My Genealogy Hound

STEPHEN A. BOGUE. All his life Mr. Bogue has followed with substantial results the occupation to which he was reared, and in which he is now engaged, farming. He is justly recognized as one of the leading agriculturists and stock-raisers, and as a man, no less than a citizen, he is highly esteemed. All his life he has been identified with the best interests of Cass County, and his intelligence, enterprise and many other estimable qualities have acquired for him a popularity not derived from any factitious circumstances, but a spontaneous and permanent tribute to his merit.

Born in Penn Township, Cass County, this State, May 7, 1845, Mr. Bogue has been a resident of this county all his life and is well and favorably known throughout its length and breadth. His parents, Stephen and Hannah (East) Bogue, were prominent people and early settlers of this county. The father was born in Perquimans County, N. C., October 17, 1790, and died on the farm he entered in Cass County, October 10, 1868. He first moved from his native State to Preble County, Ohio, where he purchased land and cleared a farm, remaining on the same until 1829, when he came to Cass County, Mich. His first marriage occurred in Ohio. He came North because he did not believe in slavery, and while living in Michigan he assisted many negroes to escape to Canada. Outspoken and candid in his views, Mr. Bogue was a man who ever dared to do right. At one time he was sued by owners of slaves for assisting the fugitive slaves in obtaining their freedom, but he came out ahead,

His second marriage was to Mrs. Hannah (East) Bonine and occurred in Richmond, Ind. After settling in Cass County Mich., he laid out the site for the town of Vandalia, and built one of the first gristmills in the county. This he operated for about twenty years, but in addition was also engaged in agricultural pursuits. His second wife was a native of the Old Dominion, born in Grayson County in 1798, and the daughter of William and Rachel (Talbert) East, the former a native of Virginia, and the latter of Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. East came to Cass County, Mich., about 1835, and here passed the remainder of their days. Mrs. Bogue passed away on the 19th of December, 1891. Mr. Bogue was the son of Joseph Bogue, who was a native of North Carolina, where he died. He was a blacksmith by trade, but was also interested in agricultural pursuits, owning at one time over two thousand acres of land.

Stephen A. Bogue, the youngest child born to his father’s second marriage, received his early education in the common district schools, after which he attended the academy at Adrian, Mich. On the 20th of November, 1867, he married Miss Dora E. Dalton, of Adrian, Mich. She was born August 9, 1846, and is the daughter of James and Mary (Lewis) Dalton. After marriage Mr. Bogue began farming, and continued this occupation until 1877, when he moved to Florida and embarked in the orange and vegetable business for about five years. Returning to Michigan, he resided in Vandalia for two years, and then moved on his present farm, where he has since resided.

Our subject has filled a number of the local offices — Township Supervisor, Road Commissioner, etc. — and was an able and efficient officer. Socially, he is a Good Templar and is Worthy Master of the lodge, and he has been a member of the local Grange, of which he was Master several terms. A Republican in his political views, his first Presidential vote was cast for Gen. U. S. Grant. Both he and wife are members of the Friends Church and his ancestors were members of that church for many years. Our subject and his wife have a comfortable and pleasant rural home three miles east of Cassopolis, with one hundred and eighty acres of excellent farming land. Three children were born to their marriage; Walter Marion, Mary Belle, and Hannah S., who was born in Florida. All are still under the parental roof and the two eldest graduated from the High School of Cassopolis. The daughter Belle has taken a thorough course of vocal and instrumental music at Earlham College at Richmond, Ind.