Thomas N. Hagen Biography


	This biography appears on pages 936-939 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. V (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				THOMAS N. HAGEN. 

	Thomas N. Hagen, a prosperous and progressive farmer, owns four 
hundred acres of land on section 22, Dexter township, Codington county, 
which constitutes one of the most attractive farm properties in that 
section of South Dakota. He is a native of Norway, his birth having 
there occurred on the 7th of February, 1869. His parents were Hans and 
Gena Hagen. The mother is deceased, but the father, who formerly 
followed cabinet making, is now living retired in New York. 

	Thomas N. Hagen was but a lad when he emigrated to this country 
and had only a limited opportunity to acquire an education in the 
schools of New York. He remained in that city for several years working 
as newsboy, cash boy and in various other ways. In 1883 he heft the 
east and made his way to Owatonna, Minnesota, where he spent a brief 
period, after which he passed a short time in Goodhue county, that 
state. On the 10th of June, 1884, he arrived in Webster, South Dakota, 
where for a time he herded cattle. He was also employed in various 
other capacities, working at anything that promised a means of 
livelihood. During these years he saved his earnings in the hope of 
some day being able to venture upon an independent career and to this 
end in 1890 he began farming on his own account, having purchased a 
tract of one hundred and sixty acres on section 22, Dexter township, 
Codington county. As the years passed he worked hard and his labors 
were crowned with success for he has added to his landed possessions 
until now his property comprises four hundred acres, all of which is 
well improved and under a good state of cultivation. He has all the 
farm implements necessary for carrying on his business, and his 
buildings are modern and substantial, his being one of the attractive 
places of his section of the county. 

	It was in December, 1892, that Mr. Hagen was married to Miss 
Caroline Bale, a daughter of Amund and Carrie Bale, one of the old time 
families of Codington county. Her father died a number of years ago, 
and her mother passed away in November, 1914, both being laid to rest 
in St. Paul cemetery, Codington county. To Mr. and Mrs. Hagen have been 
born thirteen children: Hans Arthur, a farmer of Codington county, who 
is married and has one son, Norman Arthur; Clara Jordina; Agnes Gorina; 
Albert Theodore; Carl S.; Nora Bertina; Tilda C., who died at the age 
of eight years; Stella Helena; Herman Clifford, who died when seven 
weeks of age; Clifford Julius; Herman Oscar; Elmen Clarence; and Emily 
Tilda. All were born on the home farm. 

	Mr. Hagen is a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator Company at 
Florence, of which he is the president. In politics he is a republican 
and for a number of years has been a member of the township board, 
while for some time he has served as school treasurer. In religious 
faith he is a Lutheran, while his social relations are with the Masonic 
and Elk lodges. His life has been actuated by high principles and 
characterized by manly conduct and in the community where he has now 
lived for a quarter of a century he enjoys that warm personal regard 
and esteem which are always given in recognition of genuine worth in 
the individual.