�Ozark Beacon� published in Poplar Bluff, MO every Wednesday � May 22,
1973
(photo)not available at this time
JAMES R. HOGG
Pioneer
Businessman
James R. Hogg, familiarly known as �Jim� Hogg was one of the outstanding
men to have resided in Poplar Bluff.
Mr. Hogg was born in Jennings County, Ind., Jan. 4, 1863 and with his
parents, Marion and Mary B. Hogg, moved to Butler County in 1870. He
resided in Butler County until his death on July 12, 1934.
Jim Hogg accompanied his parents to Poplar Bluff from Indiana in a covered
wagon making the then hazardous overland trip in several weeks instead of
in a few hours as can be done today.
His father, Marion Hogg, helped organize the first schools in Butler County
pioneering in educational circles as well as in farm, business and
community life in the early days.
Mr. Hogg traded a team and a wagon to his father-in-law, Louis Dillard, one
of the founders of Hilliard, for a 160 acre farm on old Highway 67 near the
Hilliard Black River Bridge. One of his first jobs was section hand on the
old Iron Mountain Railroad.
He lived on a farm until 1884 when he moved to Poplar Bluff to engage in
the meat market and livestock business. He purchased the market on old
Fourth Street (now Broadway) formerly occupied by Tom Hood. Hogg was
successful from his first business venture because he worked day and night
and his dealings were always such as to inspire the confidence of his
acquaintances who all knew what Jim Hogg told them was the truth. His
business grew until he finally owned three markets. They were all known as
the James Hogg Markets and during open season, a special effort was made to
carry game, deer, bear, and wild turkey meat, a practice maintained only in
larger cities.
In 1892, at the insistence of his friends, Hogg ran for the office of
sheriff of Butler County and was elected and gave to this office the same
energetic service he gave to his business. One of the recollections of
friends concerning Mr. Hogg�s first term of office had to do with one of
the kindly acts which endeared him to all who knew him. Sometime after he
was elected as sheriff a circus came to town. Every child had planned for
days to witness the show which was a rare treat in those days. The circus
company had to pay a license fee of $200 as the amount required from the
circus manager before the show would be permitted to present its program in
Poplar Bluff. Although Mr. Hogg was not particularly fond of the early day
circus people who came to the city, he had a soft spot in his heart for the
many children who would be unable to witness their first circus unless the
necessary license fee was paid. Mr. Hogg discussed the incident but friends
confided in later years, the beloved sheriff paid the $200 circus fee to
the city and the children were not disappointed.
He was prohibited by Missouri law from succeeding himself in office as
sheriff so he retired to private life at the end of his first term. In 1902
he was again elected as sheriff of Butler County and he served through
1906. The same state law prohibited him from succeeding himself and he
retired to private life at the expiration of that term and ran for the
office again in 1920. He was elected and served through 1924.
No one who ever called on Sheriff Jim Hogg for a favor, whether it was a
person seeking a loan or someone desiring to have a culprit apprehended
ever left Mr. Hogg�s office without having his request fulfilled.
During Hogg�s terms of office as sheriff of the county, crime declined on a
large scale. He was reputed to be one of the best police officers ever to
serve residents of southern Missouri and his tireless efforts in unraveling
murder cases and other mysteries was responsible for his reputation as an
ace officer throughout the district. Officers from other sections of
Missouri often sought Hogg�s assistance in solving early crimes.
He was always active in civic life in Poplar Bluff as well as in Butler
County. He was elected as the third mayor of Poplar Bluff in April of 1897
and served until 1899. He also served as a member of the city council.
In addition to handling his duties as a public officer, Hogg was one of the
better farmers of the county having owned fine farms down Black River on
the upper end of Big Island and also west of Poplar Bluff city limits.
Mr. Hogg�s farms and distillery which he operated for about fifteen years
gave employment to hundreds of Butler County residents. His practice of
introducing blooded stock, horses, cattle, and hogs did much to develop
Butler County.
He was an active lodge member during his lifetime having been affiliated
with the independent order of odd fellows, the Knight of Pyhthias and the
Red Men for many years. His politics was always republican though he voted
for those he believed to be the best qualified for the offices they sought.
Mr. Hogg had scores of friends in the Democratic Party. He always enjoyed
the confidence and friendship of hundreds of persons throughout Butler
County and southeast Missouri.
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