John Franklin Hoke Bio-Sketch

QUICK FACTS (JFH)

Name: John Franklin Hoke
Rank: Brigadier General
Education: University of North Carolina
Birth Date: May 8, 1820
Birth Place: Lincoln County, NC
Death Date: October 27, 1888
Death Place: Lincolnton, NC

John Franklin Hoke was born to a prominent Lincoln County family. He attended the University of North Carolina and graduated in 1841. He studied and practiced law after graduation and married Catherine Alexander, daughter of William Julius Alexander, also of Lincoln County. Hoke served in the army during the Mexican War as a lieutenant and was promoted to captain. He led his company in the battles of Cerro Gordo, Tolema and National Bridge.

Back in North Carolina, Hoke was elected to the State Legislature as a conservative democrat and actively campaigned for secession leading up to the War. He was appointed Adjutant General of North Carolina in 1860. At the outbreak of the War Between the States, he was commissioned Colonel of the 23^rd North Carolina Infantry Regiment (renumbered from the 13^th North Carolina Infantry Regiment Volunteers). Hoke was at Manassas but arrived too late to fight in the battle. The regiment saw action at Williamsburg and during the Seven Days’ Battles.  In 1862, Hoke failed to win reelection as colonel and returned to North Carolina where he was re-elected to the State Senate. In March 1864, he was commissioned Colonel of the 1^st North Carolina Senior Reserves, mainly operating out of the prison at Salisbury and served in this position until the end of the War.

Following the War, Hoke returned to Lincoln County to practice law and was re-elected to serve in the State Legislature as a conservative. He died in Lincolnton in 1888 and is interred in the cemetery at Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church in Lincolnton. John Franklin Hoke was uncle of Major General Robert Frederick Hoke.