Samuel and Jean Hogg

My thanks to "Cousin" Nancy Dobbins, descended from the Slippery Rock Hogg line, for the information on the family of Samuel's son John. Also, much of the information contained herein is extracted from the HOGG GENEALOGY written in the 1950's by Calvin Hogg, great grandson of Samuel, and others, and compiled by: Andrew L. Moore. It contains much more history and many more stories than I have used herein, and is well worth reading.

Samuel Hogg, son of John and Elizabeth Hogg, married Jean (maiden name unknown). They emmigrated to America probably around 1803. (Note that a letter from Willis Hogg states that Samuel immigrated in 1791, and settled for awhile in Chester County.) With Samuel (the eldest) were his brothers Robert (known as "Robin"), James, and William. Later Samuel's mother emmigrated, with another son, George. Samuel bought 200 acres in Juniata County, PA, where he married Jean and raised a family. In 1814 Jean died, and he decided to move to westen PA where land was cheap. He sold his land for $2,000 and bought 200 acres of land for $400 in Butler County. This land had been given to a Revolutionary War soldier as a bonus for his services (known as Donation Land). On the property was a log house and log barn. Samuel moved into the house with his 4 children. It is said that his daughter Mary was the housekeeper. (This land is located on Route 108, 2.5 miles northeast of Slippery Rock. As of 1981, the land had been in the family for 165 years.)

Calvin tells some family stories about the move west over the mountains to Butler County:

"James Hogg, our grandfather, was ten years old when the family loaded up their big wagon with household provisions, bedding, etc. ready for the trip. Dad didn't seem to know what his grandfather did before he came over the mountains. Aunt Mary said that one end of the wagon was filled with provisions and pots and pans. Dad got most of his information from old Aunt Mary.

On their way they always stopped near a spring to eat, feed the horses, but always slept in the wagon. They tied the horses with a long rope at night to keep them from wandering off. On the journey one of the horses had a grey colt. The grey colt was a stallion and Sammy kept the stallion till he died. Aunt Mary used to tell Dad that her father (Sammy) would lead the stallion to the upping block house and the horse would stand still until the old man got on; then he would go.

Having the colt delayed the journey a day or two. They hauled the colt in the wagon for a day or two, taking it out to suck when the milk began to squirt from the mother. After this, they tied the colt to the mare, winding their way to the farm where we now live (where Bernice now lives). When anything was said about Aunt Mary, James (our grandfather) would say, "She's a great girl." She was about fifteen years old when they came from east of the mountains."

Chapter 42 of the " History of Butler County Pennsylvania", published by the Waterman, Watkins, & Co. in 1883, covers Slippery Rock Township. Samuel, it seems, played a prominent role in the Township, as confirmed by the following quote: "A congregation of Covenanters or Reformed Presbyterians was organized in 1833 (the Bethel Covenenter Church), in the northern part of the township, and met for some years in a small log building, which was also used as a schoolhouse. In 1836, a dedicated house of worship was erected. The first Ruling Elder was Samuel HOGG, who continued the only Elder until 1834, when Samuel BRAHAM was elected. Among the members were the HOGG, BRAHAM, WICKLEY, SHIELDS, CURRY and MCELWAIN families."

Samuel and Jean had the following children: John Hogg Married Elizabeth R. Slemmons, daughter of John Slemmons and Isabella (Orbison) Slemmons. Isabella was the daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Bailey) Orbison. John and Elizabeth had 6 children. Mary Jane was born in 1838. Caroline Harriet was born in 1840 and died in 1846, Orbison S. was born in 1843. Alice Rachael was born in 1846 and died in 1853. Normand Doak was born in 1949 and died in 1852. Isabel Elizabeth was born in 1852. Samuel Hogg Died young, probably in his late teens. Mary Hogg Born about 1805. James Hogg Born February 3, 1808. James married Elizabeth Watt around 1840. James and Elizabeth had 3 children: Calvin, James Harvey, and John Alexander

John and and Elizabeth Slemmons

Samuel died as a result of an accident. According to Calvin:

"Samuel our great-grandfather after his two sons, John and James were married, lived on the hill with old Aunt Mary. These two lived together for about ten years. Samuel brought the cows down the hill and up the Fielding Lane and opened the swinggate [which was] balanced with a rock. He was closing the gate when it fell on him. He was hauled back home on a sled and died shortly afterward. He is buried in Harmony. The old gate was under the chestnut tree which is still there now fallen with chestnut blight. Our father remembered them hauling him home on a sled. He thought he was about five years old. This would be 1850.

This web page was first created on November 1, 2001, and was last revised on April 5, 2013. If you have comments, corrections or additional information or pictures you would like to contribute, feel free to contact Dave Nims.