USA > Pennsylvania > Lancaster County > Lancaster's golden century, 1821-1921; a chronicle of men and women who planned and toiled to build a city strong and beautiful > Part 7
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Christopher Hager was in every respect a representative of the highest and finest type of business man that Lancaster has produced. He not only prospered in his own business, but he was ever willing and ready to give his time and energy to public interests. He had a wide ac- quaintance. He was on intimate terms with Gov- ernor Curtin during and following the Civil War. He was a warm personal friend to President James Buchanan, and was on the same intimate terms with Thaddeus Stevens. When Christopher Hager died in 1868, the Philadelphia Press said, " The announcement of the death of Christopher Hager at Abbeville, Lancaster, will be received with regret throughout the state. One of the oldest and most substantial citizens of Lancaster county, intimately connected with all its public movements, his business relations were extended generally throughout the Commonwealth. Many
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of the chief local improvements of his native city are mainly attributed to his enterprise and public spirit. During the struggle for national exist- ence, he was at all times, in his county, one of the first men looked to for counsel or aid in every emergency."
In 1853, the first, second and third sons of Christopher Hager formed a partnership, and the firm name was changed to Hager and Broth- ers, and finally, upon the death of Henry W. Hager, to Hager and Brother.
John C. Hager, the eldest son of Christopher Hager, after having worked in his father's em- ploy for half a dozen years, was, in 1846 at the age of twenty, given a partnership interest in the business, later assuming for several years entire management, and after 1853, continuing as the head of the firm until his death in 1897. After the death of Christopher Hager, the eldest son John was asked to accept the presidency of the Farmers' National Bank, which position he de- clined, owing to the pressing nature of his other business interests. He was largely interested in real estate in Lancaster City, and township. The development of the western part of Lancaster is largely due to his activity. His public interests were many and varied. He took a prominent part in all those practical interests that made for the good of the community, in church, education and business affairs. He was one of the organ- izers and president of the Lancaster Board of
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Trade. He was a trustee of Franklin and Mar- shall College, and of Trinity Lutheran Church. He was one of the pioneers of the street railway system in and about Lancaster. In every sense of the word, he was a good type of Christian gentleman, representative citizen and active busi- ness man, the soul of integrity.
Charles F. Hager, the second son of Christopher Hager, became a partner of the firm in 1853. As a boy, after a preliminary education in the local schools, he entered the Conestoga Cotton Mills, and helped in putting through the pickers the first bale of cotton, manufactured in Lancaster. After becoming a partner of the firm of Hager & Brothers he became the buyer for the store. He constantly visited the metropolitan wholesale markets, and his business ability, integrity and genial disposition made him a host of friends at home and abroad, which proved an important factor in the expansion of the business. He was also a director of the Farmers' National Bank, and one of the organizers of the Stevens House Hotel Co. After the death of his father, he purchased the family homestead at Abbeville.
Henry W. Hager, the third son of Christopher Hager, received his business training in his fath- er's store, and was a member of the firm from 1853 until the time of his enlistment during the Civil War, when he served as First Lieutenant in Company B, Second Pennsylvania State Volun- teers. After the war he returned to his place in
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the firm. He died at the age of 34, while serv- ing as Postmaster of Lancaster City.
The fourth son of Christopher Hager, Edward F., while not a member of the firm of Hager and Brother, was connected with the firm of W. L. Strong & Co., New York. Colonel Strong was afterwards made mayor of New York. Edward F. Hager had a splendid record in the Civil War, serving as First Lieutenant Co. B 122nd P. V. I., and seeing active service at Chancellorsville and elsewhere during the trying days of the rebellion. He also recruited, and was Captain of Co. A, 50th Regiment, Pa. Militia.
Then comes the third generation, linking hands with the second, and furthering the work estab- lished by the first. Such is the privilege of the present senior members of the Hager Store. They worked hand in hand with their fathers, and in their own day assumed the responsibilities themselves. During the Seventies and Eighties under progressive management the business pros- pered and grew. In 1885, partnership interests were given to John C. and Walter C., sons of John C. and Charles F. Hager, and in 1889 to William H., son of John C. Hager.
