Gager, Edgar Lathrop 1834 - 1918

GAGER, STRUN, TREADWELL, MORHLER

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 11/26/2021 at 20:35:40

Elkader Register & Argus, Thur., 19 Sept. 1918. Strawberry Point column.

Edgar Lathrop Gager was born October 10, 1834, at Victor, N.Y. In April, 1835, his parents, James P. and Jane F. Gager started their pilgrimage west from Sydney, N.Y., via Buffalo and thence by lake transportation to Chicago, Ill.

Mr. Gager's parents lived in Cook county, Ill., and vicinity till 1848, when they moved to Galena, Ill., where his boyhood days were spent.

In the spring of 1852, he accompanied his paarents to Clayton county. They traveled overland via team and wagon to Lodomillo township, where they bought up the claim of a Mr. Rupp, settling there and proving up the claim which is now known as the Treadwell estate.

Here Mr. Gager grew to manhood and being one of the early settlers of Lodomillo township, often related many instances of the hardships, dangers and joys of pioneer life.

He and his father in these early days made frequent trips to McGregor, Prairie du Chien and Dubuque hauling wheat, wood and other produce to the markets in exchange for provisions, which in those days could be obtained only by going after them.

In 1861 he enlisted in Co. D, 7th Iowa Infantry, remaining in the service of his country till 1862 when he was honorably discharged on account of poor health.

He kept a diary of his life while in the service in which are recorded many interesting circumstances and experiences.

Feb. 5, 1867, he was united in marriage with Lana Strun and settled on a farm in Lodomillo township where they lived till 1882. One son was born, George Burton, who died in Kansas City in 1891.

In June 1882 Mr. and Mrs. Gager and son George traveled overland by team and covered wagon to S. John' Stafford county, Kansas, where they took up a claim in August of the same year.

Being one of the early settlers of this western country they experienced many of the hardships common in early days as comforts of life were not known, they being a number of miles from any railroad.

When Mr. and Mrs. Gager first settled on their claim they lived in a sod house, but they soon built a suitable home and remained there till 1890 when they returned to Iowa and later, after disposing of their property in both Lodomillo township and Kansas, bought a home in Strawberry Point, where they lived for a number of years. Finally, in 1912 they sold their property here and moved to Oelwein, Ia., residing there the rest of his life.

In the early morning of Sept. 10, at his home in Oelwein he passed from this life to his home over there, at the age of 83 years and one month.

Funeral services were conducted by the Rev. C. H. True, an old friend of the family, Thursday afternoon at the home of his sister, Mrs. E. A. Treadwell, on Commercial street, and interment was in the Strawberry Point cemetery.

He leaves to mourn his loss a widow, one adopted daughter, Mrs. Cora Morhler, both of Oelwein, and a sister, Mrs. E. A. Treadwell, of this city, and a host of friends.

In his passing the family have lost a loving and considerate husband and father, the community a just and upright citizen, who always had a keen sense of thought, which was right and he was always advocating those things which in his judgement were for the betterment of his fellow men.