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Jasper County, Iowa
Historical and Genealogical Data Exchange
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Fred
Hager Upon the roll
of representative citizens and prominent and influential businessmen of Jasper
County consistently appears the name of Fred Hager, the able president of the
State Savings Bank of Baxter. He is
one of those sturdy spirits who has contributed largely to the material welfare
of the locality in which he resides, representing that class of earnest,
foreign-born citizens who have done so much for the development of the United
States, while at the same time they have benefited themselves in a very material
manner. He has been a
resident of Independence Township for many years, during which time he has
gradually won his way into the affections of the people, for he possesses those
sterling qualities of character which commend themselves to persons of
intelligence and the highest morality, so it is no wonder that he has achieved
so high a position in the general estimation of all who have come in touch with
him. Mr.
Hager was born in Lippe-Detmold, Germany, on November 29, 1864, and there he
grew to maturity and attended the common schools. Leaving his native land in
1882, he emigrated to free America, landing on our shores, "a youth to
fortune and to fame unknown." He
came directly to Jasper County, Iowa, and has been a resident here ever since,
taking an active and important interest in the development of the same, which
has been note-worthy and remarkable, considering the fact that it was not so
very many years ago that this locality was a wild plain.
Mr. Hager's rise has been rapid, as the steps from a farm laborer to bank
president forcibly illustrate; this too, secured through avenues of industry and
integrity is the highest tribute that can be paid to him by his fellow men.
He is the son of Herman and Sophia (Stock) Hager, both born, reared,
educated and married in Germany, and there the father died, the mother being
still a resident of the province of her nativity.
They were the parents of five children, namely:
Herman is living in Germany; Fred, of this review; Lena Stoelting and
Minnie Einsmeyer both live in Germany; August lives in Baxter, Iowa. Mr.
Hager, of this review, was married on December 7, 1899, to Clara Harre, who was
born in Jasper County, Iowa. She is
a lady of many praiseworthy qualities and has long been a social favorite.
She is the daughter of Fred and Wilhelmina (Mierkert) Harre, a prominent
pioneer family of Jasper County, the father being now deceased, but the mother
is living in Baxter, Iowa. Their family consisted of eight children, all of whom
are still living; they are, Mrs. Kracht, of Baxter, this County; Fred lives near
Kearney, Nebraska; Paulina Geise, of Malaka Township; Otto lives in Marshall
County; Albert is agent of the Chicago Great Western Railroad Company at
Waverly, Iowa; Mattie Kanne lives in Malaka Township; Clara, wife of Mr. Hager,
of this review; William lives in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Mr.
Hager came to Baxter, Iowa, in 1882 and was for some time employed by his
cousins, the Hager Brothers, as a farm hand.
By industry and economy he was, after some time, enabled to start in
business for himself, and, by close application and wise discretion, coupled
with untiring energy and rare discernment he prospered continuously. He finally
entered the banking business, in which he showed such aptitude that he was
honored with the vice-presidency of the State Savings Bank at Baxter, upon the
reorganization of which he was
chosen president, which position he continues to hold in a manner that reflects
much credit upon his ability and to the entire satisfaction of the stockholders
and the patrons of the bank. It is
safe to say that the widespread popularity and growing prosperity of this well
known, safe and sound institution has been due in no small degree to his ability
as a financier and his scrupulous honesty in every relation of life. The capital stock of this bank is thirty thousand dollars and
the surplus for 1911 will amount to ten thousand dollars.
The corporation owns two buildings in Baxter and the present home of the
institution is modern, substantial, convenient and equipped in, an up-to-date
manner. Besides his interest in this bank, Mr. Hager is the owner of
six hundred and forty acres near Garnduff, Saskatchewan, Canada, also one
hundred and sixty acres of excellent land in Douglas County, Washington, and one
hundred and sixty acres in Chaves County, New Mexico. He owns a commodious and beautiful home in Baxter. Politically, Mr. Hager is a Democrat. He has been a member of the town council for two terms and Township clerk for four years, also Township Trustee for three years. His bank is custodian of the school, Township and road funds. Many a poor young man has been assisted through Mr. Hager's largeness of heart, for, having once been a poor boy himself, he has a great deal of sympathy for those worthy youths who need assistance at the threshold of life. Personally, he is a genial, companionable and public-spirited gentleman, whom to know is to admire and respect. He and his wife are worthy members and liberal supporters of the German Reformed Church. They have no children, but have not withheld their aid and encouragement from the children of their neighbors arid friends, and as a result of their many estimable qualities of head and heart they are held in high esteem by all who know them. The Past and Present of Jasper County, Gen. James B. Weaver, Editor-In-Chief, 1912 B.F. Bowen Co., Indianapolis, IN, p. 1317. |
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