At the time Walter C. Hager entered the firm of Hager and Bro., Christopher Hager, son of Henry W. Hager and John C. Hager, Jr., son of John C. Hager, were also given a partnership interest, but later they left the partnership to en- gage in other lines of business. In 1897 upon the
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death of the senior partners, John C. and Charles F. Hager, sole control and ownership was assumed by Walter C. and William H. Hager, who con- stituted the firm of Hager and Brother up to recent times, when the two sons of William H. Hager were added to the firm.
The personnel of the firm of Hager and Brother now is Walter C. Hager, William H. Hager, and his two sons Edward T. and William H. Hager, Jr., the sons representing the fourth generation of the business.
Walter C. Hager, son of Charles F. Hager, entered the employ of Hager & Son in 1876. About 1884, he was given a partnership interest, and upon reorganization in 1898, he continued a member of the firm, and is to-day the senior member of the business. In local affairs Walter C. Hager has been active in many public enter- prises. For a number of years he served as Treasurer of the Lancaster Charity Society, now the Community Service Association. He also served for some time as a director in the Young Men's Christian Association. From the start, he was an interested and active member of the Lan- caster Historical Society. He has prepared and read several valuable papers before the Histori- cal Society, dealing with subjects of an artistic nature. He was vice-chairman of the committee under whose auspices the Loan Exhibition of Historical and Contemporary Portraits illustrat- ing the Evolution of Portraiture in Lancaster
100 YEARS
1821
H 1921
THE HOUSE OF HAGER
THIS TABLET IS DEDICATED IN HONOR OF
CHRISTOPHER HAGER DOUNDER JOHN C. HAGER CHARLES E. HAGER HENRY W. HAGER
WHOSE INTEGRITY, INDUSTRY AND WISDOM FOUNDED, MAINTAINED AND DEVELOPED OUR HOUSE BY THEIR SUCCESSORS
WALTER C. HAGER WILLIAM H. HAGER EDWARD T. HAGER WILLIAM H. HAGER
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County, was made possible in 1912. He has been interested in promoting a number of benevolent, educational and artistic projects in the community.
The second member of the present firm of Hager and Brother, is William Henderson Hager, son of John Christopher Hager, and Margaret Henderson Hager. He graduated from Franklin and Marshall College in 1885, and entered the em- ploy of Hager and Brother as clerk in the autumn of that same year. Under the teaching of his father, he gained a thorough knowledge of the dry goods business, merchandising, finance and man- agement. In 1890 he was given a partnership in the firm. In 1896 he was practically the manag- ing head of the business, owing to his father's ill health. In 1898 (his father John C. Hager and uncle Charles F. Hager having died during the year 1897) the firm was reorganized, and he con- tinued business in partnership with his cousin, Walter C. Hager, the firm name of Hager and Brother being continued.
William H. Hager has taken an active part in community interests, including the business, civic, social, educational and benevolent enterprises of his city. In 1899 he served two years as president of the Lancaster Board of Trade, and served for a number of years as Director of the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce. In 1920 he was elected president of the newly-organized Pennsylvania Retail Dry Goods Association. In February 1921 he was elected a director of the National
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Retail Dry Goods Association. He is a trustee of Franklin and Marshall College, and is the third generation of his family serving on the Buildings and Grounds Committee of that institution. He is a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, of the Board of Trustees of the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Mt. Airy, Philadelphia, and of the Executive Board of the United Lutheran Church of America. He is also an incorporator of the Lancaster Law and Order Society ; an independ- ent Republican in local and national affairs.
At a "welcome home " party, given by the Hager Beneficial Association of the Hager Store at the Iris Club in the Spring of 1920, for Mr. Walter C. Hager, who had just returned from an extended visit to California, it was announced that Edward T. Hager, son of William H. Hager had been given a partnership interest in the firm of Hager and Brother.
It is worth noting that this marked the entrance of the fourth generation into the business manage- ment of this well-known department store.
