Hogg, James Stephen, 1851-1906

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James S. Hogg, lawyer, businessman and politician, was attorney general (1887-1890) and governor (1891-1895) of Texas.

From the guide to the James Stephen Hogg Papers, 1836-1969, (Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin)

James Stephen Hogg, the first native governor of Texas, was born near Rusk on March 24, 1851, the son of Lucanda (McMath) and Joseph Lewis Hogg. His father, a brigadier general, died at the head of his command in 1862, and his mother died the following year. Hogg and two of his brothers were left with two older sisters to run the plantation. Hogg spent almost a year in 1866 near Tuscaloosa, Alabama, going to school, but soon returned to Texas to study with Peyton Irving and work as the typesetter in Andrew Jackson's newspaper office at Rusk. Between the years of 1871 and 1873, Hogg ran his own newspapers in Longview and Quitman. During the following years, Hogg would serve as justice of the peace for Quitman, study law and marry Sallie Stinson, who would give birth to four children.

From 1880 to 1884, Hogg served as district attorney for the old Seventh District, where he became known as the most aggressive and successful district attorney in the state. Despite a popular move for Hogg to go to Congress, he declined to run for public office in 1884 and entered private practice in Tyler. In 1886 his friends urged him to run for attorney general. His father's connections with the older political leaders made it easy for Hogg to be admitted to their councils, and he received the Democratic nomination and was elected.

As attorney general, Hogg encouraged new legislation to protect the public domain set aside for the school and institutional funds, and he instituted suits that finally returned over a million and a half acres to the state. He forced "wildcat" insurance companies to quit the state, helped to write the second state antitrust law in the nation, and advocated the establishment of the Railroad Commission, which would serve as his platform during his election to governor in 1890.

While governor, from 1891 to 1895, Hogg did much to strengthen public respect for law enforcement and championed five major pieces of legislation. The "Hogg Laws" included (1) the law establishing the Railroad Commission; (2) the railroad stock and bond law cutting down on watered stock; (3) the law forcing land corporations to sell off their holdings in fifteen years; (4) the Alien Land Law, which checked further grants to foreign corporations in an effort to get the land into the hands of citizen settlers; and (5) the act restricting the amount of indebtedness by bond issues that county and municipal groups could legally undertake. Hogg was ever solicitous for the welfare of the common schools, the University of Texas, and Texas A&M, and also succeeded in obtaining financial aid for a division of state archives. Without any real difficulty Hogg could have become a United States senator in 1896, but he was content to return to private practice.

After his wife died in 1895, he invited his older sister, Mrs. Martha Frances Davis, to come to his home to help rear his children. Though he was in debt when he relinquished the governor's chair to his attorney general, Charles A. Culberson, Hogg was able to build up a sizable family fortune by his law practice and wise investments in city property and oil lands. He successfully inculcated in his children a worthy interest in individual and public welfare as evidenced by numerous gifts to the University of Texas and various services to Texas as a whole, particularly to the cities of Houston and Austin. On March 3, 1906, Hogg died in the Houston home of his partner, Frank Jones, and was buried in Austin.

"HOGG, JAMES STEPHEN." The Handbook of Texas Online. <http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/view/HH/fho17.html> [Accessed Thu Jul 8 10:10:09 US/Central 2004 ].

From the guide to the James Stephen Hogg letter transcriptions and family photographs MS 008., 1836-1906, (Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library, Rice University, Houston, TX)

Lawyer, businessman and politician;

Texas attorney general (1887-1890); governor of Texas (1891-1895).

