John Franklin Hager
and Mary Elizabeth Sadler
Maternal 3x Great Grandparents
JOHN FRANKLIN HAGER was born in 1819, in Lincoln County, North Carolina. He was the son of Frederick Hager and Margaret Hinkle. John Franklin's father, Frederick, grew up at Hager's Ferry, along the banks of the Catawba River. They arrived in Perry County, Missouri, in approximately 1827 when John Franklin was about seven years old. John Franklin had a large family, but he also enjoyed a substantial extended family of Hagers who lived in the same part of Perry County. John Franklin's siblings (including himself) consisted of the following:
Children of Frederic Hager
and Margaret Hinkle
John Franklin Hager
• b. October 10, 1819
• born in Lincoln County, NC
• married Mary Elizabeth Sadler
• d. July 5, 1874 in Perry Co., MO
• died at the age of 54 years
Aaron Hager
• b. January 1, 1821
• born in Lincoln County, NC
• married Nancy (Ann) Penny
• died in Perry County, MO
Elizabeth Hager
• b. 1823 in Lincoln County, NC
• married Jesse Sadler
• died in Perry County, MO
James Hager
• b. 1825 in Lincoln County, NC
• d. about 1849
• died at 24 years of age
Frederick Hager, Jr.
• b. 1827 in Lincoln County, NC
• married Minerva Clifton
• d. March 6, 1881
• died in Perry County, MO
Alexander Hager
• b. 1832 in Perry County, MO
• d. August 2, 1853
• died at 23 years of age
Eliza Hager
• b. 1834 in Perry County, MO
• married Richard Burtelow
• died in Perry County, MO
Milton Hager
• b. 1837 in Perry County, MO
• married Drucilla Penny
• married Mary Williams
• d. 1890 in Perry County, MO
Martha Hager
• b. 1839 in Perry County, MO
• married Robert Cox
• d. May 28, 1887 in Perry County, MO
Mary Elizabeth Sadler was born in 1824, the daughter of Zachariah Sadler and Elizabeth "Betsy" (nee Mayberry) Sadler. Elizabeth's father, Zachariah, was born in Brunswick, Virginia, but moved to North Carolina. Her mother, Elizabeth, was born in North Carolina. The 1840 Federal Census shows that her parents made their home in Perry County, Missouri, immediately after their marriage. Mary Elizabeth's siblings (including herself) consisted of the following:
Children of Zachariah Sadler
and Elizabeth "Betsy" Mayberry
Henry H. Sadler
• b. Sept. 29, 1807
• born in Lincoln County, NC
• married Sarah Sloan
• founder of "Sadler Chapel," Dexter, Mo
• d. Dec. 6, 1876 in Dexter, Mo.
Sarah S. Sadler
• b. 1810
• born in Lincoln County, NC
• d. 1839
Hugh McFale Sadler
• b. abt. 1814
• married Jane Caroline Cashion
• married March 3, 1846 in Perry Co. Mo.
• d. 1867
Cynthia "Synthy" F. Sadler
• b. 1818 in Lincoln County, NC
• married John Jackson Hager
• married Aug. 14, 1837
• d. 1857 in Perry Co., Mo.
Jesse M. Sadler
• b. Sept. 2, 1824 in Lincoln Co., NC
• married Elizabeth [unknown]
• d. Nov. 18, 1867 in Perry Co., Mo
• buried in York Chapel Cemetery
Longtown, Perry County, Mo.
Mary Elizabeth Sadler
• b. 1834 in Perry County, MO
• married John Franklin Hager
• d. Dec. 21, 1893
• buried in Mount Hope Cemetery,
Perryville, Perry Co., Mo.
Jane Sadler
• b. abt. 1829 in Perry County, MO
• married Samuel Smith Clifton
• married on Nov. 17, 1847 in Perry Co. Mo.
• d. unknown
On Thursday, October 31, 1939, John Franklin Hager married Mary Elizabeth Sadler in the Baptist Church in Perry County, Missouri. The minister who performed the ceremony was Peter Williams.