Edward T. Hager is a graduate of Franklin and Marshall College, class of 1914. After spend- ing more than a year in the employ of Hager and Brother, he was engaged in active service on the Mexican border, as First Lieutenant in the 4th Infantry, of the Pennsylvania National Guard. After another brief period with Hager and Brother he entered the service of the United States Government as a member of the Pennsylvania
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National Guard, and went overseas with the 28th Division, as First Lieutenant of the 107th Machine Gun Battalion. He took part in the major en- agements fought by the Iron Division, up to the day of the armistice, and returned with his divis- ion from France in May, 1919, when he was given an honorable discharge from the service. He again took up his position with Hager and Brother. He is Vice-Commander of the Ameri- can Legion, Post No. 34.
In the month of February, 1921, announce- ment was made to the employees of Hager and Brother by William H. Hager that his second son, William H. Hager, Jr. had been given an interest in the partnership of Hager and Brother. William H. Hager, Jr., of the class of 1918, Franklin and Marshall College, left college near the close of his junior year, in order to enter the Students' Military Training Camp at Fort Niagara, there receiving his commission as second lieutenant. He went overseas with the 316th In- fantry of the 79th Division, American Expedi- tionary Force, and saw active service in the Argonne-Meuse Sector. Later, physical disabil- ity incapacitated him for further service with his regiment. He returned to the United States late in December 1918, and was given an honorable discharge from the army on January 10, 1919. He is a member of the American Legion. His son William H. represents the fifth generation.
With each advancing generation, the Hager
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Store has kept pace with the growth and the needs of the community it serves. In 1903, the firm erected a three-story building with basement, add- ing about 18,000 feet of floor space. In 1906 a fourth story was built to the main back building, adding 7,000 square feet of floor space. In 1910 the front building was torn down, the firm con- tinuing to do business (growing all the while) during the period in which the present modern handsome structure was erected. The present store building has a frontage of 631/2 feet by 230 feet in depth, is five stories high in front, and has four stories in the rear. There is a large ware- house adjoining, a part of which is used by the business. The store is thoroughly equipped with up-to-date fixtures, tube cash system and sprinkler
system. The business is run under an efficient department plan, having thirty-eight departments.
The personnel of the Hager Store is made up of 23 executives, including a corps of 16 buyers, with a force of people numbering 250 at the maximum. An educational director devotes all her time to the various duties of her position. The store presents an atmosphere of congeniality and refinement, an unmistakable quality of good taste and well-ordered arrangement.
Group insurance is part of the store's system. Policies varying from $500.00 to $1,000.00 are given to the workers, after they have been in the employ of the store one year. The amount is based upon their term of service. A bonus com-
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mission plan is in force, and is additional to the salaries of the workers.
The Hager and Brother Beneficial Association is a thriving organization, supported by the work- ers of the store and the firm. The association pays both sick and death benefits.
The Hager Store is a member of an efficient buying organization in New York City, the Dry Goods Alliance.
The Hager Store is a public institution, typical of all that is best in Lancaster. Like the City of Lancaster, it is full of shadows of the great figures of the past, yet it has the bloom of an eternal youth. The power and vigor of the men who were the originators and the inspiring soul of the enterprise abides in those who are carrying for- ward the work. The celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the Hager Store, and its entrance into the " Centenary Firms and Corporations of the United States " is an event of truly historical significance for the city and county of Lancaster.
The Demuth Tobacco Shop on East King street, is another Centenary Firm. Established in 1770, it is the oldest tobacco shop in the United States. It was started in the Province of Pennsylvania by Christopher Demuth, the paternal great-grand- father of the present proprietor, Henry C. Demuth. This store has been for a hundred and fifty years a place where men were wont to gather and discuss matters of large and small concern. " Years ago," says the historian, " the aristocrats
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of an early day, soldiers and statesmen, wits and beaux, lawyers, doctors and parsons, gathered there to discuss affairs of state and of society, of funds and finance, law, literature, picnics and politics." The Demuth store is one of Lancaster's most interesting and characteristic establishments. It has kept pace with the growing spirit of every generation, but it has lost little of its ancient flavor.
