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Gen. Robert F. Hoke.North Carolina’s Most Dintin-guished Soldier—A Modest and Unassuming Gentleman in Whose Brilliant War Record There is a Whole Book—Entered the Confederate Service a Little Above the Position of Private, and Returned Home at the Close of the War a Major-GeneralLIIeEditor •!, 1*. lt;ook. in Th»* Uplift. Concord.'Robert Frederick Hoke is North Carolina/* most distinguished soldier. lie was lmm in Lincoln county May 27lh, 1H.S7. The first of big name t« come to America was a Ltiilicran minister, who settle*] in York, Pennsylvania. From that pluce mine a widow with several -ons, who sett led in Lincoln county; this was before the Revolution. One of these stilts whs ii allied Jolip, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, and lie with a neighbor builf the first cotton mill in the South. Ir is said ilmt thin cotton mill was successfully operated until the civil war.Tiie father of our subject was Michael Hoke, lie was a scholar, an orator and stood high among the leaders of the State. In 1844, ut the uge of ;51, he was chosen as the Democratic candidate for governor to make the race against the Whi^ candidate, William V. Graham. In thisremarkable campaign the Whig majority was ivduced from 15,000 to about 2,000. The strain of the campaign, however, cost Iloke his health, and within a tnoutliafter tlicelection he died.Robert Frederick Iloke was then seven years of age. After a prepara lory course in Lincolnton, young Hoke attended the Kentucky Mili-tury academy, conducted by graduates of West Point. The subject of our sketch left the institution before graduation, and returned home at t In* age of seventeen to takecharg* of his mother’s business. He was connected with the manufacture ofcotton, paper, iron and of linseed oil until the war began in 1801.Robert Frederick Hoke was 24 years old when he joined the Southern Stars, which went out from Lincoln county and which wasCornpanv K of the Rethel Regiment. lie wassecond lieutenant. In January, 1SG2 he became lieutenant colonel; in August, of the H.nne year he W/t« commissioned as full colonel. In 1804, for an important achievement in North ('a rolinu, President Davis telegraphed him his promotion to major-general —the only time a promotion was made in this manner during the en-I standard, has been extraordinarily successful The Cranberry Iron mines,and the r«»ad leading from there to Johnson City, T^nn , became profit -able and valuable properties under his direction and ndramis* rat ion lt;»f their affairs. He was the reni head in the building and construction of the Georgia end North Carolina railroad, now a part of the Seaboard, which runs from Monroe to Alanta.General Hoke has always taken au intelligent and conservative interest in political matters, but he lms when sought (as has been the case often) to become a candidate always positively refused to permit his name to Ik? used in connection w ith .my political office. The people of North Carols a would have been proud to havei placed him in any responsible office, . bur his iron will and fixed pu.it ire war.prevented it. Guv Vance prevail-J j on him to accept ’lie direct*-rship of j the North Carolina road; later he was made and is now a director on tie part of the private stockholders of said road. Hi- wisdom, when the W) year lease of this road was being made to theSout hern, made the lease contract such a good one that no State or Federal legislation now or hereafter can materially affect the returns to the holders of the stock. He whs careful, wise and long-headed, and his contention at that time has already prevented the lease from becoming a poor business proposition f**r the State and the stockholders.Several years ago when he had accumulated a splendid estate, and the warnings of a serious illness called a halt in the activity of his industrial career, he retired to the Lincoln Lithia Springs property, which he mid several other parties own. Ilis health was restored. He formed a •*lub of 201) members, which took over the property of 250 acres on which one of the finest lithia springs known is to be found. Ah its president and general manager. General Hoke is making of the Lincoln Lithia Springs one of the finest properties in rlie State, it is with him a labo* of love and interest. When his plan* are fully developed, there can b found nowhere a spot more condurive to rest, happiness mid health.General Hoke was once asked what suggestion he would offer to the young; he replied: “Strict attention to all duties of life.” That, as I see it and know him, has been the rule of his own life. He is never idle—though 72 years of age. lie is active, erect and vigorous of mind and b* dy. lie is a gentleman of the old school, compassionable in spirit, thoughtful in speech, considerate to the weakand courteous to the strong. Hecomes nearer attending strictly to his own business and letting severely alone that of all others than any man 1 ever knew. He does not have to trv to do this. General Hoke se*s the bright side of things—he is hopeful—he has faith in folks—and pessimism is a thing that lie knows noth-
Newspaper Details
The Gold Leaf
Henderson, North Carolina, US
Thu, Jan 13, 1910
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Charles H.
GA, USA 14 Nov 2021
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