In December 2012, I highlighted the home of
Henry Pogue, one of the founders of the H & S Pogue Company. Just last week, at the request of the Cincinnati Preservation Association, I researched a curious stone home in Avondale, which turns out to be the home of Samuel Pogue, Henry's brother and co-founder of the once-famous department store.
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| 3250 Harvey Avenue |
It is hard to see if there is even a home behind all this over growth of plants, but hidden behind these trees is a home, built in 1883-1884.
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| Cincinnati Enquirer; August 16, 1883 |
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| 1999-2003 Hamilton County Auditor |
In this spring photo, you can better see what a beauty this house is. The land was originally part of Glenn parcel as seen below. The home stands at the corner of Harvey Avenue and present-day Hale Avenue, which was then called Linden Avenue. The home was a bit confusing to research since the address used by the Pogue's was 509 Hale Avenue and not 3250 Harvey Avenue used today. Additional homes and apartments were built on the Hale Avenue side after 1934, causing the main home to be renumbered.
I found this biography, written just before Samuel's death, which occurred on July 30, 1912.
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| Samuel Pogue |
The life record of Samuel Pogue
is the story of continuous progress. Correctly judging his own capacities and
powers, and the people and circumstances that make up his life's contacts and
experiences, he has so utilized and directed his energies that he has gained a
position of distinctive precedence in mercantile circles in Cincinnati. Not to
know. Samuel Pogue, at least by reputation if not personally, is to argue one's
self unknown in this city. He was born on a farm at Drumcarplin, near Cavan,
Ireland, June 1, 1832, a son of Thomas and Isabella (Crawford) Pogue, the
former of Irish lineage and the latter of Scotch descent. On the Emerald isle
his youthful days were passed and, following the acquirement of a common school
education, he came to America in 1849 and has since been identified with
mercantile interests in Cincinnati. He became a clerk in the dry-goods store of
John Crawford, on Fifth street, between Walnut and Vine streets, and carefully
saved his earnings with the view of one day engaging in business on his own
account. At the close of the war he and a brother, Henry, purchased the stock
of Mr. Crawford and opened a store at No. 100 West Fifth street, between Vine
and Race streets, under the firm name of H. & S. Pogue. For a number of
years they continued at that location and then sought larger quarters on Fourth
street, between Vine and Race streets, to which they removed on the 1st of
January, 1878, their business occupying two store buildings at Nos. 112 and
.114. Subsequently the business was reorganized as a corporation under the name
of the H. &. S. Pogue Company and in succeeding years adjoining property
was purchased so that the store now covers two hundred feet square on Fourth
and Race streets. Samuel Pogue is president of the company although he has now
passed the seventy-ninth milestone on life's journey. His identification with
this business covers forty-six years and throughout the entire period the name
of Pogue has sustained an unassailable reputation for business integrity and
incorruptible commercial methods. He is also well known in financial circles
and is a director of the Merchants' National Bank and the First National Bank.
On the 17th of August, 1871, in
Avondale, Mr. Pogue was united in marriage by Rev. W. J. McKnight to Miss
Frances Catherine West, a daughter of Henry Franklin West. Their children are:
Robert West, who married Miss S. Russell; Letcher, of Richmond, Kentucky;
Elizabeth M., the wife of William Robert Todd; and Samuel Franklin, who married
Miss Mabel E. Wood, of St. Louis, Missouri.
Mr. Pogue is a republican in his
political views. His activities outside of his business and his home have
largely centered in religious work. He was for many years a member of the
Central Presbyterian church and long served as one of its elders, while for a
number of years he was superintendent of its Sunday school. His membership is
now in the Avondale Presbyterian church. There are few men whose lives are
crowned with the honor and respect which are uniformly accorded Samuel Pogue.
Through a half-century's connection with the history of Cincinnati his has been
an unblemished character. With him success in life has been reached by sterling
qualities of mind and a heart true to every manly principle. He has never
deviated from what his judgment indicated to be right and honorable between his
fellowmen and himself and has always followed constructive measures, believing
in the right of every individual to earn an honest living, so that his path has
never been strewed with the wrecks of other men's fortunes.
Cincinnati, the Queen City,
1788-1912, Volume 2; Charles Frederic
Goss; S. J. Clarke Publishing Company,
1912 - Cincinnati (Ohio)
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| 1904 Sanborn Insurance Map - Source |
Samuel and Fannie lived in their Avondale home along with their three children. After their children married and Samuel died, Fannie continued to live in the home with her servants and chauffeur until her death in 1934 at the age of 88. The family is buried at Spring Grove Cemetery.
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| Frances Catherine "Fannie" West Pogue - Source |
After her death, the home was converted into apartments. In the 1940 Census, Albert Zwissler, a carpenter, was the owner and a total of six families were living there, with occupations such as university physics teacher, a nurse and a draftsman. From the 1940's to the present, this former home is still rented as apartments, but from checking records with the city, maintenance is needed on the building. As of June, 2013, the building has new owners and I hope they repair the home and clear the overgrown foliage so that Avondale and the rest of Cincinnati can enjoy the home Samuel Pogue had built for his family 130 years ago.
Post Script:
It is often believed that Samuel Pogue owned a home in Rose Hill in North Avondale, however, this home at 4033 Rose Hill Avenue, was built by his son, Samuel Francis Pogue, in 1905 and he sold it in 1916.
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4033 Rose Hill Avenue
Home of Samuel F. Pogue from 1905 to 1916 |
Just two years later, Samuel F. Pogue died in Washington, D.C. while serving in the Armed Forces for World War I from complications of pneumonia and typhoid at the young age of 36.
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| Cincinnati Enquirer; Dec 13, 1918 |
Thanks, wonderful account! rr
ReplyDeleteThanks for this article. I lived there in 2007. It is an impressive building. I think my ground floor apartment had 15 ft ceilings! I also remember having to pass a cave cricket when I did laundry in the basement.
ReplyDelete