". . . .Mr. Hoagland was born in Mercer
County, Pennsylvania, January 13, 1828, and was the son of John and Catherine (HULL)
HOAGLAND, an excellent old family of the Keystone state.
Hiram grew to maturity in his native community and was educated in the common
schools of those early times, but it may be said that he remained a student all
his life and was a well informed man. He learned the trade of wheelwright under
his father, and he later learned cabinetmaking and became a very skilled
workman, making his own wagon, buggy and household furniture, and when he came
to this county he made his own chairs and table.
On
Nov 12, 1849, Mr. Hoagland married Elizabeth
BOALE, a native of county Down, Ireland, born September 12,
1829. and she was the daughter of John and Grace (McWHA)BOALE,
natives of Ireland, but of Scotch descent and Presbyterian faith. They came to
America in 1839 and settled in Mercer County Pennsylvania, where they lived
until 1852, when they came to Fayette county, Iowa, and located on a farm two
and one-half miles north of West Union, on which they spent the rest of their
lives, Mr. Boale dying in 1859, at the age of sixty-one years, his wife
following him to the grave in 1860, when sixty-three years old. Seven children
were born to them, two of whom are living at this writing, Mrs. JaneJAMISON
and George H., an Ohio farmer. The Boale family was an influential and highly
respected one.
Mr. and Mrs. Hiram HOAGLAND emigrated to Grant county,
Wisconsin, the year aftr their marriage and in the autumn of 1850 came to
Fayette county, Iowa, where Mr. Hoagland purchased a tract of land near Auburn,
then returned to Wisconsin to spend the winter. In the spring of 1851 he moved
to his farm and remained on the same two years, then sold it and engaged in the
mercantile business in Auburn. Being a public-spirited and patriotic man, he
was active in raising troops for the Federal army when the Civil war began, and
on June 20, 1861, he was commissioned captain of a company, but ill health
prevented his going to the front, very much to his regret. In 1863, he disposed
of his store and purchased a farm on which he lived the balance of his life,
being very successful as a general farmer and stock raiser, having at one time
owned a very valuable place of six hundred acres, which was one of the choice
farms of the county. He built attractive and substantial buildings. He was a
successful business man, and besides his farm and livestock he became associated
in numerous commercial enterprises. He was treasurer and stockholder in the
Farmers' Joint Stock Company, a stockholder in the Citizens' Savings Bank at
Elgin and other financial institutions of the county, ---- in fact he was one of
the best known and most influential men in this part of the county in business,
civic and social circles.
Always taking an active interest in the affairs
of the Democratic party, Mr. Hoagland was frequently honored with nominations
for public offices. He had the distinction of being the first coroner of
Fayette county and by virtue of his election to this office, on the resignation
of the sheriff, filled the latter office. . . . . . . .
To Mr. and Mrs.
Hoagland six children were born, namely: Melissa, born September 3, 1850, died
July 28, 1851; John A., born May 5, 1852, was educated in the
West Union Public Schools and Upper Iowa University and for several years he
followed farming, then entered the mercantile life in Vermilion, South Dakota,
and remained there until his death; Katherine B., who was born
September 14, 1854, and died December 25, 1878, was educated in the Upper Iowa
University and she taught school a number of terms;
Seth D., born November 18, 1857, was educated in the Upper
Iowa Univeresity; for some time he has been a grain dealer in Kenesaw, Nebraska;
Perry J., born March 24, 1860, was educated in Upper Iowa
University, and for several years farmed on the Hoagland homestead, then went to
Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he is now connected with several prosperous business
enterprises; Eva G., who was born November 6, 1865, was
educated in Upper Iowa University at Fayette, and on March 21, 1896, she married
W. F. PHILLIPS, which union resulted in the birth of two
children, Marcus Henry, born April 6, 1897, and Hazel
Elizabeth, born May 5, 1900; both are now attending the public schools
of West Union, in which city Mrs. PHILLIPS resides, having a
very cozy and attractive home which is often the gathering place for her many
friends.
The death of Hiram Hoagland occurred on December
7, 1885, loved, honored and respected by all who knew him. Mrs. Hoagland
continued until 1887 to reside on the homestead, whither she came in 1863,
finally moving to West Union where she spent her last years at the home of her
daughter, Mrs. Phillips, her death occurring on June 14, 1908.
She was a woman of beautiful Christian character and admired by a wide circle
of friends.
The Hoagland family were always advocates of the Presbyterian
faith. . . . . ."