HLRGazette Archives

Wood County History

By LOU MALLORY - Chairperson, Wood County Historical Commission

 Called "the Honeymoon Cottage" by his daughter, Miss Ima Hogg, the small restored home at the Gov. James Stephen Hogg Memorial Shrine Park in Quitman was the first home of her parents following their marriage on April 22nd, 1874.

 The little house originally stood on the Gilmer Road at 610 East Goode Street in Quitman. Efforts were initiated by a citizens group to preserve and restore the historic structure and establish a state park in Hogg's honor. These efforts were headed in the early 1940s by Judge H.V. Puckett, Sr., and State Senator T.C. Chadick, both of Quitman. Under their leadership the Hogg home was purchased from E.M. Goldsmith on October 23rd, 1945, with funds contributed by the Rotary Clubs of Quitman, Mineola, Winnsboro and Hawkins. The building was moved to its present location shortly after it was purchased by the citizen's group.

 A news items in the August 29th, 1946, edition of the Wood County Democrat reads as follows: "Some months ago the old residence pf Governor Hogg was purchased by the Rotary Clubs of Quitman, Winnsboro, Mineola and Hawkins and moved to the Reunion Grounds. However, since that time, no improvements on the building or grounds have been made and this will be the first step on the beautification program."

 The "Reunion Grounds" mentioned above consisted of a 17-acre tract of land belonging to the Wood County Old Settlers Reunion, which was organized in Quitman on August 2nd, 1899.

 Located in the city of Quitman in the 500 block of South Main Street (same being Highway 37), the Old Settlers Reunion received the first seven acres of land as a gift, by perpetual lease, from John H. Jones, formerly a Wood County Clerk.

 The Wood County Deed Record Book 28, on page 41, shows that eight (8) acres were added to the Reunion Grounds through a purchase on September 5th, 1911 from J.R. Wallace, and, on July 13th, 1920, one acre was brought from E.M. Horton.

 On October 14th, 1946, as shown in the Wood County Record Book No. 295, page 201, title to the Old Settlers Reunion Grounds was transferred to the Governor James Stephen Hogg Memorial Shrine Commission, which was created by an act of the Texas Legislature. Original members of the three-member commission were P.G. Byers, S.L. Cooper, and H.V. Puckett, Sr. Grantors reserved perpetual use of the premises one week each year, to hold their annual Old Settlers Reunion.

 Six years from the time the old house was moved to the Reunion Grounds, it was restored and refurnished. J.R. Shaw, a Quitman builder, restored the home under contract. It was dedicated on Sunday, March 23rd, 1952, a very cold and windy day. The following is from "James Stephen Hogg, A Biography", by Robert C. Coiner: "This home was moved to the state park at Quitman. Miss Ima Hogg refurnished the home and on March 23rd, 1952, a formal opening was held, at which time she and Railroad Commission Chairman Ernest O. Thompson were the principal speakers."

 Additional information is taken from page 1, the Wood County Democrat, dated January 17th, 1952. "Plans are being made to hold the formal opening and dedication of the Gov. Jim Hogg home on Sunday afternoon March 23rd. Work on the enlargement and restoration of the home is nearing completion. Miss Ima Hogg of Houston, daughter of the famous governor, spent most of Tuesday in Quitman inspecting the home and making plans for its completion. Miss Hogg has been working in collaboration with the state park board in the restoration of the home.

 Furnishings for the home are expected to start arriving within the next few days. Some of these furnishings will include the original furniture that was in the home which are now in Miss Hogg's possession. The other furnishings being selected by Miss Hogg will carry out the period during which the home was occupied by Quitman's most illustrious citizen.

 Miss Hogg was accompanied to Quitman by Mrs. Earle P. Mayfield, Sr. and Mrs. Sam Greer, both of Tyler. They are working on a committee with Miss Hogg on this project. Local members of the committee selected by Miss Hogg are Mrs. T.C. Chadick, Mrs. G.P. Cain, and Mrs. Jacob Shoaf."

 According to Mrs. Ona Wood of Quitman, a research historian for the Wood County Historical Survey Committee, the little Hogg home was built some years before young Hogg became owner of the property in 1873. The house was built by G.W. Haines and his brother, Chris Haines, who founded the Wood County community of Hainesville. This information was obtained by Mrs. Wood in an interview with Mrs. Reba Chreitzberg, a long-time native of Wood County who now resides in Odessa, Texas and a descendant of the Haines family.

 It is interesting to note that the builder of the little home was the same Chris Haines who once befriended and "made one of the household" a troubled young Jim Hogg. Hogg first came to Wood County in late 1868 or early 1869 as a printer's devil at Quitman. He left this job late in the spring of 1869, but found "rough going" in farming. He needed employment desperately when he was taken in by the Chris Haines family.

 Coiner, in his biography of James Stephen Hogg, on page 45, recites how the Haines family provided young Jim with a job, a homemade walnut desk and gave him access to their library where he spent much time studying.

 "It was common knowledge among older Quitman residents that Jim Hogg did not build the house he lived in when he came back to Wood County to publish the Quitman News," Mrs. Wood stated. She pointed out that she was told many times that Jim's oldest sister assisted him with the paper and "kept house" for him until his marriage to Sallie Stinson.

 In commenting on how young Hogg wanted to establish a newspaper along with his friend Horace Chilton, biographer Coiner states on page 56: "Before the year 1871 was out, each of them had started a newspaper of his own. Horace at age 18 started the tri-weekly Sun in Tyler. James, age 20, started the News in Longview, and, further, to Jim's delight, Mrs. Davis (Martha Frances, James' eldest sister) agreed to join him in this venture."

 On pages 60 and 61, author Coiner states that young Hogg moved his paper from Longview to Quitman in early 1872, and established The Quitman news.

 James S. Hogg, on January 8th, 1873, bought ten acres of land situated immediately east of the Quitman public square from James H. Bell for $600 in gold. This was the property where the small house originally stood. The deed to the property is recorded in Book H, page 114, of the Wood County Deed records.

 The deed describes the tract of land but makes no mention of any structure other than the wording "and appurtenances to the same belonging."