John Franklin Hager and Mary Elizabeth Sadler Marriage Record
Missouri Marriages, 1750 - 1920
As was typical of the time, John Franklin and Elizabeth began their family immediately and their first daughter was born in 1840. In the 1840 United States Federal Census for Perry County, Missouri, John, at 21 years of age, was listed as the head of a household of two people, himself and his wife, Mary Elizabeth. Eventually, the Hager children also included one set of twins, John Zachariah and Mary Teresa.
Children of John Franklin Hager
and Mary Elizabeth Sadler
Mary Emyline Hager
• b. 1840
• married James Rice
• d. 1868
James Ruben Hager
• b. Jan. 27, 1846
• married Teresa Ann Tucker
• d. Nov. 8, 1915
• buried in Mount Hope Cemetery,
Perry County, Mo.
Mathilda Ann Hager
• b. May 20, 1848
• married James Vincent Brewer
• husband served in Civil War
• d. December 9, 1919
Mary Jane Hager
• b. Dec. 29, 1850
• married Constant Miget
• d. 1904
Mary Emily "Emma" Hager
• b. August 14, 1853
• married Lawson Lee
• married John S. Blaylock
• d. Sept. 28, 1905
John Zachariah Hager
• b. January 24, 1856
• married Mary Johannah Pannier
• d. August 10, 1919
Mary Teresa Hager
• b. January 24, 1856
• married Joseph Theodore Grillion
• d. May 18, 1937
Vincent M. Hager
• b. 1837 in Perry Co., Mo
• married Mary Madelene Streiler
• d. April 27, 1919
Mary Catherine Hager
• b. 1862
Robert A. Hager
• b. 1865
In the 1850 census, John Franklin (age 31) was listed as a farmer with property worth $600. On the adjacent property lived his younger brother, Aaron, with his wife, Ann, and their four children. John Franklin's household included his wife, Elizabeth (26) and children Mary (10), Reuben (4), and Mathilda (2). Also listed as living in their home was a young man named Patrick Bambrick (14 years of age) from Ireland. Who young Patrick was may remain a mystery. He was not listed in the 1860 census for the area, nor were there other families with the same surname in the vicinity.
The 1860 listed the Hager family as still residing in the Cinque Hommes Township, although John Franklin's brother, Aaron, was no longer living adjacent to his property. The value of the farm had increased to $2000. John, incorrectly listed as coming from South Carolina, was 41, his wife, Elizabeth, was 35. Children living in the household at the time included: Mary (19), Reuben (15), Mathilda (13), Jane (11), Emily (9), Zachariah and Teresa (6) and Vincent (2). There was also a young farm laborer, William Rudicil (16) recorded as living with the family.
The 1870 census listed two siblings, Margaret (17) and Frederick (9) Burtelow, as living together on the property adjacent to John Franklin and Mary Elizabeth Hager. This was inaccurate, however, as these two individuals, the orphaned children of John's sister, Eliza and her husband, Richard Burtelow, had actually lived in the John Franklin Hager household. Their father, Richard, had died as a result of sickness that he had acquired in the service during the Civil War.
This same census enumerator had also omitted John and Mary Elizabeth's daughter, Maria Catherine, who was born in 1862 and would have been 8 years old at the time of the 1870 census. Other household members at the time included: Mathilda (20), Jane (19), Emily (17), Teresa and Zachariah (14), Vincent (10) and Robert (5).
The Consolidated List for the Draft in the Third Congressional District in the State of Missouri records that John Franklin Hager enrolled in Perry County in 1862 at 43 years of age.
John Hager had 5 brothers: Aaron, James, Frederick, Alexander and Milton. His three younger brothers, Aaron, Frederick and Milton, enlisted in the military as well. John (43), Aaron(42) and Frederick's (36) names are either adjacent or in close proximity to each other on the registry, suggesting that they may have gone together to enlist.