The oldest continuous business firm in Lan- caster is the Steinman Hardware Company, estab- lished in 1744, and still doing business at the original location. It is undoubtedly the oldest hardware store in the United States. Among the list of names taken from one of the old ledgers of patrons of the store, prior to 1760, is the name of George Ross, and of other men well known in their day. Many of the articles sold in the store prior to 1760 were manufactured in a shop lo- cated in the rear thereof, and practically all were handmade. In 1760, according to the Steinman records, two horseshoes cost as much as thirty shoes now, and " sundry nails " as much as one half keg now. A cord of hickory wood cost $2.00, while a quart of rum cost 32c. It is said that the present ledger of the company contains the names of many whose ancestors dealt with the firm more than one hundred and fifty years ago. Until the death of George Steinman, a member of that family had always been connected with this firm.
Another business house continuing for over a century, practically under the same name, though
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not on the exact location throughout its whole history, is the Heinitsh Drug Store. This firm started business in 1780, importing drugs and medicines from London and Amsterdam. The business was moved to its present stand, 16 East King street, in 1841. The store enjoys the repu- tation of having been in one family longer than any other drug store in the United States.
The first among the banking houses of Lan- caster to pass the century mark is the Farmers' Trust Company. It was founded as the Farmers' Bank of Lancaster in 1810, chartered as the Farmers' National Bank of Lancaster in 1864, and incorporated under its present title in 1904. For more than 100 years it has maintained in un- broken succession the confidence of the commun- ity and served the best business and professional interests of the city and county of Lancaster.
At least two of Lancaster's newspapers have been in existence for over a hundred years, and the third is running not far from the centenary line. The Journal was established in 1794, and the Intelligencer in 1799. These two later merged under the name of the latter, but to-day again exist as distinct newspapers. The Examiner- New Era recently celebrated the 90th Anniversary of the founding of the Lancaster Examiner in 1830, which in 1834 became the Examiner and Herald. The founding and the development of these old newspapers forms one of the most inter- esting pages in the Golden Book of Lancaster.
CHAPTER VIII
THE SPIRIT OF LANCASTER
HE story of Lancaster relates not only to the seven generations of men and women who for the past two hundred years have tilled the fields, turned the wheels of industry, es- tablished the arts, founded institutions of learning, made laws, planted churches and developed suc- cessful building enterprises. It is the story also of the 55,000 men and women who live in Lan- caster City to-day, of the 175,000 who inhabit the county, who are planning greater things for the Lancaster of to-morrow.
That they have the spirit of industry is evi- denced by the fact that for fifty years Lancaster County has led the 3000 counties of the United States in the value of its cereal products, raised on the 11,000 farms into which the county is divided. The aggregate value of crops for the county represents the enormous sum of 30 millions. The total volume of business in live-stock in Lan- caster, which is considered the largest market for the sale of cattle for feeding purposes east of Chicago, amounted in one year to over 22 million ;
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more than 213,000 head of live-stock having been sold in the Lancaster market in one year. Lan- caster County too has been noted for the fact that it raises nine-tenths of the state production of tobacco, the crops running over 10 million.
The spirit of industry is also seen in the rapid strides made by the 200 manufacturing industries of the city, shipping over 100 million dollars worth of Lancaster manufactured goods annually, paying over 16 million in wages every year to the thousands of employees, 96 per cent of whom are American born.
The home of the famous Hamilton Watch is in Lancaster. This firm with its 750 employees builds 400 high-grade timepieces per day for 280 days a year, giving it an output of two million dollars a year, which represents a production of more high-grade watches than are issued by any other factory in the United States. Lancaster has also the largest linoleum plant in America, and the longest silk mill in the world. It is the centre of the umbrella industry of America. It has great cotton mills that produce the well- known " Lancaster Ginghams." It would be pos- sible to name a hundred diversified industries for which the city and county are noted, including asbestos products, ball-bearings, forges, locks, druggist preparations, electrical apparatus, boxes, soaps, structural and ornamental steel and iron, woodwork, motor trucks and great quantities of cigars and candy.