From the description of Hogg, James Stephen, papers, 1836-1969. (University of Texas Libraries). WorldCat record id: 23284616

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Hogg, Ima. Hogg, Ima, papers, 1824-1977. University of Texas Libraries
referencedIn Hogg Foundation for Mental Health. Hogg Foundation for Mental Health records, 1872- University of Texas Libraries
referencedIn Robert Crawford Cotner Papers 61-35; 62-39; 63-16; 63-144; 66-159; 68-42; 68-121; 80-7; 81-15; 2008-171., 1767-1981, 1995 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
creatorOf James Stephen Hogg Papers, 1836-1969 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
referencedIn House, Edward Mandell Papers 2011-212; 91-189; 90-223; 87-298; 85-309; 71-106; 71-105., 1896-1938 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
referencedIn Taylor, Thomas F. papers 1933-1940., 1834-1931 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
referencedIn Hogg Family Papers AR80-1; 81-18; 81-86., 1895-1948 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
referencedIn Taylor, Thomas F. Taylor, Thomas F., papers, 1834-1931 University of Texas Libraries
referencedIn Ed Kilman Collection MSS 0080., 1905-1989 Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston Public Libary
referencedIn Hogg, Will C. (William Clifford), 1875-1930. Hogg, William Clifford, papers, 1897-1932. University of Texas Libraries
referencedIn Swenson, Swen Magnus. Swenson, Swen Magnus Papers, 1843, 1858-1896 University of Texas Libraries
referencedIn Miohael Looscan papers MC054. 50068083., 1859-1899, (Bulk: 1880-1892) Albert and Ethel Herzstein Library,
referencedIn Teagarden, William B. Papers 1942; 66-033., 1888-1942 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
referencedIn Ima Hogg Photograph Collection 65-143 through 97-352. 30307641., 1830-1977 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
referencedIn Hogg, Ima. Ima Hogg : papers, 1888-1991 (1960s). Museum of Fine Arts, Houston - Hirsch Library, Hirsch Library
referencedIn Edward Mandell House papers, 1885-2007, 1885-1938 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
referencedIn Coke, Richard, 1829-1897. Richard Coke Scrapbook, 1864-1912 University of Texas Libraries
referencedIn House, Edward Mandell, 1858-1938. House, Edward Mandell Papers, 1896-1938 University of Texas Libraries
creatorOf Hill, Louis Hamilton, 1858-1932. Papers, 1883-1947, (bulks 1885-1927). Texas Tech University Libraries, Academic Library
referencedIn Reid Family Papers, 1816-2000 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection
referencedIn Swenson, Swen Magnus Papers 61-034; 66-161; 70-103., 1843, 1858-1896 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
referencedIn Biography -- Hogg family. Daughters of the Republic of Texas Library
creatorOf Hogg, James Stephen, 1851-1906. Hogg, James Stephen, papers, 1836-1969. University of Texas Libraries
referencedIn Truitt, James W. Papers, 1806-1918 (bulk 1840-1887) Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
referencedIn Richard Coke Scrapbook, 1864, 1884-1912 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
referencedIn Cotner, Robert Crawford. Cotner, Robert C., papers, 1767-1981, 1995. University of Texas Libraries
creatorOf James Stephen Hogg letter transcriptions and family photographs MS 008., 1836-1906 Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library, Rice University
referencedIn Hogg (William Clifford) Papers HOGG, WILLIAM CLIFFORD, PAPERS., 1897-1932 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
referencedIn Teagarden, William B., 1854-1933. Teagarden, William B., Papers, 1888-1942 University of Texas Libraries
referencedIn Leroux, Marguerite T., 1898-1991. Papers, 1821-1949. Daughters of the Republic of Texas Library
referencedIn Parks -- Governor Hogg Shrine. Daughters of the Republic of Texas Library
referencedIn Truitt, James W., 1845-1922. Truitt, James W., Papers, 1806-1918 (bulk 1840-1887) University of Texas Libraries
referencedIn Inventory of the William A. Owens Papers (Part Two) Cushing Memorial Library,
