in his ideas and actions, having a splendid record as a 
public official who has truly and faithfully served his county to the best of his 
ability, Judge Thomas W. Ogg of Clinton and Bethlehem townships is a leading and 
foremost citizen of Henry County. Thomas W. Ogg was born in Madison County, 
Kentucky, November 24, 1859, and is the son of St. Clair and Sallie Ann (Todd) 
Ogg, the former of whom was born in Virginia and the latter was a native of 
Kentucky. Sallie Ann Todd was a cousin of Mrs. Abraham Lincoln and a member of 
the famous Todd family of Kentucky and Illinois. St. Clair Ogg was killed during 
the Civil War, being shot from ambush in 1864. Being a southerner by birth and 
instinct his sympathies were naturally with the Southland in the great conflict. 
Having lost an arm which had been torn off by a threshing machine he was unable 
to enter military service, but being somewhat outspoken in his sympathies 
despite the fact that he was a non-combatant, he met death at the hands of a 
skulker. He was father of the following children, besides Thomas W., namely: 
Kansas Belle, died in 1878; Mrs. Martha Gaines, makes her home with Judge Ogg; 
and three died in infancy. In the fall of 1865 the family settled in Howard County, 
Missouri, near the town of Glasgow. Twelve years later, in 1878, they came to 
Henry County and spent the first two years of their residence here in 
Brownington. In 1880 Mr. Ogg settled on his present farm in Bethlehem township, 
upon which he has placed all of the improvements. The Ogg farm consists of 157 
acres, 120 acres of which is in the home tract and thirty-seven acres are in 
pasture land. During his residence in Clinton while attending to his official 
duties Judge Ogg rented his farm with the inevitable result of the land and 
buildings being neglected and allowed to get into a state of disrepair. In the 
spring of 1918, believing it to be every citizen's paramount duty to assist the 
country in producing more and more crops, especially if a land owner, he left his 
beautiful and comfortable home in the city of Clinton and returned to the farm, 
where he has been busily engaged in cultivating this year's crops and placing the 
farm buildings in good repair. October 11, 1891, Judge Thomas W. Ogg and Miss 
Josie F. Massey were united in marriage. Mrs. Josie F. Ogg was born in North 
Carolina July 2, 1869, and is the daughter of Rufus H. and Christina (Dalton) 
Massey, natives of North Carolina. Mrs. Christina Massey was a niece of General 
Poindexter, her mother having been a sister of the general. Rufus H. Massey was 
born in Rockingham County, Virginia, and Christina Massey was born in Stokes 
County, Virginia. The Masseys came to Henry County in the spring of 1880 and 
settled in Bethlehem township, east of Clinton, where Rufus H. died in 1895. 
Christina Massey departed this life in 1893. They were parents of ten children, 
four of whom are living, besides Mrs. Massey: Dudley, residing in Arkansas; 
Robert, a farmer in Bethlehem township; Mrs. Amy Cummings, Adair, Oklahoma; 
Mrs. Ida Cummings, Adair, Oklahoma. The mother of Judge Thomas W. Ogg resides 
with her son. She was born July 17, 1831, and is one of the oldest pioneer women 
of Henry County. Judge Ogg has been a life long Democrat and is prominent in the 
councils of his party in Missouri. His official career is one of which any citizen 
can well be proud. He was elected district judge of the County Court in 1902 and 
served four years in this capacity, following which he filled the office of 
presiding judge of the court for four years. During his tenure of office the 
indebtedness, bonded and otherwise, of Henry County was paid and the foundation 
of the whole financial structure of the government of Henry County was laid on 
modern and substantial lines, taking the place of former easy going and 
indifferent methods pursued by the county. The county business was placed upon 
a substantial plane and since that time affairs in Henry County have proceeded 
smoothly and well as regards the county government. The first thing which the 
court did under Judge Ogg's leadership was to refund the five per cent. bonds with 
four per cents, a proceeding which saved the county in interest alone over $2,000 
per year. Many good bridges and highways were built and the present system of 
county roads was undertaken, a movement which is still continuing and which 
makes a vast difference in the overland travel as compared to former years. The 
time is fast coming when Henry County, if the plan of road grading and dragging 
is consistently and continually carried on and more extensively, the county will 
have all the year around roads. The brick paving around the court house square 
was built and many other notable improvements were accomplished. The Public 
Buildings Improvement Company was organized and began its efficient work. The 
county records had been kept in poor shape for many years, but during this 
notable era they were assembled in proper shape and rebound in substantial 
bindings and systematically arranged for ready reference. The cost of this 
binding did not exceed $2,000. Considerable time was spent in readjusting and 
equalizing the county taxing system, and a thorough business administration was 
given Henry County, setting an example for all future administrations. Judge Ogg 
was elected county treasurer in 1912 and served in this important position for 
four years. He has made four campaigns for office in the county and has never 
suffered defeat. He is easily one of the most popular and best respected citizens 
of the county. Educated in the district schools, he has been a constant student 
and reader, owning one of the finest libraries in the county. He and Mrs. Ogg are 
members of the Christian Church, Judge Ogg having been an elder of the Clinton 
Christian Church for some years. He is affiliated with the Ancient Free and 
Accepted Masons, the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Modern 
Woodmen of America.

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