My Genealogy Hound

WARREN L. HOGUE. One of the successful enterprises of Benton Harbor is the boot and shoe and gents’ furnishing house of which Mr. Hogue is the owner and manager. A practical and experienced merchant, he is careful in the selection of his stock so as to secure the best quality in all lines, and having always conducted his business upon reliable methods, maintains a high reputation among the people of this vicinity.

Tracing his ancestry back a few generations, we find that the grandfather of our subject, John Hogue, was born in England and there learned the trade of a tailor. Soon after the close of the Revolutionary War he emigrated to America and settled in Pennsylvania, also for a time resided in Youngstown, Ohio. William R. Hogue, father of our subject, was born in Pittsburgh, Pa. Sarah (Kyle) Hogue, mother of our subject, was born in Youngstown, Ohio, a daughter of Robert Kyle. The maternal grandfather of our subject was a Virginian by birth and early settled in Ohio, becoming a prominent citizen of Youngstown.

Warren L. was born in Mercer County, Pa., on the 17th of April, 1845, and was a lad of almost ten years when he accompanied his parents to Michigan, settling in Pipestone Township, Berrien County, where his father still resides, having now (1893) reached the advanced age of ninety-one. After completing his studies in the common schools of the neighborhood, Mr. Hogue took business course in Watkins’ select school in Berrien County, where he remained for eighteen months. Subsequently he went to Niles, where he filled a clerical position in the store of Mr. Jones for a period of two years.

Mr. Hogue was married to Miss Maria Tompkins, of Cleveland, Ohio, October 8, 1868. Mrs. Hogue is the daughter of Thomas and Jane (Harris) Tompkins, natives of London, England, while she was born in Cleveland, Ohio. Some years after his marriage, Mr. Hogue came to Benton Harbor, and in 1877 formed a partnership with L. L. Clark in the grocery business. One year later Mr. Clark sold his interest to John Herr and the business was for four years conducted under the title of Hogue & Herr. In 1885, Mr. Hogue disposed of his interest in the establishment and embarked in his present business, in which he has met with success.

During the years 1890-91, Mr. Hogue served as President of the Benton Harbor Building & Loan Association, of which he was one of the organizers and is a Director at the present time. He and his estimable wife occupy a cozy and attractive home on the corner of Church and Brunson Avenues, and their position in social circles is the highest. Fraternally, Mr. Hogue is identified with Benton Lodge No. 132, 1. O. O. F., and in his political belief he is a stanch advocate of Republican principles.