28 Facts About Jim Hogg

James Stephen Hogg was an American lawyer and statesman, and the 20th Governor of Texas.

Jim Hogg was a follower of the conservative New South Creed which became popular following the US Civil War, and was associated with populism.

Jim Hogg was the first Texas Governor to have been born in Texas.

Jim Hogg is often remembered for naming his daughter Ima, an odd name which derived from a poem written by James's brother, Thomas Elisha Jim Hogg.

Joseph Jim Hogg died in 1862, and Lucanda died the following year.

The family had little money, and Jim Hogg received only a basic education before being asked to go to work.

In 1867, Jim Hogg walked from East Texas to Cleburne, where he found a job with the Cleburne Chronicle.

Jim Hogg later ran the Longview News and founded the Quitman News.

In 1873, Jim Hogg was named Justice of the Peace at Quitman.

Jim Hogg returned to public service in 1878 when he was elected Wood County's attorney, and he went on to serve from 1880 to 1884 as Texas' seventh district's attorney.

Jim Hogg was one of the men responsible for making Smith County a Democratic stronghold during the 1884 national elections, as he helped convince the black vote for the Democratic party.

Jim Hogg was elected state Attorney General in 1886 with the platform of railroad regulation reform.

Jim Hogg put an end to pooling by the railroads and suggested that the legislature propose a constitutional amendment to create the Railroad Commission of Texas.

In 1888 Jim Hogg sued the rail companies for attempting to create a monopoly, among other charges.

Jim Hogg won, defeating the powerful rail baron Jay Gould and creating for himself a name in Texas politics.

Jim Hogg endeavored to rein in abuses by other large corporations.

Jim Hogg tackled the "wildcat" insurance companies, forcing several of them to leave the state and requiring others to operate within the parameters of the law.

Jim Hogg was easily nominated as the Democratic candidate by the remaining delegates.

Jim Hogg won a plurality of the votes to gain a second term as governor, but it was the first time in state history that the winning Democratic candidate did not receive a majority of the votes.

Jim Hogg requested that Rockefeller be extradited from New York, but the New York governor refused, as Rockefeller had not fled from Texas.

Jim Hogg spoke on behalf of William Jennings Bryan in Tammany Hall in 1896 and 1900.

Jim Hogg became interested in the idea of what became the Panama Canal; having done well as an oil investor, Jim Hogg had interest for a shipping route to open between Texas and South America, as well as between Texas and Asia.

In 1901, Hogg founded the Texas Company, predecessor to Texaco, with Joseph S Cullinan, John Warne Gates, and Arnold Schlaet.

Jim Hogg's popularity extended beyond Texas, particularly in New York.

In January 1905, Jim Hogg was injured in a railroad accident while on a business trip.

Jim Hogg is buried in Oakwood Cemetery in Austin, Texas.

In 1906, Texas Governor James Stephen Jim Hogg asked that a pecan tree be planted at his grave instead of a traditional headstone, requesting that the seeds be distributed throughout the state to make Texas a "Land of Trees".

Jim Hogg's wish was carried out and this brought more attention to pecan trees.