HAGEN, Joseph Francis (1915 Biography)

HAGEN, ASBACH, LAMB, BICYCLE , PARKHURST, HALE, PARKER, BAILEY, LA POINT, PETTY, TONEY, DUNBAR, DANIELS

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 1/28/2014 at 09:50:27

History of Decatur County Iowa and Its People
Illustrated, Volumne II.

Prof. J. M. Howell and Heman C. Smith
Supervising Editors

The S.J. Clarke Publishing Company. Pp. 360-62. Chicago. 1915.

JOSEPH FRANCIS HAGEN

Joseph Francis Hagen, a well-to-do farmer and stock-raiser on section 14, New Buda township, and a native son of Decatur county, was born on a farm in Grand River township on the 14th of March, 1858, of the marriage of John and Eve (Asbach) Hagen. The father, who was born near Berlin, Germany, upon emigrating to America, first located in Grand River township, Decatur county. Iowa, but subsequently removed to Burrell township, where he bought land from the government. Later he conducted a general store in New Buda for ten years, although during his earlier life he was a farmer. He passed away in New Buda township in 1878. having survived his first wife for a decade, her demise occurring in 1868. She was also born in Germany and their marriage was celebrated in that country. Mr. Hagen chose for his second wife Mrs. Bertha (Lamb) Bicycle [?], who survived him for a number of years. He was quite successful and accumulated two hundred and seventy acres of valuable farm land. Of the six children born to his first union three survive, as follows: Joseph Francis; Adolph, who is living in >rebraska; and Latta, of Burrell township, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work.

Joseph F. Hagen was reared under the parental roof and received his education in the district schools. At the time of his father's demise he was appointed guardian for his brothers and sisters and discharged his duties in that connection ably and conscientiously. When the estate was settled he received seventv-two acres of land on section 14, New Buda township, and located upon his farm, where he is still residing. He has added to his holdings and now owns four hundred and thirty acres of land, one hundred and sixty acres of which is located in Chase county, Nebraska. He grows the usual cereals and also raises a large number of cattle and hogs annually, shipping to the Chicago and St. Joseph markets.

On the 12th of December, 1880, Mr. Hagen was married to Miss Mary A. Parkhurst, a daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth Susan (Hale) Parkhurst. Both parents were born in Indiana, the father of German and English ancestry and the mother of Irish and Dutch stock. Both removed to Wapello county, Iowa, in their youth and where their marriage occurred. After residing in Iowa for a number of years they removed to Illinois, where the father engaged in rail-road construction work. He was injured by a piledriver and died from the effects of the injury in 1870. His widow subsequently married John Parker, who is now deceased. She is still living and makes her home at Pawnee, Missouri. There were no children of the second marriage and those of the first union were as follows: William, deceased; Sarah Louisa, the wife of David Bailey, of Des Moines; Mrs. Hagen; and a son who died in infancy.

Mr. and Ms. Hagen have six children living. Pearl, born September 12, 1881, married Ora La Point, a carpenter of Ottumwa, Iowa, and they have three children, Veta, Mary and Myron. Cora, born March 1, 1883, is the wife of Bert Petty, a farmer of Harrison county, Missouri. Jacob L., born February 24, 1885, married Zona Toney, and is a farmer of New Buda township, and they have two children, Leota and Lucille. John F., born October 13, 1887, is a farmer of New Buda township. He married Nellie Dunbar, by whom he has three children, Francis, Garland and Doyle. Joseph C, born September 24, 1889, is a farmer of New Buda township. He married Argyle Daniels and their children are Vera and Gerald. William Harold, born January 8, 1897, is at home. Ernest, born October 31, 1899, died September 9, 1901.

Mr. Hagen for several years voted the republican ticket but later supported the people's party and now votes independently, laying more stress upon the qualifications of the candidate than upon his party affiliation. He has taken quite an active part in local politics and served for nine years as trustee of New Buda township, for four years as township clerk, for twenty-three years as secretary of the township school board, which office he still holds, and for a number of years as school director in his home district. He was reared in the faith of the Catholic church but is not now a member of any church. Fraternally he belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America and the Yeomen of Davis City and has many friends both within and without those organizations. He devotes practically his entire time to farming and stock-raising and the gratifying success which he has won is well deserved. He is not only honest and upright in all of his dealings, but he also manifests a marked public spirit which leads him to support movements seeking the general welfare.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, January of 2014