Famous Friends: Powerful or Deadly Alliance?

John Hampton Hoge, son of Daniel Hoge

“I've got some famous friends you've probably never heard of” by Chris Young & Kane Brown.

Do you have famous friends? Having a renowned friend is rare and limited to a small percentage of the population. Since I cannot remember anyone’s name, even illustrious people, I am not the person to ask about famous friends. When people name-drop a personal pet peeve, I usually frustrate the person trying to impress me since I don’t know people.

Specifically for sports stars, I have been naïve to their status on numerous occasions. Mike Singletary, for example. He lived in our neighborhood in Chicago. When we voted, he also was there. He graciously held the door for me to enter. My husband nudged me, acknowledging the famous person in our presence. I looked at him incredulously and asked who is that? His response:

“Mike Singletary is a former American football player and coach. He played in the National Football League (NFL) as a linebacker for the Chicago Bears from 1981 to 1992 and was one of the dominant defensive players of his era. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1998.”

Okay, this lovely man was also a gentleman. But what does fame have to do with another person’s life purpose or goals in life? Nothing. Being famous shouldn’t impact you as a non-famous person’s friend. But it could.

Our cousin, John Hampton Hoge, was Theodore Roosevelt’s good friend and distant relative who held him in the highest regard. John left the democratic party and became active in politics as a Republican. Unfortunately, he could not reach his own goal of rising to the level of Governor of Virginia because of his political viewpoints. Even Governor James Hoge Tyler, another cousin, campaigned against him.

But what had that to do with his downfall?  Knowing famous people can get you into places exclusive to this elite group. Regrettably, John was invited to a reception for members of Congress hosted by Roosevelt, a lavish affair, to be sure. He was in the receiving line extended period and the cold, blustery air for an extended period. What started as an ordinary cold took a turn for the worse. This precarious situation led him to contract pneumonia. His illness rapidly developed until his fatal demise a week later.

Colonel Hoge, in his own right, was famous. At the time, he was one of the best-known politicians in the entire country. For many years he was a leader of the Democratic party, then he changed his politics and became a passionate supporter of the Republican party. He was a brilliant lawyer, and as with many of those in the Hoge family, he was a skilled orator, considered the best stump speaker produced in Virginia in the last half-century.  He was in great demand for both statewide and national elections. But John, at 6 feet tall, was a formable presence even before he spoke.

His family was also renowned for their contributions to the country. His grandfather, General James Hoge, was a prominent figure with his notable success in the War of 1812. His mom’s dad, Daniel DeJarnette, was a member of the US Congress for several terms. John’s father, Daniel Haven Hoge, was also a distinguished speaker with experience with Constitutional Convention. John Hampton Hoge knew famous people and was related to them as well.

But at forty-seven, he left this world long before his life goals. Governor of Virginia might have been his aspiration, but his legacy of six children was left to his wife, Lula Virginia Otey; Lula was the sister of James Armstead Otey. Otey, the predetermined guardian of John Hampton Hoge’s children, never had his own kids. He was now responsible, along with Lula, for raising the Hoge children to their fullest potential. Although part of a distinguished family’s history and significant human capital accumulated, Lulu was alone.

With the fame of politics gone, Lulu set out on her own path in life.