Biography of Joseph H. Hoge - Mercer Co. WV The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume III, pg. 591 JOSEPH H. HOGE is founder and president of the Blue- field Produce & Provision Company, Incorporated, a com- pany with established connections radiating all over the southern counties and one of the leading concerns of its kind in the state. Mr. Hoge enjoys an exceptionally high standing in financial and business circles at Bluefield, where, though one of the younger business men in years, he has been identified with commercial affairs throughout the period marking the great forward progress of this city. Mr. Hoge was born in Hoge Store, Giles County, Vir- ginia, February 27,1884, son of Samuel S. and Mary (Price) Hoge, natives of Virginia. His father was a farmer and a man of intellectual interests, performing his duty as a good citizen but not mixing in partisan polities. He was a member of the Masonic order. Joseph H. Hoge acquired a common school education at Hoge Store and spent two years in Roanoke College. He left school at the age of eighteen and soon afterward came to Bluefield and engaged in the produce business, starting with limited capital and gradually extending his trade until in 1904 he incorporated the Bluefield Produce & Provision Company, and has been steadily extending its plant and facilities until the company now does an annual business valued at more than $1,500,000. The company operates on a capital of $160,000. In December, 1905, in Rappahannock County, Virginia, Mr. Hoge married Miss Eliza Strother. She was a daughter of Judge James and Mary (Botts) Strother. Mrs. Hoge died February 25, 1911, leaving two sons, Strother and Joseph H., Jr. On June 24, 1914, Mr. Hoge married Miss Bessie Ellett, daughter of Dr. R. T. and Sue (French) Ellett. To this marriage have been born two children: William Ellett and Robert Sayers. Mr. Hoge is a member of the Episcopal Church, is a Royal Arch and Knight Templar Mason and Shriner, and is an active and influential member of the Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club. He plays golf as a member of the Bluefield Country Club. Submitted by Valerie F. Crook **************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. Files may be printed or copied for personal use only. ****************************************************************