The Tragic Story of Jonas Hager

I once joked to my mother that her great grandfathers didn't fare so well.  After all, Florian Waldspurger was decapitated in the Hatfield Train Wreck in 1900.  William James Cox died as the result of a hunting accident years after leaving his first wife, Anna Sperry Cox.  William John Vautier lost the use of one arm after taking a bullet in the Civil War.  And then, there is Jonas Hager, who died tragically.  But let's start at the beginning.

Jonas Hager was born 20 January 1866 in Finland Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania as the eldest son of Jonas Hager and Elizabeth Heffentrager.  His parents had both been married before they wed in September of 1865, just four months before Jonas' birth, and both had been left as widowers with children.  The marriage could have been one of convenience, with a pastor's blessing later (as pastors were hard to come by in the then rural area in which they lived).  Whatever the case, there is a great deal of history on both of his parents, but since they are not the focus of this piece, I will save it for some other time.

When Jonas was just fifteen years of age, his father died.  There is some evidence that Jonas Hager Senior was also maimed or crippled, so one can imagine the kind of strain that put on the young lad, as he likely had to work from an early age to help support the family.

At the age of eighteen, Jonas married Christianna Huber, who was three months his senior, in Bucks County.  The couple was wed 8 March 1884 at the Ridge Valley Reformed Church in West Rockhill Township by the Reverend Simon Gross.  Christianna was the sixth child born to German immigrants Johann Georg "George" Huber and Christina Barbara Esser.  Christianna also had to work from a young age, as she worked as a servant for more prominent families in Bucks County.

The couple's first child, Bertha, was born 1June 1884 in Finland Township.  Jonas worked as a blue collar laborer and a moulder, and the family seemed to move around a bit, living in a series of rented homes.  By 1893 when they were living on Green Street in Lansdale, they had three more children, George Alfred (born 7 September 1886), Elizabeth (born sometime in August 1888) and Robert Franklin Hager (born 14 April 1891).  Son Elmer H. was born in the home on Green Street on 26 August 1893.

On the 1900 census, the family was living in a rented home in Hatfield Township, where daughter Jennie Elnora was born just three days before the family was enumerated on the 1900 Census.  An interesting clue from this census enumeration indicates that the couple had a child born between Elmer's birth in 1893 and Jennie's birth in 1900, but that the child had passed away.  Research done so far has not uncovered this unknown child, but I continue to look.

The couple went on to have two more sons.  Webster Linwood was born 5 October 1902 in Lansdale, as was the couple's last son, Jonas Leon Hager, who was born on 12 May 1905, just one year before the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania made birth certificates a mandatory state level registration.

Jonas was an avid outdoorsman, and loved to fish.  He likely supplemented the family's meals with his smaller catches, though he probably kept some trophies as well.  1908 seemed to be no different a year.

On the 15th of June, Jonas Hager skipped work at the plant of Norristown Plumbing Supply Company to go fishing with his three buddies, Paul Henning, Alfred Bateman, and John Jerschen.  It was a slow day, and they wanted to catch some fish, as bass season had just opened up.  After some time of the fish not biting, Jonas got bored.

While his friends made for the shore, Jonas apparently decided to go for a swim, despite his friends' protest that the water was too cold.  He rowed the boat he was using to Barbados Island, just south of Norristown on the Schuylkill River.  He disrobed and jumped into the river for a swim.  However, he only swam for a bit before struggling in the water and going under, drowning in the process.

His three friends panicked when he went under, and instead of helping their friend (one account says they looked for him and could not find him), they fled the scene, reporting his drowning to the police at Norristown City Hall.  The three were arrested, but were later released when it was discovered that the drowning was accidental and not intentional.

Jonas' body was recovered several hours after the incident, and the death certificate was signed by the coroner, Joseph King.  Several newspapers reported on his death, though his age and even his name vary in the accounts.

The Lansdale Reporter summed up best the family's shock:

"The drowned man was 42 years of age and leaves a widow and eight children, three of who are married. The wife and five younger children are heart-broken over the loss of their main support at their humble St. Elmo Street home. The family were preparing to move to Norristown next week, where Mr. Hager had recently secured steady work." (18 June 1908, Page 3)

Jonas was buried five days after his death in Division A, Section D, Lot 16, Grave 1 of Lansdale Cemetery in Lansdale, Pennsylvania.  The undertaker in charge of the services was D. Y. Monday of Norristown, Pennsylvania.

