Gustav A. Hager

HAGER, DALBAMEIER, GEISE, CRAWFORD, CULBERTSON, ARMSWORTH, CLIFTON, BOGGESS, RIPPEY, BOSSOUT

Posted By: volunteer transcriber
Date: 3/3/2004 at 02:03:31

Gustav A. Hager
Improvement and progress may well be said to form the keynote of the character of Gustav A. Hager, well known merchant of Baxter and one of Jasper County's representative citizens, and he has not only been interested in the work of advancement of individual affairs, but his influence is felt in the up building of the community which has so long been honored by his citizenship. The prosperity, which he enjoys, is the result of energy rightly applied and has been won by commendable qualities.

Mr. Gustav A. Hager was born in Allamakee County, Iowa, April 14, 1865. He is the son of Simon Hager, who was born in Lippe-Detmold, Germany, in 1825, in which locality was also born, on August 18, 1827, the mother of the subject, she being known in her maidenhood as Minnie Dalbameier. There they grew up and were married, coming to the United States in early life and spending their last days in Jasper County, Iowa, the father dying in Independence Township in 1876 and the mother on September 21, 1895. There were seven children in their family as follows: William, born January 23, 1857, is living in Baxter, Iowa; Lizzie is the wife of H. A. Geise, of Independence Township; George T., born September 11, 1860, of Baxter; L. A., born December 4, 1864, died in Santa Barbara, California, September 20, 1909. Gustav A., of this review; Helen died in infancy; Lydia, born in Jasper County on December 2, 1875, lives in Santa Barbara, California.

Gustav A. Hager was educated in the common schools and early in life turned his attention to business and has been very successful, being now a member of the well known firm of Hager Brothers, dealers in pianos and organs at Baxter, this County. They maintain a neat and well-ordered store, carrying a large, up-to-date and carefully selected stock of instruments and enjoy an extensive and constantly growing patronage with the surrounding country. They have long been regarded as among the most progressive merchants of this thriving little city and have been among its most successful firms. Mr. Hager has a modern and well-furnished home in Baxter. Politically, he is a Republican and a member of the German Reformed Church of this Township.

Mr. Hager was married on March 13, 1895, to Mary L. Crawford, who was born in Leesburg, Indiana, February 18, 1872, and this union has been graced by the birth of one child, Raymond Gustav Hager, born November 6, 1898, a promising lad, now attending school at Baxter. Mrs. Hager is the daughter of W. J. Crawford, who, after a long and useful life, is now living retired in this County. He was born in Knox County, Ohio, November 2, 1836, the son of Lloyd and Eliza (Culbertson) Crawford, both natives of Ohio, from which state they moved to Illinois when their son. W. J., was a boy, the family later moving to Indiana and in 1884 came to Jasper County, Iowa, locating at Ira where the father engaged in general merchandising until 1899 when he retired. On July 7, 1871, W.J. Crawford was united in marriage, with Mary Armsworth, who was born in Leesburg, Indiana, December 23, 1854, the daughter of Willis and Ann (Clifton) Armsworth, the father born in Illinois and the mother in Ohio; they came to Iowa later in life, locating in Jasper County, the father dying in 1865 and the mother in 1898. Mrs. Crawford was one of a family of three daughters, the others being, Mrs. Martha Boggess and Mrs. Ann Rippey, both deceased. Three daughters were born to Mr. and Mrs. Crawford: Mary L, wife of Mr. Hager of this sketch; Clara, born January 17, 1873, married J. H. Crawford, a resident of Independence Township; and Mrs. Anna Bossout, born January 11, 1875, and living at Fraser, Iowa.

W. J. Crawford was for years one of our leading business men, having been engaged for the most part in handling lumber, finally investing his savings in bank stocks and other securities and is now enjoying the fruits of his earlier years of toil, and is one of the honored citizens of the town of Ira.

- source: Past and Present of Jasper County Iowa; Gen. James B. Weaver, editor-in-chief, B.F. Bowden & Co., Indianapolis, Indiana, 1912; pg. 1165.
- transcribed by Ernie Braida