My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM LEONARD HAGLER. The results of industry and wise economy are exhibited in the career of the subject of this sketch, who has accumulated an estate of considerable value, and surrounded himself and family with the comforts of life through his own exertions, seconded by the good management of his wife in household affairs. His farm comprises one hundred and thirty-three acres in Xenia Township, its value being enhanced by its nearness to the county seat, from which it is distant four and a half miles in a southeasterly direction.

Mr. Hagler was born in New Jasper Township, Greene County, one mile east of his present home, his natal day being April 9, 1827. The paternal family included ten daughters and five sons, of which but two members died before reaching mature years. All of the daughters are yet living except Harriet, who died in childhood. The survivors are: Elizabeth, wife of Mathew Smith, of Jay County, Ind.; Amanda, wife of Gideon Spahr; Sarah J., wife of Phillip Sutton; Martha E., wife of William Sutton; Charlotte C., wife of Austin Long; Clarisa, wife of Durban Long, deceased; Minerva, wife of David Dean; Louisa, wife of John Dean; and Anna S., wife of Jacob Peterson. The sons are: William L., Henry C. and Moses A., who are yet living; John M., who died in Grant County, Ind.; and Samuel H., who died when four years old.

Samuel Hagler, the father of this household band, came to this county with his parents in an early day, the removal from Hardy County, Va., where he had been born, being made with wagons. The family settled in New Jasper Township, Greene County, where Samuel made his home during his entire life, clearing and improving land and owning one hundred and seventy-eight acres at the time of his death. That event occurred in 1880, when he was seventy-seven years old. In Warren County he had married Anna Fudge, who was born in Augusta County, Va., and whose father, Jacob Fudge, had come to Ohio in a very early day, settling near Springboro. Mrs, Hagler died in 1884 at the age of eighty-one years. The Hagler family is of German origin, as is that of our subject’s grandmother, Mary Peterson, who married Leonard Hagler, and reared a large family all of whom came to this county.

The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm, receiving but a limited common-school education, and remaining with his father until his marriage in October, 1851. His savings at that time amounted to $350, which he had earned by day’s work, and for several years after his marriage he farmed on rented land. In 1855 he purchased the farm where he now lives, and has since been adding to its value by careful tillage and improvement. After his father’s death he received about $1,800 from his father’s estate.

The worthy woman who has shared Mr. Hagler’s fortunes for nearly forty years, bore the maiden name of Mary L. Scroggs. She is of Scotch-Irish lineage, was born in Knox County, and is a daughter of Alexander and Mary (Lyons) Scroggs, who came to this county about 1827. She is the mother of seven children — Charlotte J., the first-born, is the wife of the Rev. J. David Livingston, of St. Louis, Mo. The others are: Moses A., Charles F., George M., Emily, William and Anna. Mrs. and Mrs. Hagler and all of their children except George, belong to the United Presbyterian Church.