Jonas Hager's headstone at Lansdale Cemetery.  Photograph taken August 2017 by the blogger.

Christianna, devastated by the loss of her husband, had to work a series of jobs to make ends meet.  She worked as a housekeeper, a laundress , and cleaned houses to support her children, as Jonas Leon was only three when his father died.  The family moved around, renting rooms and houses as they were able.  By 1930, Christianna did own a home in Lansdale at 623 Cannon Street, which had a radio set according to the 1930 census enumeration.  It was at this home that she died on 2 November 1936 at the age of seventy-one from complications of diabetes.  She was buried five days later next to her husband at Lansdale Cemetery.

Christianna Huber Hager's hedstone at Lansdale Cemetery.  Photograph taken August 2017 by the blogger.

Sources Used:

"1870 United States Federal Census," database online, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 30 April 2017), Entry for Jonas Hager and family, Year: 1870, Census Place: Marlborough Montgomery, Pennsylvania, Roll: M593_1377, Page: 597B, Image: 422119, and Family History Library Film: 552876; citing 1870 U.S. census, population schedules. NARA microfilm publication M593, 1,761 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.

"1900 United States Federal Census," database with images, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 3 January 2017), Entry for Jonas Hager and family, Year: 1900, Census Place: Hatfield Montgomery, Pennsylvania, Roll: 1442, Page: 2B, Enumeration District: 0204, and FHL microfilm: 1241442; citing United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Twelfth Census of the United States, 1900. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1900. T623, 1854 rolls.

"1910 United States Federal Census," database online, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 4 January 2017), Entry for Christiana Hager and family, Year: 1910, Census Place: Hatfield Montgomery, Pennsylvania, Roll: T624_1377, Page: 17A, Enumeration District: 0082, and FHL microfilm: 1375390; citing Thirteenth Census of the United States, 1910 (NARA microfilm publication T624, 1,178 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.

"1920 United States Federal Census," database with images, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 24 April 2017), Entry for Christiana Hager and household, Year: 1920, Census Place: Lansdale East Ward Montgomery, Pennsylvania, Roll: T625_1605, Page: 14A, Enumeration District: 102, and Image: 236; citing Fourteenth Census of the United States, 1920. (NARA microfilm publication T625, 2076 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.

"1930 United States Federal Census," database with images, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 24 April 2017), Entry for Jonas Hager and family, Year: 1930, Census Place: Lansdale Montgomery, Pennsylvania, Roll: 2082, Page: 30B, Enumeration District: 0053, Image: 87.0, and FHL microfilm: 2341816; citing United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Fifteenth Census of the United States, 1930. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1930. T626, 2,667 rolls.

Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "1880 United States Federal Census," database online with images, Ancestry.com Operation, Inc., Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 29 April 2017), Entry for Jonas Hager and family, Year: 1880, Census Place: Marlborough Montgomery, Pennsylvania, Roll: 1158, Family History Film: 1255158, Pages: 316 C and 316D, Enumeration District: 016, and Image:s 0258 and 0259; citing Tenth Census of the United States, 1880. (NARA microfilm publication T9, 1,454 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.

"Bass Fisherman Drowns," The Allentown Democrat (Allentown, Pennsylvania), 18 June 1908, Page 3; online archives, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 20 April 2017).

"Directory of Montgomery County, Penna. 1900-1902," database online with images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 8 May 2017), page 313. "Hager Jonas, Lab, Lansdale"; citing Directory of Montgomery County, Penna. 1900-1902 : containing residence and business directories of all the boroughs, also a list of residents with post office addresses in each township, as shown by the latest assessors' returns. Philadelphia: Journal of Commerce Pub. Co., 1900.

"Drowned While In Swimming," Harrisburg Daily Independent (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania), 16 June 1908, page 4; online archives, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 20 April 2017).

Elmer H Hager and Lillie B Grebe, (29 August 1914), Application for Marriage License and Certificate of Marriage: page 269, cn 25117; Montgomery County Archival Records Department, Norristown, Pennsylvania. listed as father, deceased, occupation moulder, born in Finland Township.

