Who Was Eliza Jane Johnston Hoge? A Look at Her Life and Legacy
Eliza Jane Johnston Hoge was a woman of remarkable heritage and social standing in 19th-century Virginia. As the daughter of an influential early settler and the wife of a distinguished lawyer, she lived through a transformative period in Southern history, from the antebellum era through the Civil War and Reconstruction. Her life intertwined with some of Virginia’s most notable families, and her legacy endures through historical records and genealogical accounts.
Early Life and Family Background
Eliza Jane Johnston was born in 1819 in Giles County, Virginia, into the prominent Johnston family. Her father, Colonel Andrew Johnston, was a key figure in the establishment of Pearisburg, Giles County, where he was a merchant, landowner, and civic leader. The family home, built in 1829, still stands today as the Andrew Johnston House, a historical museum (Giles County Historical Society).
Her mother, Jane Henderson Johnston, came from another respected family in Montgomery County, Virginia. The Johnstons were well-connected, with Eliza growing up in a household that played host to political and social elites of the time. She had four siblings, and the family’s wealth and influence ensured that she was raised in an environment of privilege and education.
Marriage to James Fulton Hoge and Family Life
At around the age of 20, in May 1840, Eliza married James Fulton Hoge, a member of another influential Virginia family. The Hoge family had a long tradition of leadership and service, producing Revolutionary War officers, ministers, and lawyers. James's father, General James Hoge, was a wealthy estate owner and militia leader in Montgomery County (now Pulaski County).
James and Eliza settled on a plantation estate in Montgomery County, where they raised their nine children. Their estate, situated near Blacksburg in the North Fork Valley, was a working plantation relying on enslaved labor, as was typical for Virginia's upper class at the time. The Hoge family remained influential in local politics and legal affairs, and James Fulton Hoge became known as a distinguished lawyer and statesman.
Children and Family Legacy
The couple’s nine children went on to lead notable lives:
• Ann Eliza “Annie” Hoge (1841–1888) – Married into another prominent Giles County family, the Snidows, Major John Chapman Snidow.
• James Drury Hoge (1844-1844) Infant
• Andrew Johnson Hoge (c.1843–1864) – Died during the Civil War in the Battle of Gettysburg.
• Dr. Robert Henderson Hoge (1851–1916) – Became a respected physician in Giles County. Married Lulu Croft.
• James Hoge (1853-1924) – Married Helen Snidow.
• George Tyler Hoge (1854-1923) – Moved to Colorado to become a miner and married Ida Moore.
• Jane “Nellie” Hoge (1855–1932) – Managed the family homestead in later years. She was never married. She ended up being the last surviving member of the siblings.
• Joseph Edward Hoge (1860–1926) – Moved away from the homestead but remained connected to the family network. Married Senah Miller.
• Rev. Beverly Lacy Hoge (1863–1924) – Became a Baptist minister and authored religious works. Married Marie Antoinette Hatcher.
Their extended connections further cemented the Hoge family’s social prominence, including Eliza’s nephew (by marriage), James Hoge Tyler, who later became Governor of Virginia (1898–1902).
The Civil War and Its Impact
The Civil War (1861–1865) brought immense hardship to the Hoge family, as it did to much of the Southern aristocracy. Their plantation operations were disrupted, and their enslaved workforce was freed. Tragedy struck when Andrew J. Hoge, one of Eliza’s sons, died in 1864, a loss that would have been devastating for the family.
Eliza’s childhood home in Giles County, the Andrew Johnston House, was occupied by Union forces in 1862 when future President Rutherford B. Hayes led troops through the area. Meanwhile, James Fulton Hoge and other family members faced economic hardship as Reconstruction reshaped the South’s economy.
By the time James Fulton Hoge passed away in 1873, the family was struggling to maintain their plantation. By 1886, the “James F. Hoge lands” were advertised for sale, marking the end of their once-thriving estate (Virginia Department of Historic Resources).
Later Years in Roanoke and Death
By the late 1880s, with most of her children grown and the family estate changing hands, Eliza moved to Roanoke, Virginia. Several of her children had relocated there, including her son, Beverly Lacy Hoge, who was practicing law before becoming a minister. Her brother, James D. Johnston, also moved his legal practice to Roanoke around 1891, providing Eliza with a close family network in the rapidly growing railroad city.
Eliza Jane Johnston Hoge passed away on June 1, 1892, in Roanoke at the age of 72. She was buried at Fair View Cemetery in Roanoke, not beside her husband at the Hoge family cemetery near Blacksburg or in Giles County, where she had deep family ties. Her husband is the only grave in the cemetery near his home where they raised their family.
Legacy and Historical Significance
Eliza Jane Johnston Hoge was a woman who bridged Virginia’s past and future. She lived through the height of the antebellum Southern planter class, witnessed the devastation of the Civil War, and adapted to the economic shifts of Reconstruction.
Though she did not hold public office or author works, she played a central role in maintaining the traditions and influence of her family. Her legacy continued to shape Virginia’s history through her children and extended relations. Her son Dr. Robert Hoge served as a physician for decades, while Rev. Beverly Lacy Hoge became a widely respected minister. Additionally, her nephew James Hoge Tyler’s tenure as Governor of Virginia linked her family to the highest levels of state leadership.
Her story, preserved through genealogical records, family letters, and local histories, illustrates the personal dimension of 19th-century Virginia’s history. The Johnstons and Hoges remain important names in regional history, and Eliza’s life reflects the resilience and adaptability of Virginia’s elite families during a time of profound change.
Conclusion
Eliza Jane Johnston Hoge’s life exemplifies the experience of Virginia’s 19th-century gentry women—shaped by family, duty, war, and societal transformation. While she may not have been a public figure, her legacy endures through the historical impact of her family and the records that continue to tell her story.
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