John T. Hazen (1846-1931)

HAZEN

Posted By: Debra Scott Hierlmeier (email)
Date: 11/8/2008 at 09:50:37

John T. Hazen
PHOTO AVAILABLE
Dies Monday June 29 Pioneer Settler
Lived in Avoca Sixty Years, Served Two Terms in General Assembly of Iowa,
Sheriff of County

John T. Hazen passed away at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Mehrens Monday evening, June 29th, (1931) after an illness of three days, aged 84 years, 11 months, and two days.

Funeral services were held at the Congregational Church in Avoca Wednesday afternoon at two o’clock, Rev Earl Remaly officiating. Short services in charge of the I.O.O.F. at the grave.
John T. Hazen was born in Dearborn county, Indiana, July 27, 1846, the son of Isaac and Rebecca (Stewart) Hazen.

In 1854 when Mr. Hazen was eight years old, the family removed to Iowa making settlement on a government farm near Ainsworth and taking up the hardships and privations of the early pioneer. The father died in 1893.

In 1867, Mr. Hazen was united in marriage to Miss Addie Jones, who died one and one-half years later. In 1871, Mr. Hazen came to Pottawattamie county, purchasing eight acres of prairie land in Layton township southeast of Avoca. The land was raw prairie and he proceeded to break it up and farmed it for several years. There was no house on this land and Mr. Hazen lived in a tent until he could build a small cabin.

In 1872, Mr. Hazen was married to Mrs. Julia R. Harris of Avoca. To this union six children were born; Mrs. Maude Irvine of New York; Paul T. and Roy, of Omaha; Mrs. Mabel McComb, North Platte, Nebraska, Eloise who died in 1918, and a son who died in infancy.

John Hazen has long been identified with Pottawattamie county having lived here more than 60 years. He farmed for a number of years and took up auctioneering as a side line. He became known as one of the best auctioneers in the state. Moving to Avoca in the seventies, he worked for a time on the railroad at $1.10 per day. While doing this work he came under the observation of the roadmaster who gave him a job as checker in the freight office, later became baggage master, resigning in order to devote more time to his business of auctioneering which soon occupied all of his time.

In 1892, Mr. Hazen was elected sheriff of Pottawattamie county and held the position for two terms. During his term of office he had to deal with some of the worst and most violent mobs that ever gathered in Council Bluffs, determined to hang a man in the custody of Mr. Hazen. He came out on the steps of the court house and simply talked that mob into dispersing without blood being shed.

In April 1894, Kelly’s army marched over the river bridge at Omaha and camped on what was then known as the Chautauqua grounds. Mr. Hazen met this army of jobless men numbering several hundreds, at the east end of the bridge and for a week camped with the men day and night until he had escorted them to the Cass county line.
At one time during this march the railroad officials demanded that Hazen call out the state militia, saying that he would be held responsible for any trouble or damages. Mr. Hazen knew that the cost of doing this would be great and would have to be paid by the taxpayers of the county and steadfastly refused to call the troops. He proved himself equal to the occasion and got them out of the county without any trouble. At one time when these men were wet and hungry Mr. Hazen sent for bread and coffee, paying the bills for same $96 out of his own pocket. How many men in the county today would do this?

Soon after leaving the sheriff’s office which he filled with credit to the county and himself, he purchased 160 acres northeast of Avoca which he farmed for several years, later selling it and moving to Avoca.

He was elected mayor for two terms and made as good a magistrate as Avoca has ever known. He served on the city council, the school board, and various other civic offices and never did he shirk his duty. His judgment was sought by the friends in many of their business deals.

Mr. Hazen has been a stockholder of the Citizens Saving Bank since its organization and has been one of the directors for twenty years or more.
He served as representative in the 34th and 35th General Assembly of Iowa and was considered one of the most influential men at these sessions, making many warm friends over the state. He was a man among men, a lover of home and family, his friends were legion, his enemies few. As an officer he did his duty, honorably and fearlessly. He held the respect of those who did not always concur in his opinion because of his honesty and uprightness.

Mr. Hazen was member of the Odd Fellows lodge of Avoca for more than fifty years and in his younger days did a great deal to promote the good of the order. He was member of the Congregational church of Avoca and up until his last illness never failed to attend church on Sunday, if possible.

On December 2, 1930, Mr. Hazen developed serious trouble and was confined in the hospital several weeks. He improved to the extent that he was able to be about town from time to time but was forced to give up all activity in business. He extreme heat the past week had been hard on him and last Saturday he was forced to go to bed and passed away the following Monday.

John T. Hazen was a pioneer of this section of Iowa. He watched the changes from a vast prairie land to the present most fertile agricultural section of this world. He traveled in the covered wagon and ox team, then the spring wagon and horses, then came the train, the automobile and the airplane. When a small boy his father took him to Davenport in a covered wagon, more than 40 miles to witness the coming of the first steam engine which entered Iowa at Davenport, crossing the river on the ice.

The writer has known Mr. Hazen in the most
intimate terms of friendship for more than fifty years. We came to Avoca on Mr. Hazen’s birthday, July 27, and a friendship soon developed in comradeship never ceasing until he closed his eyes in death Monday evening, as we entered his room he was taking his last breath, and that grand old soul left the worn out body we had learned to love and cherish, and took its flight to that bourne from whence no traveler ever returns. These words most fittingly express our feeling:

“I’d like to be the sort of friend that
You have been to me.
I’d like to be the help that you;ve
Been always glad to be,
I’d like to mean as much to you each
Minute of the day,
As you have meant, old friend of
mine to me along the way.
And could I have one wish, dear
Friend, this only would it be,
I’d like to be the sort of friend that
You have always been to me.”

From the Scrapbooks of Bessie Gross Gustafsen
Source: Avoca Journal Herald