Find A Grave, online database (http://www.findagrave.com : accessed 23 April 2017), memorial page for Christianna Huber Hager, Find A Grave Memorial # 38455107, citing Lansdale Cemetery (Lansdale, Pennsylvania), memorial created by LWD, maintained by Marti Drumheller, photograph by Anonymous.

Find A Grave, online database (http://www.findagrave.com : accessed 20 April 2017), memorial page for Jonas Hager, Find A Grave Memorial # 38455113, citing Lansdale Cemetery (Lansdale, Pennsylvania), memorial created by LWD, maintained by Marti Drumheller, photograph by Anonymous.

Jesse Meyer Cox and Jennie Elnora Hager, (23 March 1918), Application for Marriage License and Certificate of Marriage: file number 30133; Montgomery County Archival Records Department, Norristown, Pennsylvania.

"Lansdale Man Drowned," The Lansdale Reporter (Lansdale, Pennsylvania), 18 June 1908, page 3. 

"Lansdale Woman Dies," death notice, The Lansdale Reporter (Lansdale, Pennsylvania), 3 November 1936, page number not recorded. Transcription found on the Find A Grave memorial for Christianna Huber Hager (memorial number 38455107).

"Lansdaler Drowned," The Ambler Gazette (Ambler, Pennsylvania), 18 June 1908, page 4; online images, POWER Library: PA Photos and Documents (http://digitalcollections.powerlibrary.org/cdm/ : accessed 20 April 2017), Wissahickon Valley Public Library's Ambler Gazette Collection. incorrectly listed as James rather than Jonas.

"Oral interview with Dorothy (Cox) Ritter," 1999-2000 by great-niece Kelley Wood (Fullerton, California), owned by Kelley Wood-Davis, Norwalk, Iowa, no notes taken; oral information on family history.

Orphan's Court, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Register of Births 1893-1900, Book 1893-1997, page 198; Entry for Elmer Hager; FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9TN-K96Z-Q?mode=g&i=115&cat=321969: accessed 4 January 2017); image 116; FamilySearch, Salt Lake City, Utah; FHL microfilm 925501.

Orphan's Court, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Register of Births 1893-1900, Book 1897-1900, page 120; Entry for Jennie Elnora Hager; FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9TN-K9D4-D?mode=g: accessed 26 Dec 2016); image 446; FamilySearch, Salt Lake City, Utah; FHL microfilm 925501.

"Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Church and Town Records, 1708-1985," online database with images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 23 April 2017), Entry for Jonas Hager and Christianna Heuber, marriage 8 Mar 1884, Ridge Valley Reformed Church, West Rockhill, Bucks, Pennsylvania; referencing the Private Records of Simon K. Gross, Christ Reformed Church at Indian Creek, Ridge Valley, Bucks County. Rearranged and typed by Raymond Hollenbach of Royersford, June 1972. Page 38; Historical Society of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Collection Name: Historic Pennsylvania Church and Town Records; Reel: 797; citing Historic Pennsylvania Church and Town Records. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Historical Society of Pennsylvania.

"Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Church and Town Records, 1708-1985," online database with images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 23 April 2017), Entry for Jonas Hager and Christianna Huber, marriage 8 Mar 1884, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, The Reverend Simon K Gross Pastoral Records; Historical Society of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Collection Name: Historic Pennsylvania Church and Town Records; Reel: 797; citing Historic Pennsylvania Church and Town Records. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Historical Society of Pennsylvania.

"Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1966," database online with images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 23 April 2017), Entry for Christiana Huber Hager, died 2 Nov 1936, cn 104909; Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission; Pennsylvania, USA; Certificate Number Range: 102501-105500; citing Pennsylvania (State). Death certificates, 1906–1963. Series 11.90 (1,905 cartons). Records of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Record Group 11. Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

"Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1966," database online with images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 20 April 2017), Entry for Jonas Hager, died 15 June 1908, cn 54955, Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission; Pennsylvania, USA; Certificate Number Range: 052001-055800; citing Pennsylvania (State). Death certificates, 1906–1963. Series 11.90 (1,905 cartons). Records of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Record Group 11. Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Roy Krupp and Bertha A Hager, (10 August 1901), Application for Marriage License and Certificate of Marriage: Page 360, ln 11419; Montgomery County Archival Records Department, Norristown, Pennsylvania. listed as father (also had to give consent, as Bertha was only 17)