Albert Hagen Family

Albert Hagen's grandparents, John and Christie Hagen came from Jurgensdorf, province Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Germany, in 1863 and settled in Tonawanda, New York. In 1866, Albert's father, Frederick John Hagen arrived in America and also settled in New York. He married Caroline Hacker and they moved to Henry County in 1876, living a few years in Napoleon and later buying a 40 acre farm in the west part of Section 15 near Deshler, Ohio. Here in Deshler most of their family of 9 children were born and raised: - Minnie, Mary, William, Henry, Louis, Albert, Martha, Emma, and John. All are deceased except John, a retired Lutheran minister now residing in Ft. Wayne, Indiana.

The farm house near Deshler was partly built of logs. They used oil-burning lamps, a wood burning heater in livingroom and stove ir•kitchen. They used feather beds and a spinning wheel spun wool into yarn. A smoke house produced hams and bacon and a straw and dirt-made pit stored carrots, cabbage, apples, and potatoes. Also used was a butter churn, hand-operated corn planter, corn cutter, cradle scythe, wheat binder, foot cross-cut saw, horse-drawn buggy, wagon and sleigh, and horse-drawn plow.

Across the road from the house was a 640 acre forest called "Big Timber," where deer, fox, coon, possum, rabbit, and squirrel roamed and where bushels of hazel and hickory nuts and baskets of berries and mushrooms were gathered.

The children went to a one-room bell-in-tower schoolhouse. McGuffey Readers, slates and slate pencils were commonly used. The family attended the Lutheran Church - a plain building with hard wooden seats and pedal organ and bell-in-tower that rang each Saturday evening to remind folks about the Sunday morning worship service.

Albert was born in Deshler Dec. 29, 1883. He married Minnie Baden in1909 and resided in Hamler. Many years were spent on a farm on Route 109 at the north edge of the town and in 1948 they purchased a home at 345 Belton Street, Hamler and lived there until their death. Seven children were born: - Mrs. Clarence (Lavina) Asmus, Mrs. Norman (Edna) Conley, Mrs. Hugo (Esther) Sonnenberg, Ray mond, Arnold, Louis and Mrs. Wilfred (Arlene) Rathge.

All children attended Hamler Local School and girls and boys both played basketball. Their farm was located just west of the Hamler Reservoir and the children spent much free time there fishing, swimming, and ice skating.

Albert was a carpenter for a number of years before going into farming. He farmed for 34 years. After moving from the farm to town in 1948, he was employed by the town of Hamler on the street and maintenance department until his retirement at the age of 87 years. Minnie Hagen died on Nov. 10, 1966, and Albert on Oct. 25, 1974, at the age of 90 years.

Children living in Henry County are Esther, living on a dairy farm, and Ray and Arnold who raised turkeys for many years. Ray lives on a farm in Deshler and Arnold in Hamler.

Arnold served in the Air Force and Louis in the Army during World War II. The family were active members of St. Stephen's Lutheran Church in Hamler. Lavina lives on a farm in Haskins; Edna was a secretary for many years for RCA-Findlay, Louis works for Bendix Corp., Fostoria; Arlene is an Amway distributor in Sylvania, Ohio.

Albert had thirty grandchildren and 43 great-grandchildren at the time of his death in 1974. Among the grandchildren and their spouses there are 3 ministers, 14 teachers, and 4 nurses.

Three grandsons served in Vietnam during that war, David and John Hagen and Tom Rathge. Grandson Darwin Sonnenberg owned and operated the Hamler Bowling Lanes for several years and Keith Sonnenberg is a dairy farmer near Malinta. Other grandchildren residing now in Henry County are: Bruce and Melissa Hagen (Ray's children) and John, Paul, Mark, and Robert Hagen (Arnold's children). Grandsons that served in the military are: 4 served in the U.S. Army, one Air Force, one Marine, and 4 in National Guards.

Albert Hagen has 114 family members now living in Ohio and other states.

Submitted by the Family