Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1896-03-04
non. JOHN BLAIR HoGE.
Death Of This Distinguished Lacyer
aud Jurist at MartiRsbWrg, W. va
Sp,cia dispatch to The Baltimore Sun.

SDscial dispatch to the Baltimore Sun.
MARrINsBURG, w. VA March l Hon.
John Blair Hoge died at his residence in this
city to-day. He had suffered eroke OF
paralysis while in Washington about four
wears ago, from the effects Of which he never
entirely recovered, but the immediate cause
of his death was acute Indigestion, compli'
Gated with general debility. He was the
son of Rev. John Blair Hoge and was born
iu Richmond, Va, February ?, 1928. lie
was carefully educated for the bar and was
admitted to practice in April, 1919. Prior
to the war he located in Mariinsburg and IN
1863 was elected president of the Berkeley
Savings Bank. From 1854 10 1859 he was
A member OF the lower house of the Virginia
Legislature and in 1860 was a delegate to
the national Democratic conventions which
met at Charleston, 5 c., and Baltimore
When the war broke out be entered the
Confederate army as a captain, but resigned
his command to become "A member of the
Virginia Legislature He afterward enter
ed the army again and served 10 both line
and staff duty until paroled in 1865. The
war over. he engaged in journalism in Bal
timore, but in 1870 resumed the practice Of
law at Martinsburg. He was member Of
the convention ct Charleston in 1872 that
framed the present constitution of the State,
aud was member of the national Demo-
cratic executive committee from 1872 to
1876. He always enjoyed the highest es-
TEEN of his professional associates and was
elected Judge of thirteenth judicial circuit,
composed of Berkeley, Jefferson and Nor
gan counties, which Office he held until 1880,
when he resigned to become a candidate for
Congress He was elected to the Forty
seventh Congress from the second district by
a large majority over Judge J. 7. Hoke, Re-
publican, and Hon d. d. T. Farnsworth,
the greenback candidate The next conven-
ton was memorable one in this district
and resulted in dual nomination. Judge
Hore and Hon. ID, B. Lucas, of Jefferson,
being nominated. Nine days before the
election both candidates retired in favor OF
Hon. VIM. L. Wilson, and Judge Hoge re-
sumed the practice Of his profession, with
Offices both here and at Washington. Soon
after President Cleyeland's administration
was u7hered in Judge Hoge was appointed
United States district attorney Tor the Dis
trio, of Columbia, which position he held
until the change of administration in 1888
when he returned to Martinsburg, where he
has since lived in retirement Judge Hoge''
first wife was Miss Anna X. Wilson, OF this
city. who died in 1854 of cholera, leaving
him two childreu-Mrs Arthur P. Fairfax
of Baltimore, and Mr.. Wilson II. Hoge, o
Maryland. Some years aiterward he mar
ried Mrs. Mariah w. Aston, widow o
Warrenton, \ c a., who survives him. He
also leaves a sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Bishop
of Cincinnati. Judge Hoge was man o
powerful physique and commanding pres
euce. He was also of a genial and socia
disposition, aud from his early manhood en-
loved an unusual degree OF popularity
among his fellow-citlzens.