LYMAN HAGER, a successful farmer and stock raiser living near Beardstown, was born in Sullivan county, New Hampshire, August 30, 1828. His father, Reuben Hager, was also a native of New Hampshire, and died in 1871. His parents had died when he was fourteen years of age. He was afterward reared by a Mr. Town until he was of age. While yet in Sullivan county he had become owner of a small farm, which he sold in 1835, and with his wife and children came West, by canals and rivers, until he landed in Beardstown. He made a settlement on a farm consisting of Government land, and later added to it from time to time until he owned a farm of several hundred acres. He spent his last years in quiet comfort in Beardstown. He was a genial, good man, well known for his good judgment. He had been for years a member of the Grand Jury of Beardstown, and was often called upon to arbitrate in difficulties. His wife, who had died in 1846, was named Sarah Reed, and was born in New Hampshire. She had been a good woman and a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Mr. Lyman Hager could not help being the fine man he is, after having such a good father and mother. He has lived in this county since he was six years of age, and has spent his entire life since then near where he now lives, with the exception of five years spent in California during the �50s. Since early boyhood days he had been a hard worker and he has been fairly successful. He was not able to obtain much early education in the new country.

He was married in this county, to Cordelia Spalding, of Posey county, Indiana. She died at her home, December 23, 1878, at the age of thirty-eight years. She was the mother of seven children. They are: Rose Phelps, living in this county; Douglas, a farmer near this city; Clara Phelps, of this township; Emma Crum, of this county; Christina Redshaw, also of this county; Mary Thompson, of the same; and Joseph at home helping on the farm.

Mr. Hager was a second time married, in Beardstown, to Mrs. Annie Coort. She was born in 1847, in Dublin, Ireland, and came to the United States in 1853, with her parents, who are not living at the present time.

Mr. and Mrs. Hager have three children. One, William was fatally scalded when five years old. The living ones are Charles and Eva.

Mr. and Mrs. Hager are good and intelligent people, and she is of the Catholic faith. Mr. Hager is a Democrat.