History of Langlade County, Wisconsin, 
from U. S. Gov't Survey to Present Time, with Biographical Sketches
Dessureau. Antigo, WI: Berner Brothers, 1922, p 266 & 308
Submitted by Cathy Kubly

Daniel GAGEN, fur trader, pioneer lumberman, picturesque leader in the first Langlade County Board meeting, was born in England in 1835.  In the early 1860's he came to Eagle River [Vilas County], Wisconsin, where there was a small settlement of English and Scotchmen.  Here he established a trading post and bought furs of the Indians.  He engaged in logging operations during the winter.  He was the first man to log on the Eagle Waters.  Dan GAGEN took the pick of the pine which grew on the banks of the lakes and steams, and instead of hauling them for miles, rolled them into the River of Lakes.

About 1877 he moved to Pine Lake (Hiles, Wisconsin) which was the headwaters of the Wolf River [Hiles, Forest County].  Here he farmed and logged until about 1902 when he moved to Three Lakes, Wisconsin.  He [Dan GAGEN] died in November 1908 at Three Lakes [Oneida County], Wisconsin.  [The biography of Joseph G. WIRIG in this source notes (page 330) that Gagen, Langlade County, Wisconsin, was named for Dan GAGEN.]  His son, James GAGEN, real estate dealer and abstract man, resides at Hudson Street and Seventh Avenue, Antigo [Langlade County], Wisconsin.

Dan GAGEN represented Gagen Township in Langlade County until that territory north of the present limits of the county was detached in 1885.  His place in county history is with those other sturdy men who came into the forests of this country between 1853 and 1870.  They were:  Louis MONTZFELDT, Hiram B. POLAR, Henry HARVEY, Charles LARZELERE, "Old Dutch" FRANK [submitter assumes FRANK a surname], David GETCHELL, Henry STRAUSS, Williard [William?] L. ACKLEY, and S. A. TAYLOR, all leaders of their time.