The Civil War
JAMES RUBEN HAGER was our 2X Great Grandfather through the Gibbar/Hager line. He was born on January 27, 1845, in Cape Cinque Hommes Township, Perry County, Missouri, the son of John Franklin Hager and Mary Elizabeth (nee Sadler) Hager.
James Reuben Hager served in the Union Army during the Civil War in Company C of the 47th Regiment of the Missouri Infantry (Note that there is a different James R. Hager who served in the Confederate Army who is unrelated to us).
According to the 1890 Special Census Schedule of Surviving Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines, and Widows (one of the few surviving censuses from 1890), James served in the 47th Regiment from August 15, 1865 until March 29, 1865. He was 18 years old when he entered the service and it is unknown whether he drafted or was enlisted. On the census, they list Reuben as having served in the Cavalry, which could be an error as other documents list him as serving in the Infantry.
The 47th Regiment was organized at Pilot Knob, Mo., from August through September of 1864. They were attached to the District of St. Louis. Several companies were assigned to duty in southeast Missouri, including Company C, which consisted of soldiers who were from Perry County, Missouri. Company C was assigned to Perry County and Cape Girardeau.
James Ruben Hager
1890 Special Schedule Census
In the "Company Descriptive Book" for Company C, 47th Regiment, Missouri Infantry, James R. Hager was described as being 18 years old, with a height of 5 feet 9 inches. His complextion was fair, his eyes hazel and his hair brown. He was born in Perry County, Missouri and his occupation was "farmer." James Reuben enlisted on August 15, 1864 at Pilot Knob, Missouri, for a term of 6 months.
James R. Hager mustered out of Company C, 47th Regiment of the Missouri Infantry on March 29, 1865. It appears that he was compensated for his service with a one-time payment of $52.39 cents.
James Ruben Hager
47th Regiment, Company C Descriptive Book
James Ruben Hager
47th Regiment, Company C - Company Muster Rolls
August 15, 1864 - March 29, 1865
The Grand Army of the Republic was a fraternal organization composed of veterans of the Union Army, Union Navy, Marines and the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service who served in the American Civil War for the United States forces. Founded in 1866, it dissolved in 1956 with the death of its last member. The GAR would be similar to the American Legion or the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) that we have today.
Long after the war was over, James Reuben Hager became a member of the GAR (Grand Army of the Republic), Dafani Chapter, Post 273, Perry County, Missouri. He entered the DAR on November 13, 1886 at age 40. Why he waited so long to join the organization is unknown.
James Ruben Hager's information is located on line 62 in the first excerpt below and continues on the first line of the second excerpt. He is listed as "JR Hager, aged 40, Farmer. Entered Aug 20, 1864 as a Private in Company C, 47th MO Regiment and mustered out on March 29, 1965."
James Ruben Hager
Grand Army of the Republic (GAR)
Difani Chapter - Post 273
Perryville, Perry County, Missouri
The documents below indicate that James Ruben Hager applied for and received a military pension up to the time of his death on November 18, 1915. At the time of his death, he was 70 years of age. In his obituary, his status as a Union soldier and a veteran of the Civil War was noted.
