Sleeping by the Highway
Susan Crockett Sayers tombstone at Wheatland
Near where a beautiful antebellum mansion once stood, cars blast by on a four-lane highway, not realizing abandoned gravestones are buried deep in the brush. Overgrown ivy, toppled down trees, and broken gravestones laid lost in the dirt, strangled by vines keeping them trapped deep beneath the earth. An occasional family member, curious about the historic stones, tries to locate them but typically gives up because of the lush overgrowth. On a fateful July 4, 2022, my husband, Tom, and our son, Peyton, and I are determined to resurrect the missing headstones. As an 8th-generation descendent from the Hoge family's arrival to Southwestern Virginia, Tom is relentless in cutting a path into the brush to begin our work. However, he secured the property owner's permission.
The mansion was located in the town once called Hoges Store, but more recently, Hoges Chapel. Although the property was given the name Wheatland, most people called it "the farm." Wheatland's name is derived from the breadbasket of crops producing wheat for the community. The prominent home was the center of the Hoge family's destination for celebrations, including weddings, holidays, and reunions. Most families remember it as their favorite place with its fragrant flowers, juicy apple orchard, and social events.
We didn't just show up. We did our research first—the prior Hoge owners moved the actual bodies from the cemetery back in 1955 when they built route 460. New markers replaced the historic stones at Birchlawn Cemetery's Garden of Peace. From old records, I estimated that 75 graves found new homes. Many at Birchlawn, but others moved to family members' preferred place to rest in peace. But what was left at the old Wheatland homestead cemetery?
Although we had just visited Hoges Chapel in Giles County, Virginia, two days before, we returned prepared for our search. We have become somewhat of an expert at discovering and cleaning misplaced graves. We keep our Hoge family cemetery in Pulaski County trimmed and annually place flags by their graves on the 4th of July to recognize those who have served. With cutters and blowers in hand, now it is time to uncover this newly found Hoge Cemetery and delve into its history.
More research concluded that Joseph Haven Hoge and Susan Crocket Sayers Hoge's stones were left behind. We found references about some of their children's stones also abandoned at the site. And one note regarding John Thompson Sayer Hoge and Florence Hoge's child John Thompson Sayer Hoge, Jr. memorialized at this location. But where are the original stones hiding?
Once we entered the overgrown jungle, Tom located the first stone. Susan's stone lay toppled over, surrounded by dense brush. After some initial clearing, I identified Joseph's stone underneath a fallen tree. Although they are no longer standing, their beautiful carvings of a cross through a crown became revealed, dirty, but in one piece. After hours in the Virginia heat, we discover additional stones. At first, there were just the footers for the graves. After some deductive reasoning, we followed what seemed to be a row. Using a blower to remove the dirt, a tiny stone adorned with a lamb peaked through the earth. We discovered the marker for seven little children erected by their father. We pressed on to find more. Elizabeth Jane Hoge, the second wife of Joseph Haven Hoge, lay under the dirt and debris next to her husband, Joseph. The last discovery of the day was J H Jr.'s footer. Now for the critical question. Who are these souls, and what role did they play in this world?
Joseph Haven Hoge is the son of General James Hoge and Eleanor Howe Hoge, who resided in Pulaski County, Virginia, on Hayfield Farm (now Belle-Hampton Farm). The General bought his son land in Giles County as a gift for the wedding in 1843. The property, Wheatland, had a value of $7,500. Colonel Sayers, Joseph's father-in-law, also contributed property valued at $4,058.75. The General gifted furniture, equipment, provisions, and livestock to start their married life. Susan and Joseph began housekeeping on February 7, 1844, in an "Old Gray House" residence built-in 1804 before their Main House was built.
