Cabarrus County, NC - Peter Hagler

PETER HAGLER'S ROCKY TIMES ON THE ROCKY RIVER
By Travis Jackson Hagler

Born in Cabarrus County, NC, ca 1775, Peter Hagler was the son of 
Johannes Haegler (John "the cripple" Hagler) and Catherine Sides 
(Seitz). In 1783, John Hagler received a land grant for 100 acres of 
land on the Rocky River which included his improvements. Thus we can 
assume that the John "TC" Hagler family including son, Peter, was 
living there before that date.

We know little about Peter Hagler's growing up years except for the 
fact that his father added to his acreage and developed Hagler's Ford 
on the Rocky River. The ford was located at the point where present day 
Mt. Pleasant Road (County Road 1004) crosses the river. An old map of 
Cabarrus County shows Haglers Ford. The Hagler home was a short 
distance north of the ford in the northeast corner of Hagler's 
Crossroads (present day SR 200 and Mt. Pleasant Rd.)

From all indications, the Hagler family was an industrious one, being, 
among other things: farmers; millers; blacksmiths; wagon makers, 
distillers and gold miners. They were persons of Christian faith as 
evidenced by John & Catherine Hagler's charter membership in the Kalt 
Wasser Deutscher Reformation Kirch (Cold Water German Reformed Church) 
in 1766. Later in 1797 when they were living on the Rocky River, the 
first services of Saint Martin Lutheran Church were held in the Hagler 
home at Hegler's (sic) Crossing. The first child baptized was Heinrich 
(Henry) Hagler.

Peter Hagler put the skills he learned as a youth to work as he 
migrated on down the Rocky. And, he was not bashful about petitioning 
the General Assembly for permission to implement his enterprises as we 
will later see. He first married about 1796/7. His first son, John, was 
born ca 1797/8. The name of Peter Hagler's first wife is unknown 
although she bore him seven children. She died between 29 Oct 1811 when 
her last child, Thomas J. (the author's great grandfather), was born 
and 22 Nov 1813 when Peter was remarried to Sally Dry.

Meanwhile, Peter Hagler bought 98 acres of land on Clear Creek and 
Rocky River from John Hagler on 26 Feb 1800. Sometime between that date 
and 1809, he moved on down the Rocky to Crooked Creek in Anson (now 
Union) County and erected a mill. In 1809 he petitioned the State 
Assembly for permission to keep his dam across the Rocky River closed 
without providing a ramp for the fish. Several members of his family 
and many neighbors/customers of his mill signed the petition.

He continued buying land over the years until he increased his acreage 
to 715. In 1820 his mill was shown on a map of mills on the Rocky. 

Although mis-labeled "Hagley's Mill" it was located in the big bend of 
the river just before Crooked Creek flows into it - exactly where Peter 
Hagler's land was located. A section of a contemporary map of Union 
County shows roads and current landmarks. Tragedy again befell Peter 
Hagler. His second wife, Sally Dry, died after bearing him two children 
in 1814 and 1816. Around 1820, he married Margaret Polk, first cousin 
of the father of President James K. Polk. And thus continued his rocky 
times on the Rocky River. In 1833, he posted security for a pending 
suit against Leonard Green, a neighbor who lived on the other side of 
Crooked Creek. The result of that case was apparently destroyed in the 
Anson County Courthouse fire. We can only guess what it was about as we 
contemplate subsequent events.

On 16 Dec 1835, he abruptly sold his land and mill to Andrew Hartsell 
and moved to Alabama joining daughters Phoebe (Mrs. Joel) Thomas and 
Catherine (Mrs. Morton) Thomas in Barbour County. He took with him 
three more of his children by his first wife: John, Jacob and Thomas 
J.; also, Charles W. and Elizabeth by his second wife, Sally Dry. The 
three children of Margaret Polk Hagler: Hiram Wilson; Mary Melinda & 
Lydia "Patsy", remained with her in North Carolina.

A long string of court actions in Anson/Union (Sites of the homes of 
Peter & Margaret became part of Union County in 1842) County Court 
followed Peter's departure. Peter and Margaret reached a property 
settlement agreement in 1848 with her getting to keep the land her 
father, John Polk, gave to her and with her giving up any further 
claims against Peter Hagler's property. Their divorce suit drug on 
until Peter's death in 1852 without resolution. Margaret's troubles 
were not over as her brother sued unsuccessfully to have land given to 
her by her father awarded to her father's estate.

Peter did not die without taking one last shot at Margaret. In his will 
he stated: "...Sixth, to my first wife Margaret who lives in the State 
of North Carolina, I give and bequeath to her the sum of $20 which she 
may divide among her three illegitimate children Hiram, her son, and 
two daughters, Mary and Patsy. I lived more than 10 years in North 
Carolina in a miserable condition. I had her and her paramour bound 
over to the peace. I offered her all the inducement in my power to 
follow me and come to this State (Alabama). Although guilty in three 
instances of the crime of adultery, she rejected all my propositions. 
She has already received more than her legal share of my property. I 
further debar her from receiving any more benefits from my estate."
Epilogue. 

In 1840 and 1850, Margaret Polk Hagler was listed as head of household 
in the Anson/Union County Censuses. She deeded her land to her son, 
Hiram Wilson Hagler, in 1847. She was listed in the 1870 census living 
with her widowed daughter-in-law - Hiram having been killed in the 
Civil War. The 1870 census is the last record we have found of 
Margaret. Her son, Hiram, and her daughter Mary Melinda Medlin, have 
many descendants living today in North Carolina and other states (We 
have found no further record of Patsy). Many are friends with the 
"Alabama" descendants of Peter Hagler. Likewise, we have made friends 
with Green family descendants. For example, Mr. Doud Green graciously 
toured us through and around Crooked Creek on his tractor. He also 
allowed us to examine and photograph the mill stones from the old 
Hagler/Sikes Mill which are in his custody. The recurrence of the "club 
foot" among several descendants of Hiram Hagler casts doubt upon 
Peter's allegations that Hiram was not his son. John "the cripple" 
Hagler, father of Peter, had it. See Trail of the Haglers, Second 
Edition, by Travis Jackson Hagler for a discussion.

______________________________________________________________________

Copyright. All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm

This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by
Bill Furr - bfurr1@charter.net
______________________________________________________________________