Introduction to the 1923 Biographical Sketches
This biographical sketch was published along with many others in the 1923 History of Auglaize County, Volume II, edited by William J. McMurray and published by the Historical Publishing Company of Indianapolis. In most cases the subject of the biography was of the first generation born in this country to German immigrants. In some cases the subject may have been born in Germany and came to this country at a young age. In most cases the story tells of the immigrant parents of the subject and also the children and grandchildren of the subject named at the beginning of the story. In some cases comments have been added after the biography to explain the locations of the farms where the immigrants settled. New Knoxville did not have rural addresses until 1955, and therefore the settlers had rural route addresses of St. Marys, Botkins, etc.
HERMAN H. HOGE, a well known mill and lumberman of New Knoxville, a former member of the village council and for years recognized as one of the real "live wires" of that flourishing community, is a native son of Auglaize county, a member of one of the pioneer families here, and has resided here all his life, active in business and industrial affairs since the days of his young manhood.
Mr. Hoge was born on a farm about two miles east of New Knoxville on September 7, 1869, and is a son of Henry and Henrietta (Wellemeyer) Hoge, who had come to this region with their respective parents from Germany in the days of their youth and were here married. The late Henry Hoge, for many years one of the well known residents of Washington township, was a well grown lad when he came here with his parents back in pioneer days and he worked here as a farm hand until after his marriage, when he bought a farm of fifty-five acres in the woods west of the creek in the southeast quarter of section 21 of Washington township and started in to clear that place and make a farm out of it. He later added to his holdings until he had a well improved farm of seventy-five acres and on that place spent his last days, his death occurring on August 13, 1921, he then being three days past eighty-eight years of age.
Seated (left to right): Esther Hoge Dalton (1906-2009), Herman H. Hoge (1869-1962), Oliver Hoge (1914-2003), Oscar Hoge (1914-1918), Mary Oelrich Hoge (1871-1941), Joel Hoge (1908-1992)
Standing (left to right behind the twins): Ella Hoge Kuck (1912-2013), Olga Hoge Hardwig
Standing (back row): Marcella I. Hoge Hoelscher (1903-1997), Arthur F. Hoge (1896-1971), Laura A. Hoge Lageman (1894-1988), Gustave A. Hoge (1898-1976), Bertha Hoge Bambauer (1905-1975), Rebecca M. Hoge Tschantz (1901-1992)
To him and his wife were born eight children, four of whom are still living, the subject of this sketch having a sister, Anna, and two brothers, Louis and Ernst. Reared on the home farm in Washington township, Herman H. Hoge received his schooling in the local schools and as a young man took up the carpenter trade and became a proficient builder.
For twelve years Mr. Hoge was thus engaged and during the latter three years of this period had a building crew of his own, becoming a well recognized contractor in that neighborhood, having established his home at New Knoxville after his marriage when twenty-three years of age. He then, in 1904, bought the plant of the New Knoxville Hoop Company, converted the same into a saw mill and started on his career as a general lumberman. This old plant occupied the site now covered by the plant of the Auglaize Tile Company and he continued in business at that point for some years, or until he bought the tract of land on which his present modern and extensive lumber mill and yards are now located, erected there a new and up-to-date plant and has since been engaged in business at that point, and has done well.
Mr. Hoge carries on a general lumber milling business, with particular reference to the demand for timber for heavy construction work, bridge timbers, railroad ties and the like, but also does an extensive business in building lumber, crating lumber and similar lighter forms, as well as such custom sawing as is called for in the neighborhood. In connection with this enterprise he also has a well stocked general lumber yard and carries with this a full stock of general building material, thus being in a position to meet all local demands along that line.
Mr. Hoge has long been an active factor in the general development of his home town and has rendered considerable public-spirited service in the community. He is a Republican, served for some time as a member of the village council and also served for five years as a member of the village school board. It was on March 9, 1893, that Herman H. Hoge was united in marriage to Mary Oelrich, who was born on May 24, 1871, daughter of Henry and Mary (Peterjohann) Oelrich, and who also is a member of one of the pioneer families of Washington township, and to this union have been born fourteen children, all of whom are living save three (Oscar, Albert and William, who died in childhood), the others being Laura, Arthur, Gustave, Rebecca, Marcella, Bertha, Esther, Joel, Olga, Ella and Oliver. The Hoges have a very pleasant home at New Knoxville. Mr. and Mrs. Hoge are members of the First Reformed church and have long taken an interested part in the general activities of that flourishing congregation, Mr. Hoge having served for nine years as a member of the board of trustees of the church and also for some time as a director of the church.
The original Hoge farm was located at 10389 Bay Road, New Knoxville. No buildings remain.
The New Knoxville Hoop Company, which Mr. Hoge converted to a sawmill, later became the home of the Auglaize Tile Company, and it was located on Main Street across from the present location of the school. In later years it was occupied by Brookside Laboratories and then by Crown Equipment.