The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and
Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 639

HERBERT ERNEST HAGER.

Among the agriculturists near Mabton is numbered Herbert Ernest Hager, a native
of LaSalle county, Illinois, and a son of Stephen J. and Fannie Jane (Hoyt)
Hager. He was born September 15, 1872, and in his native state received a public
school education. His parents were natives of Pennsylvania and New York
respectively, the family being numbered among the pioneers of Illinois, whither
Stephen J. Hager had removed with his father, Peter Hager, who bought land there
in the early days. Both parents have passed away, the father having for many
years been quite successful in agricultural pursuits.

Herbert E. Hager after laying aside his school books turned to farming as a life
work, thus following in the footsteps of his father. He remained upon the home
farm until the age of thirty and then rented the place, managing it until
Stephen J. Hager passed away. After his father's death he continued for two more
years in the operation of the property, but having heard many favorable reports
in regard to the new and more prosperous conditions maintaining in the Pacific
northwest, he decided to seek a home here and on Christmas Day of 1907 came to
Yakima county. Upon his arrival he bought one hundred and twenty acres of land
five and a half miles northwest of Mabton, of which forty acres were improved.
He now has fifty acres in a high state of cultivation, raising grain, potatoes
and hay, the remainder of the land being in pasture. Since becoming owner of
this property he has made many valuable improvements, instituting modern
machinery and equipment, while he also has remodeled and modernized his home.
As the years have passed his annual income has increased and he is thus
deservedly rewarded for his enterprise and energy.

On the 10th of September, 1902, Mr. Hager was united in marriage to Miss Nettie
Ford, also a native of La Salle county, Illinois, and a daughter of Eugene and
Sophia Ford, farming people of that county, both of whom were born in New York.
Her father is deceased but her mother survives. To Mr. and Mrs. Hager have been
born four children, Genevieve, Floyd, Helen and Ernest. The parents have ever
been deeply interested in the moral and intellectual upbuilding of their
district and are faithful attendants of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Politically Mr. Hager is independent, following his judgment in support of
candidates irrespective of party issues, taking into consideration only the
qualifications and reputation of a candidate. Ever interested in the cause of
education, he has served for three terms as school director. He served as
registrar of the Wendell Phillips precinct draft board during June, 1917, and
also in September, 1918, thus giving visible evidence of his patriotism.

********************************
Submitted to the Washington Bios Project in December 2007 by Jeffrey L. Elmer.
Submitter has no additional information about the subject of this article.