Phillip Hager
Boone Co. WV


The History of West Virginia, Old and New
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc.,
Chicago and New York, Volume III,
pg. 343


PHILIP HAGER, state senator from the Fifth District, and
proprietor of one of the best mercantile establishments in
the county, is one of the leading men of Hamlin, and a
natural leader of men. Quiet and unassuming in manner, he
is so sincere and thoroughgoing that he gains the confidence
of his associates almost without effort, impressing all with
whom he comes into contact as being a very safe man. He
was born February 23, 1872, a son of Philip and Elizabeth
(Dalton) Hager, natives of Boone County, West Virginia,
and Tazwell County, Virginia, respectively. The grand-
father bore the name of John M. Hager, and the father and-
great-grandfather bore the name of Philip. They settled
on an island near the present site of Logantown, cutting the
first timber in that part of West Virginia. The family orig-
inated in Virginia, and was established in this country
prior to the American Revolution.

The father was a Baptist minister for fifty years, and
died February 12, 1917. During his ministry he had
churches at points in Southern Ohio, Eastern Kentucky,
Tennessee and West Virginia. During the war between
the North and the South he served in Company D, Thirty-
sixth Virginia Cavalry, C. S. A., and served for three and
one-half years. He was wounded in battle at Bluntsville,
Tennessee, and lost some of the bone of his leg as a result
of the injury, but recovered the use of that limb. After
leaving the service he resumed his ministerial duties.

Senator Hager attended the common schools of Lincoln
County. He took a course in civil engineering and survey-
ing, at Columbus, Ohio, under a special instructor, and then
followed this work for several years, doing a great deal of
land surveying, and acting as county road engineer for
Lincoln County from 1909 to 1913, inclusive, and during
this period he became interested in the timber and lumber
business. Since 1913 he has been occupied with operating
sawmills and handling lumber in the southern part of Lin-
coln County and in Logan County. In May, 1921, he opened
a mercantile establishment at Hamlin, in which he is doing
a large business. During nearly all of his career he has
been a notary public and at one time was secretary of the
school board for the Harts Creek District of Lincoln County.
In November, 1920, he was elected to the Upper House of
the State Assembly, and is gaining considerable prestige in
this office.

On July 12, 1894, Mr. Hager married in Lincoln County
Sarah A. Ferrell, who died May 10, 1902. She was a
daughter of James P. and Alminie (Toney) Ferrell, farming
people. Senator and Mrs. Hager became the parents of the
following children: Madge M., who married R. L. Adkins,
a contractor and builder of Lincoln County, was appointed
postmistress of Hamlin, and is one of the best officials the
city has ever possessed; Pearl married J. A. Vickers, super-
intendent of the Holden High School of Holden, West Vir-
ginia; and Ida G. and Elizabeth Edna are both at home.
Senator Hager is an earnest member of the Baptist Church.
He is a Chapter and Knight Templar Mason, and also
belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. For
years he has been one of the leading republicans of this
section, and ho was nominated without opposition and
elected by the largest majority ever given a candidate in
the Fifth Senatorial District. His election to office on his
straight party ticket was but a just reward for his efforts
in behalf of his constituents and his energetic actions look-
ing toward the improvement of Lincoln County.



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