Gager, John 1841-1929

GAGER, CODY, TRASK, STRAWN, JONES

Posted By: S. Ferrall - IAGenWeb volunteer
Date: 11/23/2015 at 22:53:24

Cresco, May 31 - John Gager, Cresco's oldest Civil war veteran, died at his home in Cresco Thursday morning, at the age of 88 years. He was born April 14, 1841, in Meriposa township, Peterburough county, Ontario, Canada, the last of 11 children born to Herbert and Achsah Cody Gager. At the age of 14 he came to Iowa with his father and settled in Kendallville, Winneshiek county.

In May, 1859, he moved to Nebraska and at Brownsville he enlisted in the Union army Dec. 9, 1861, while teaming for the government. He joined the Ninth Kansas cavalry which later consolidated with the second Kansas cavalry, Company G, and was mustered in at Fort Leavenworth, Kas., serving three years and one month.

At the end of the service he returned to Kendallville, and on Dec. 25, 1865 was married to Miss Adaline E. Trask. They moved to Kansas in 1869 and back to Iowa in 1874, since when they lived in Cresco and vicinity.

They were the parents of three daughters and two sons: Mrs. L.E. Strawn, Cresco; Arthur and Lorenzo, both of whom died in early manhood; Mrs. E. Jones, Mason City and Miss Virginia, at home. Mrs. Gager died March 7, 1913. The three daughters survive, also 16 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

Mr. Gager was at the time of his death the oldest member of the Cresco G.A.R. post, and his death leaves but six men of that organization in this vicinity and two other veterans living here, not members of the post.

Funeral services will be held in the Baptist church Sunday at 2 p.m. to be conducted by the pastor, the Rev. C.S. Carroll, with interment at Oak Lawn cemetery. Sons of Veterans will be pallbearers, and patriotic orders will attend in a body.

During Mr. Gager's last illness he expressed a hope to live until after Memorial day and as he had been improving some during the past week or more he expected to be strong enough to attend the memorial services on Thursday.

~Mason City Globe-Gazette, May 31, 1929

Oak Lawn Cemetery
 

Howard Obituaries maintained by Constance McDaniel Hall.
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