referencedIn Henderson, Thomas Stalworth, Papers 1938; 68-11; 71-163; 93-039., 1852-1941, 1967 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
referencedIn Wooldridge, A. P. papers, 1836-1965 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
referencedIn Ima Hogg Papers, 1824-1977 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
referencedIn Robertson, James Harvey, Papers 69-106A., 1895-1906, and undated Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
referencedIn Robertson, James Harvey, 1853-1912. Robertson, James Harvey, Papers, 1895-1906, and undated University of Texas Libraries
referencedIn Records, 1889-1894, undated Texas State Archives
referencedIn Hogg (William Clifford) Papers HOGG, WILLIAM CLIFFORD, PAPERS., 1897-1932 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
referencedIn Looscan, Michael, 1838-1897. Michael Looscan papers, 1859-1899, (bulk 1880-1892). San Jacinto Museum of History
referencedIn Wooldridge, Alexander Penn, 1847-1930. Wooldridge, A. P., papers, 1836-1965 University of Texas Libraries
referencedIn Henderson, Thomas Stalworth, 1849-1937. Henderson, Thomas Stalworth, Papers, 1852-1941, 1967 University of Texas Libraries
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Bailey, George McClellan, 1864-1927 person
associatedWith Bryan, William Jennings, 1860-1925 person
associatedWith Clark, George, 1841-1918 person
correspondedWith Coke, Richard, 1829-1897 person
associatedWith Cotner, Robert Crawford. person
associatedWith Craddock, John T. person
associatedWith Craddock, John T. person
associatedWith Culberson, Charles A., 1885- person
associatedWith Culberson, Charles A. (Charles Allen), 1855-1925. person
associatedWith Democratic Party (Tex.) corporateBody
associatedWith Democratic Party (U.S.) corporateBody
associatedWith Henderson, Thomas Stalworth, 1849-1937 person
associatedWith Hill, Louis Hamilton, 1858-1932. person
associatedWith Hogg and Robertson (Austin, Tex.) corporateBody
associatedWith Hogg family family
associatedWith Hogg family - archives person
associatedWith Hogg Foundation for Mental Health. corporateBody
associatedWith Hogg, Ima person
associatedWith Hogg, Ima. person
associatedWith Hogg, Ima. person
associatedWith Hogg, Will C. (William Clifford), 1875-1930 person
associatedWith House, Edward Mandell person
associatedWith Leroux, Marguerite T., 1898-1991. person
associatedWith Looscan, Michael. person
associatedWith Looscan, Michael. person
associatedWith Looscan, Michael, 1838-1897 person
associatedWith Owens, William A., 1905- person
associatedWith Railroad Commission of Texas. corporateBody
associatedWith Reid family. family
associatedWith Robertson, James Harvey, 1853-1912 person
associatedWith Ross, Lawrence Sullivan, 1838-1898 person
associatedWith Swenson, Swen Magnus person
associatedWith Swenson, Swen Magnus person
associatedWith Taylor, Thomas F. person
associatedWith Taylor, Thomas F. person
associatedWith Teagarden, William B., 1854-1933 person
associatedWith Texas. Attorney-General's Office. corporateBody
associatedWith Texas. General Land Office. corporateBody
associatedWith Texas. Governor (1891-1895 : Hogg) corporateBody
associatedWith Truitt, James W., 1845-1922 person
associatedWith Wooldridge, Alexander Penn, 1847-1930 person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Wood County (Tex.)
Texas - History - 20th century.
Wood County (Tex.)
Austin (Tex.)
Varner Plantation (Brazoria County, Tex.) - photographs.
Texas--Beaumont
Mexican-American Border Region.
Texas
Texas
Austin (Tex.)
Subject
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Antitrust law
County attorneys
County attorneys
Elections
Gambling
Gambling
Gas industry
Gas industry
Governor
Governors
Governors
Governors
Governors
Law enforcement
Law enforcement
Oil fields
Oil fields
Petroleum industry and trade
Petroleum industry and trade
Politicians
Politicians
Populism
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Progressivism
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Person

Birth 1851-03-24

Death 1906-03-03

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