Hagensick, Henry Herman 1854 - 1932

HAGENSICK, FROSCH, DRESSER, GRAY, SCHROEDER

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 10/5/2018 at 12:57:50

Clayton County Register, Thur., 16 Jun. 1932.

The death of Henry H. Hagensick marks the passing of Elkader's oldest active business man - a man, who in greater or less degree figured in the development of the community in the 62 years of his active life here.

Henry Herman Hagensick died at his home here Monday, June 13th, at 6:10 p.m., from uremic poisoning, after an illness of only a few days, though he had been ailing for the past week.

Mr. Hagensick was born, May 12, 1854, in St. Louis, Mo., the son of J. M and Margaret (Frosch) Hagensick. He came to Garnavillo in this county the same year with his parents and later they settled in Ceres were the deceased received his education and where he was baptized and confirmed.

In the year 1875 he was united in marriage with Jane Dresser at Postville and to this union two sons, Frank and Ray, were born. Mrs. Hagensick preceded her husband in death several years ago. Surviving are the two sons, both in Elkader, together with two full brothers, W. M. Hagensick in O'Neil, Nebr., Christ Hagensick, Lincoln, Nebr., three half-brothers, Fred Hagensick, Lincoln, Nebr., A. E. Hagensick, Iowa Falls, Iowa, J. L. Hagensick, near Clayton Center; one half-sister, Mrs. Bertha Gray, Elkader; one step-sister, Mrs. Kate Schroeder, Elkader; three grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Funeral services will be held this afternoon at 1:30 in the late home and at 2:00 in the Evangelical church. Interment will be made in the East Side cemetery, the Rev. P. Kitterer officiating.

Henry H. Hagensick was long a prominent citizen of Elkader, in the drug business, in banking circles and other official capacities. When the town was incorporated he had the honor of becoming the first Mayor, which post he held until declining further re-nomination. For a period of fifteen years he served successfully as township clerk and for a number of years was the treasurer of the Boardman township schools.

He spent his boyhood in this county, receiving a good common-school education. He was only seven years old when death deprived him of a mother's care and ten years later he started out to make his own way in the world. He soon found employment with the late Joe Eiboeck, who was editor of the Clayton County Journal here in Elkader. He worked in this printing office for a period of three months at the end of which time he was forced to give up the business as he found his health was unable to stand the close confinement incident to that trade. He next was clerk with the firm F. D. Bayless and Co., with whom he remained until 1877.

Being industrious and thrifty he managed regularly to lay aside a portion of his earnings, which he carefully saved and was thereby enabled to purchase a half-interest in the store in 1877. The firm then became known as Bayless and Hagensick.

In October, 1892, when the Elkader State Bank was organized Mr. Hagensick was made president and he continued in that capacity until 1925 when he became chairman of the board of directors, serving until the consolidation of the two local banks last year.

Mr. Hagensick's interests were not centered in the drug business alone. He owned and operated the Bayless hotel here for many years and was interested also in Clayton County farm land. Because of his quiet and retiring disposition and lack of desire for publicity the results of his labors here will be felt more after his passing than they were during his lifetime.

An appreciation of the esteem in which Mr. Hagensick was held by those closely associated with him is best expressed in the words of the late D. D. Murphy:

"Henry H. Hagensick has long been a prominent citizen of Elkader - a soul of honor. My feeling for Mr. Hagensick through the many years of close, intimate contact has always been of great admiration and affection. Never during my years of association with him have I heard him suggest an attitude that fell short of his reputation as a man of integrity, honor and fair dealing. His memory will be long cherished.

His motto - Work, Save, and Think; keep your life clean and upright, so live that you will have nothing to fear from publicity. He always practiced careful saving, and frugal spending was his success. August, 1874, he started out to make his own way in the world. He entered as a clerk in the drug business with F. D. Bayless and Co., of Elkader, and in that business he continued 62 years.

He was a man engrossed in business, yet public spirited. He was modest and reticent by nature, yet possessed a decision of character and a ripe judgement which gave his ready word weight among the councils of our alert citizens. Affectionate and generous to a large degree, he is an exemplary citizen and has taken an active part in all movements calculated to benefit the general public and fellow townsmen by investing his earnings in Elkader.

When the town was incorporated he had the honor of becoming the first Mayor, which post he held until declining further nomination. He was president of the Elkader State Bank since its organization in 1892 up to 1925 when he became chairman of its board of directors. He served as township clerk and treasurer of Boardman township for many years."