In 1850 construction began on their two-story brick house known today as Wheatland. Interestingly, the General's ledger had an entry for $3000 to his son in 1852. It most likely referred to another contribution toward the structure. Hemlock trees harvested from the surrounding woods at Little Meadows constructed the white front columns. The trees were brought to the house site where they were hewn, rough-cut logs. The bricks were made from the clay taken from the creek side, put into wooden molds, sun-dried, and baked in a kiln. The house rose over a limestone block foundation covered by a hip roof, topped by a widow's walk. The carpenters, William and Andrew Fillinger, completed the structure in 1854.
As a successful businessman, Joseph raised cattle, horses, and sheep on his property. He was financially astute and negotiated well on his family's behalf. In Giles County, he was considered the wealthiest man in the area. When the horses were not needed for Wheatland, they were herded to North Carolina for the tobacco farmers. It was also documented that when the wool from his sheep was no longer marketable, they were bartered with someone in North Carolina to receive wool blankets. Since the family was related to Reynolds through his daughter Senah, is that the reason for the exchange?
Susan was the oldest daughter of Robert Thomas and Senah Ross Sayers; they had eight children. Most spouses in the Hoge family were well educated. Susan attended the Salem Academy, the Moravian school for girls in Winston-Salem, NC. Their mission was to develop girls and young women according to their needs. The school's goal included an emphasis on physical wellness and exercise, the promotion of high standards for its students and faculty, and attention to the whole student for the development of her character and her mind. It is the oldest educational institution for girls and women in the United States.
Susan acted as the overseer of the homestead. Unfortunately, while the mansion was constructed, she lost many children. The following we have noted were in the child's grave at Wheatland: James Robert Hoge (5 Years, 1846-1851), Eliza Tyler Hoge (0 Years, 1848-1848), Joseph Crockett Hoge (0 Years, 1851-1852), Ellen James Hoge (2 Years, 1853-1855), Oscar Hoge (0 years, 1855-1855). However, the gravestone said seven children, not five, so we are unaware of who might be missing from the list.
An unexpected discovery buried next to Joseph was his second wife, Lizzie, Elizabeth Jane Hoge. There was almost a twenty-year difference in their ages. Her dad, George Davis Hoge, is the son of John Hoge, General Hoge's brother. Her mom, Rebecca Clay Pearis, is the daughter of Colonel Pearis and Elizabeth Haven Howe. James Mayo Hoge and Major Daniel Hoge were Joseph's grandparents and Lizzie's great-grandparents. Before Joseph's death, they only enjoyed 15 years of marriage.
We revealed a footstone with the initials of JH Jr. We assume that would be for John Thompson Sayers Hoge, Junior. He was Joseph Haven Hoge's grandson, John and Florence Hoge's son. In 1823, he passed away at 22 years old. He served in WWI in the army. Family members reference him as dying in the war. However, the war ended in 1918. His draft card describes him as tall, slender, grey eyes and with brown hair. Noted on the card is that he lost a leg, hand, and an eye but had several surgeries. He died in the hospital in Bluefield, Mercer, West Virginia.
Based on his injury date, John Hoge Jr. was most likely part of what is known as the "hundred days." A string of Allied offensive successes on the Western Front led to the German army's collapse and the war's end. The infusion of American troops and resources into the western front finally tipped the scale in the Allies' favor. Germany signed an armistice agreement with the Allies on November 11, 1918. World War I was known as the "war to end all wars" because of the great carnage and damage it caused. John was part of the war's successful outcome for the allies. He served his country but paid the price with his life. He should be remembered as an American hero.
The abandoned Hoge family cemetery memorializes leaders in the Giles County community. Joseph Haven Hoge, a successful businessman, had the means to build a beautiful mansion among acres of his prosperous farmland. Having a large family is a sign of wealth. A college-educated spouse, Susan had 12 children, but boar the significant weight with the death of seven of them. She demonstrated perseverance until her untimely death at 57 years old, 1883. And John Thompson Sayers, Jr. showed honor with his service to America and determination to last five more years after his significant injuries. These historical markers, now unearthed, are a sign of those who have passed before us and their considerable role in the area's history.