The fact that all three of the Hager brothers were married and had families at the time of the compulsory draft (although not listed on the draft registry as such), yet did serve, suggests that they most likely enlisted.
Missouri Militia Enrollment
John F. Hager, Frederick Hager, Aaron Hager
The youngest Hager brother, Milton, had already served as a private in Company E in the Missouri State Militia Infantry from October, 1862 until August, (1863). His name appears in the Special 1890 Census Schedule of Surviving Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Widows (Bois Brule Township). This special census is one of the only surviving documents we have from the 1890 Federal census, much of which was destroyed by fire and water damage.
Frederick Hager served as a Private in Company C of the 45th Missouri Infantry, as well as in the 50th Missouri Infantry. All four of the Hager brothers survived the war. The two remaining Hager brothers, James and Alexander, were both deceased before the war began.
John Franklin mustered on August 10, 1862 with the rank of Private in Company A of the 64th Regiment of the Enrolled Missouri Militia under Captain Wilkinson. The remarks on his muster documentation do not include his actual days in service. The regiment was enrolled between 9 August 1862 and 11 October 1862. The final discharge was between 28 November 1864, and 11 December 1864. They served under Colonel Robert M. Brewer, Captains Christopher H. Eddlemann, and Wilkinson. Many of the men were from Perry County.
In addition to his three brothers, John Franklin's son, James Reuben Hager, also served in the Civil War, enlisting at the age of 18 in Company C of the Missouri 47th Infantry Regiment. He served from August 15, 1964 until March 29, 1965. Although father and son did not fight in the same Regiment or in the same battles, they did fight for the same cause.
John Franklin Hager
Civil War Muster Roll
John's brother-in-law, Richard Burtelow, the husband of Eliza Hager (John's sister), also served in the war. Richard was a Corporal in Company B, 30th Regiment of the Missouri Volunteers under Capt. William F. Wilkinson. During the Civil War, Keokuk, Iowa, became an embarking point for Union troops heading to fight in southern battles. Injured soldiers were returned to Keokuk for treatment, so several hospitals were established. A national cemetery was designated for those who did not survive.
John's brother-in-law, Richard Burtelow, the husband of Eliza Hager (John's sister), also served in the war. Richard was a Corporal in Company B, 30th Regiment of the Missouri Volunteers under Capt. William F. Wilkinson. Unfortunately, Richard Burtelow was one of those soldiers who did not survive. On September 8, 1863, he succumbed to chronic dysentery, a disease responsible for nearly 95,000 deaths during the war, and is buried in a military grave at the Keokuk National Cemetery.
John's sister, Eliza, had already died on July 8, 1862, leaving their two young children, Margaret and Fredrick Burtelow, as orphans. John assumed legal guardianship for his nephew and niece and was tasked with securing for each the pension due them based on their father's military service. After petitioning the government, he received (in the name of each child), $8 dollars per month until each of them attained the age of 16. He applied for, and received, an increase in their pension in 1866. This increased each of their pensions another $2 for a total of $10 per month.
Widow's Pension Documentation
for Margaret and Frederick Burtelow
John Franklin Hager died on July 5, 1874. Unlike many of our ancestors, he left a Last Will and Testament, which was witnessed and signed the day he died. In it he provided for his wife and children. See the "Wills and Probate Documents" link below to see a copy and transcript of his will.
He was preceded in death by one daughter, Mary Emelyne Hager Rice, who died at 28 years of age in 1868. He was buried in the York Methodist Chapel Cemetery in Longtown, Perry County, Missouri. See the "Graves and Cemeteries" link below for a photo of his grave.
A memorial to mark John Franklin's passing was composed and published in the Weekly Perryville Union, with the print date of July 10, 1874, five days after his death.
Weekly Perryville Union
Perryville, Perry County, Missouri
Friday, July 10, 1874
Links to Additional John Franklin Hager and Mary Elizabeth Sadler