John D. Hagen
One of the Most Useful and Valuable Citizens of Pike.
A Wonderful Memory
Which Retains the Data and Occurrences of His Surroundings.
The other day John D. Hagan. One of the leading business men of Piketon, called in to see us, and we were glad to hear him say that he was enjoying better health now than he had for many years.
Several years ago he was in very poor health and experienced a stroke of paralysis, but he has since about fully recovered, therefrom and now feels that he may be spared to live for many years to come. Mr. Hagan can not be classed among the very old citizens of Piketon, but he has been a resident of the town for over forty years, and we venture to say that he knows more and can tell more about the history of the town and surrounding country and its people than any man in that section of country. He came to Piketon when quite young man from Richmond, Ross County, in the early part of the "fifties", and opened a saddlery and harness shop, and being a reading and an observing man with a wonderful retentive memory, he has become so thoroughly posted in the history of the town and surrounding country and its people from an early day up to the present time that he is frequently called upon to give dates as to long ago occurrences and decide disputes about events that have taken place there within his memory.-- Aside from this accomplishment, Mr. Hagan has a superior knowledge of law and has served as a Justice of the township for many years, and so correct is his opinions, and so just and unbiased are his rulings and findings in is official capacity, that a great many people in that section prefer to risk his opinion and judgment on a question of law than that of many of our practicing attorneys. As it is, he does a large amount of legal business for the people in that locality, and his work almost invariable stands the test. Mr. Hagan is truly one of the most valuable, as well as useful citizens of our country.
In speaking to him about the many changes that had taken place in and around Piketon in the past forty years, Mr. Hagan said that when he looked around for the friends and associated of his younger days he felt as though he had been left alone, as they were about all gone. Some of them, he said, had removed to other points, but when he went into the neighboring cemeteries, as hr frequently did, and read the inscription upon the tombstones there, he found that many of them had gone to their long homes, never more to return. - One remarkable fact about this matter, he said, was that while most all of his young associates and acquaintances were gone, there were still a great many people yet living in Piketon whom he considered to be old people more than forty years ago, and they were still active and vigorous and bid fair to live for many years to come. He spoke of Jacob Frank, a tanner, whom we remember very affectionately for having once upon a time more than forty years ago, pulled us out of a tan vat just in time to save a mother’s darling boy from oozing off this mortal coil with a well tanned hide. We got the well-tanned hide akk the same, when our paternal parent learned the particulars of the sad affair, but Jake made possible for us to retain a vivid remembrance of the occurrence up to date. Mr. Frank is still living at the advanced age of ninety years. Mr. Hagan also spoke of Aunt Maria Ware, Noah Boiler and Adam Reinfrank, who are well up in 80 years. - He also mentioned Uncle Alex Kellison, Andrew Lochbaum, Jerry Fostger and several others, who are past seventy five years of age.
April 1896
Courier Watchman
Copyright © 2004
Pike Co. Genealogy Society a Chapter of O.G.S.
P. O. Box 224, Waverly, Ohio 45690