In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1908) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1844, Mad River Township
From 20th century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens (1908), The History of Clark County Ohio, (1881)
FRANCIS M. HAGAN, attorney and City Solicitor, Springfield. Mr. Hagan is a native of Clark County, and one of the self-made men of the city; he is of Scotch-Irish descent, and a descendant of a pioneer family of Mad River Township, his grandfather, Denny Hagan, having settled there in 1814; his parents, Hugh and Ann (Furay) Hagan, were among the early residents of the vicinity of Enon, where Francis M. was born in 1844; his father was a farmer of limited means, and hence his education depended almost entirely upon his own exertions. Impelled by a desire for knowledge, his limited opportunities were carefully improved, and, by teaching district and select schools, during which he was a student, gained sufficient education and means to attend Antioch College, after which he began to read law, but was soon compelled to suspend his studies on account of his health. Up to this time, he had maintained the most rigorous economy, boarding at home while attending Antioch College, requiring a walk of eight miles every day, and afterward, when studying law, *kept bach." The following two or three years was occupied in traveling, and in 1872 he had sufficiently recovered to resume his studies, teaching in the meantime. In the spring of 1873, he was admitted to the bar, and has since been in active practice here. In 1876, he was an independent candidate for the office of City Solicitor, his Republican opponent, A. T. Byers, defeating him by only forty-seven votes. In 1879, he was again an independent candidate, and was elected by a majority of 730 over J. F. McGrew, the regular nominee of the Republican Convention. Mr. Hagan is a Democrat in politics, a strong advocate of temperance, takes an active interest in educational affairs, and is an active, public-spirited citizen.
As printed in The History of Clark County Ohio, (1881). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
HON. FRANCIS M. HAGAN, an eminent member of the Springfield Bar, formerly judge of the Common Pleas Court of this county, was born June 10, 1844, in Mad River Township, Clark County, Ohio. His parents were Hugh and Ann Furay Hagan. The Hagan family has been known in Clark County since the days of Denny Hagan, the grandfather of Judge Hagan, who was of Scotch-Irish blood and came from North Ireland to America in 1798, settling first in Pennsylvania, in 1815, and afterwards in Clark County, Ohio, where he resided until his death in
Hugh Hagan, father of Judge Hagan, was born June 3, 1803, in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. He was twelve years of age when he accompanied his parents to the great wilderness which occupied almost all of Southern Ohio. He married Ann Furay, who was born in Ross County, Ohio, October 3, 1816, and died September 22, 1892, Hugh Hagan having died November 5, 1879. They were people of sterling character, intelligent far beyond their neighbors, and with them it was a duty to give to their children all the educational opportunities the unsettled condition of the country at the time afforded. Through the material line Judge Hagan traces his ancestry to both Ireland and Fi-ance, with a strain of German blood.
The early education of Francis M. Hagan was dae best offered by both public and select schools in his locality, supplemented by attendance at Antioeh College. He was a bright, ambitious student, but ill health interfered with ttis collegiate career, and he was forced to give up his books before graduation. For a number of years his occupation was teaching in the public and select schools, and he attained a high rank as an instructor. During this period he prepared himself for the bar, to which he was admitted in 1873. In the spring of 1874 he opened up an office at Spring-field, and this city has been his home ever since.
In 1879 he was elected city solicitor of Springfield, and was re-elected to that office in 1883, although the city has always been strongly Republican in state and national elections, his administration of that office proving to be most acceptable to all classes of his fellow-citizens, irrespective of party. In 1890 he became judge of the Common Pleas Court of Clark County, Ohio, succeeding the Hon. Charles R.White, and serving with the greatest efficiency until the election of his successor, the Hon. John C. Miller. Upon his retirement from the bench he resumed his private practice. During a period of some years he was a partner in the practice of law of Hon. A. H. Kunkle, now judge of the Common Pleas Court of this county. Judge Hagan has always been a zealous and influential Democrat. In 1887 he was appointed postmaster at Springfield, Ohio, by President Cleveland, and served in that capacity for several years. He has been called to fill many other offices of trust and responsibility. He has long been a member of the
Clark County Historical Society. From 1885 until 1890 he served as a trustee of the Mitchell-Thomas Hospital of Springfield, and in the latter year was elected Ijresident of the Springfield Board of Trade. From 1892 until 1893 he was president of the Clark County Bar Association, and for a number of years was one of the trustees of the Associated Charities. In collaboration with Judge A. N. Summers, Judge Hagan prepared the special civic code under which the City of Springfield was governed for more than a decade, and from 1904 to 1907 was one of the trustees of the sinking fund of said city.
He was chairman of the general committee having in charge the centennial of the City of Spring-field in the year 1901. At all times he has been a progressive, public-spirited citizen, ready to lend assistance and encouragement to all and every laudable movement for the general welfare.
Mr. Hagan is a man of wide and extensive reading and has carefully studied social, economic and political questions. He has made many addresses along these lines and at pioneer meetings. He has been a leading member of the Literary Club of Springfield since its organization, about fifteen years ago, and in that period has prepared and read to the club papers on various subjects, among which were: ' * Influence of the Dutch on American Civil and Religious Liberty"; "Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jetferson, a study"; "The Single Tax"; "American and European Municipal Government Contrasted"; "Balzac"; "James Madison "; " The Striker and the Law. ' '
May 21, 1881, Judge Hagan was married to Justina Bevitt, who was a daughter of Dr. Bevitt, of St. Charles, Missouri. Mrs. Hagan is one of the leaders in the social, educational, and religious life of the City of Springfield. They have three children, Francis M., Hugh, and Margaret. Judge Hagan and family belong to the Second Presbyterian Church of Springfield, Ohio, of which he is an elder. The family reside at a beautiful home known as Oak Place, in the city of Springfield.
As printed in 20th century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens (1908). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1908. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.