My Genealogy Hound

EUGENE HAGAN.
Eugene Hagan, a prominent figure in almost all the legal controversies, in the past decade, at Topeka, gaining eminence at the bar while yet in middle life, and rich in personal gifts and scholarly attainments, belongs to the State’s long list of leading men. Mr. Hagan was born July 8, 1859, in Monroe County, Missouri, and is a son of Joseph and Mary Hagan, and a descendant of Revolutionary stock.

Mr. Hagan spent the period between the age of 14 and 18 years at school in St. Mary’s, Kansas, and then went to Louisville, Kentucky, where he was graduated from the academic and law departments of the State University of Kentucky. After a short season of practice at Chicago, Mr. Hagan turned to the West for a less crowded field, coming in 1880 to Topeka, where he became associated with the old law firm of Peck, Ryan & Johnson. At a later date Mr. Peck became general attorney for the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company, and a new firm was formed, Johnson & Hagan, which continued for three years. He has since practiced alone. He has been retained in many notable cases, has assisted in forming the policies of many great concerns and the State records are filled with his successes. It was Mr. Hagan who brought the action in the Supreme Court which was known as the Gunn case, which resulted in the settlement of the legislative struggle of 1893. Another notable instance was when he was attorney for Mrs. Mary E. Lease and gained a victory over the opposing counsel and over Ex-Governor Lewelling. While every phase of law is familiar to him, he takes a particularly active interest in criminal cases and has won a justifiable reputation in this branch of practice. Mr. Hagan is noted for his faithful adherence to his clients and has the manner which immediately inspires confidence. Gifted with a retentive memory and quickness of perception, a complete comprehension of every legal point and avenue, he is an antagonist to be feared and an advocate to be depended upon.

In political as well as in professional life, Mr. Hagan has become prominent in Kansas. A consistent Democrat of the old school, in 1882 he was elected president of the Young Men’s Democratic League of Kansas, a position he held for four years. In 1885 he was appointed assistant United States district attorney for the district comprising Kansas and Oklahoma Territory, and served as such for five years. In 1888 he was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention. Although for 12 years previous to 1896 he had been a member of the Democratic State Central Committee, he that year resigned on account of the Free Silver issue and was instrumental in promoting the National Democratic party in Kansas. As chairman of the Sound Money Democratic State Committee, he was a member of the Kansas delegation at Indianapolis. He is a man of strong convictions and has the courage to uphold them.

On January 5, 1899, Mr. Hagan was united in marriage to Madge Johnson, daughter of Hon. J. B. Johnson, a former law partner of Mr. Hagan.