HAGLER, John C.

HAGLER, BAKER, WRIGHT, PIPPINGER, HUDDLESTON, ABERNATHY, SMITH, CORWIN, TUFTS

Posted By: Volunteer - Rich Lowe
Date: 2/7/2007 at 05:47:58

JOHN C. HAGLER, an honored pioneer of Iowa, of 1832, who, since 1843 has made his home in Van Buren County, and is now a resident of Milton, was born in Stewart County, Tenn., on the 19th of March, 1814, and is one of a family of thirteen children, numbering six brothers and seven sisters, of whom five brothers and four sisters are now living. The parents of this family were Cleveland and Nancy Hagler, natives of North Carolina, both born and reared in the region of the Little Pedee River. They removed to Tennessee in early life, whence they emigrated to Madison County, Ill., with their children, in 1819, and Mr. Hagler there devoted himself to farming until 1832, when, accompanied by his family, he took up his residence in Warren County of the same State, where he made his home until 1843, when he emigrated to the Iowa Territory, the family locating in Jackson Township on Government land. Mr. Hagler followed the occupation of farming throughout his entire life. He held various township offices and lived to a ripe old age, his death occurring in 1877, having survived his wife about three years.

John C Hagler was reared on a farm and received his education in the country district schools of Illinois. When eighteen years of age he turned his face toward the setting sun, and crossing the Mississippi at a point where now flourishes the great city of Burlington, set foot upon Iowa soil. At that time one log house alone marked the advent of the white race into what was then an unorganized territory, but which was attached to Michigan in 1834, became Wisconsin Territory in 1836, and was organized into the Territory of Iowa in 1838. Mr. Hagler erected a log cabin on a claim near the present site of Burlington, where he spent the winter, returning to Illinois in the spring of 1833. The following fall he went to Dubuque, Iowa, then a mere hamlet, and followed teaming with a yoke of oxen. between Keokuk, Galena, Mineral Point and Plattville, until the fall of 1834, when he returned to Warren County, Ill. He engaged in farming there and was married in that county on the 30th of November, 1837, to Miss Rachel Baker, who was born in St. Claire County, Ill., May 10, 1817.

In the spring of 1843 Mr. Hagler emigrated from Illinois to Iowa, and located in Jackson Township, Van Buren County, near Milton. His brother, Amos Hagler, in company with two other families, were the earliest settlers in this township, they having located here in the spring of 1838. The brother died November 10, 1864. John C. Hagler purchased Government land on section 32, town 68 north, range 11 west, where he engaged in farming and stock-raising. He added to his original purchase until he had four hundred acres in this township, in addition to which He now owns two hundred and forty acres near Rippey, Greene County, Iowa, and eighty acres in Woodbury County. In 1866 he began buying and shipping live stock, which business he continued until 1884. His first markets were St. Louis, Mo., and Pittsburg, Pa., and he also shipped some stock to New York, but later the greater part of his shipments were sent to Chicago. He purchased considerable Texas stock in early days, but subsequently bought Iowa cattle. His shipments averaged about two cars of stock weekly, and he was known throughout Iowa as one of the largest stock dealers of the State. In 1877, retiring somewhat from active business life, he removed to Milton, where he has since resided.

Mr. and Mrs. Hagler were the parents of seven children, four sons and three daughters, of whom five are living. George W., the eldest, was born August 9, 1840, served three years during the late war as a member of the Ninth Missouri Cavalry, married Miss Hattie Wright, and resides in Ida County, Iowa, where he is engaged in farming; Nancy E., born July 30, 1842, is the wife of George Pippinger, and is a resident of Ida County, Iowa. Mr. Hagler, Sr., has two brothers and a sister living in Ida County, besides his son and daughter. Marion C., the next younger, was born March 25, 1844, and died August 4, 1845; Elisha C., born May 20, 1846, and died August 15, 1847; Susanna, born February 16, 1848, is the wife of Calvin Huddleston, a farmer of Jackson Township, who enlisted in the Ninth Missouri Cavalry, and served three years in the late war; John Fletcher was born January 31, 1850, wedded Lizzie Abernathy, who lives in Shenandoah, Iowa; David M., born January 27, 1855, married Emma Smith, and is farming in Jackson Township.

On the 24th of September, 1883, Mr. Hagler was called upon to mourn the loss of his esteemed wife, who had been his companion on life's journey for nearly forty-six years, and who was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was again married September 30, 1885, the lady of his choice being Mrs. Mary J. Corwin, widow of B. W. Corwin, and daughter of Josiah and Hattie (Taylor) Tufts. Mrs. Hagler was born in Lebanon, Warren County, Ohio, January 22, 1844, was reared and educated in her native town, and on the 14th of September, 1865, became the wife of Lieut. B. W. Corwin. Her husband was born in Warren County, Ohio, April 2, 1841, and was a Lieutenant of the Second Ohio Heavy Artillery. In 1867 he removed with his family to Keosauqua, Iowa, and on the 15th of February, 1877, his death occurred in Scotland County, Mo. Mrs. Hader had five children by her first marriage. Hattie Corwin, the eldest, was born October 8, 1866, and is the wife of Charles Drake, of Scotland County, Mo.; Winnie, born December 31, 1867, died October 29, 1887; Joseph E., born October 14, 1869; Frank E., April 11, 1875; and John W., August 20, 1876. Mrs. Hagler is a member of the Christian Church. Mr. Hagler has always been a Republican in politics and has held various township offices; was Justice of the Peace, Notary Public, Township Trustee, and a member of the School Board. Socially, he is a member of Aurora Lodge, No. 150, A. F. & A. M., of Milton. Toward the breaking out of the war he engaged in merchandising with John Wright, and continued some six years. Fifty-eight years mark the time since he came to Iowa.

Source:
1890 Portrait and Biographical Album
of Jeffeson and Van Buren Counties, Iowa