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These industries are made possible largely by two factors, the Holtwood dam, and excellent transportation facilities. The Holtwood dam is probably Lancaster County's greatest achievement in applied science. By harnessing the Susque- hanna more power is produced than by any other single plant east of the Mississippi and south of Niagara. As far as transportation facilities are concerned, Lancaster is located on the line of two railroads, has the Lincoln Highway passing through it, and is the center of a network of 180 miles of trolley lines which extend to every part of the county, and connect with Philadelphia, Reading, Harrisburg and Lebanon.
That Lancaster has the spirit of thrift as well as that of industry is seen in the fact that the actual bank assets show the banking wealth of Lancaster to be greater than that of 14 sovereign states of the United States, taken separately. The city has six national banks and seven trust companies. The bank clearings of the fifty banks for the entire county show that over 137 million passed over the counter last year.
The spirit of patriotism in Lancaster evidenced in America's Seven Wars, was never more fully revealed than in the part that the present gener- ation of Lancastrians have taken in the Spanish- American War and in the Great World War. Lancaster County gave 5,787 men to the service in the recent Great War among whom were so many volunteers that Lancaster's quota was filled
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before the first draft went into effect. 240 Lan- caster City and County boys laid down their lives in the world conflict. 48 physicians of the city and county served in the war, and 27 others made application for admission to the Medical Corps but were rejected. Major General William Murray Black, Brigadier General W. H. Rose and Lieut .- Col. John H. Wickersham saw the light of day in Lancaster County and all forged their way to high eminence as engineers.
Brigadier General Robert C. Davis, also a native of Lancaster, rose to be Chief of Staff to General Pershing and Adjutant of the American Expeditionary Forces. Among the many others who were honored by high commissions were Brigadier General E. C. Shannon, Col. F. S. Foltz, of Fort Oglethorpe, Col. Wm. S. McCaskey, Lieut .- Col. Theodore B. Appel and Lieut-Col. J. H. Steinman. Among those who led Lan- caster troops were Captain W. C. Rehm, Cap- tain J. N. Lightner and Captain C. P. Stahr. Among the many brave lads of Lancaster who gave their lives in the world war notable and typical are the names of Captain H. H. Worth- ington and Lieut. Daniel S. Keller. Worthy of record too is the fact that Boone Bowman, a Lan- caster boy in the French Army, carried the first American flag across the German lines in the Great War. In the navy we were represented by Lieut-Commander E. E. Skeen, Lieut. H. N. Howell, Lieut. D. H. Frantz and a number of
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ensigns. Lancaster County contributed over 43 million dollars in support of the great struggle, a per capita equivalent of $260 for every man, woman and child. The treasure in blood and money given by the citizens of Lancaster will some day be written in the records of a great war memorial building. Would that one could speak of the magnificent work of the Red Cross under the leadership of Mr. H. W. Hartman, and his army of helpers; and of the many services of our "War Mayor " the late H. L. Trout and of those whom he called to his assistance.
Lancaster has the spirit of good will and hos- pitality. Nowhere is there a more energetic re- sponse to every worthy appeal for the help of humanity. The charity of the people of Lan- caster County is proverbial. Public spirit and philanthropy is manifest in such gifts as those of Mr. H. S. Williamson, a prince of good will, whose name will live as long as Lancaster exists, in the names " Williamson Field " and " William- son Park." Then there is the name of Catharine H. Long, associated with what is destined to be- come one of the most beautiful parks in the state, and with a home for the aged which has already proved a blessing to many.
There is to be found in Lancaster a love of education and a spirit of culture that is the result of generations of growth. Besides 22 school build- ings and 4 parochial schools we have in the city, Franklin and Marshall College, a Theological
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Seminary, Franklin and Marshall Academy, Shippen School for Girls, Thaddeus Stevens Industrial School and Yeates School. The Bowman Technical School of Watchmaking, En- graving and Jewelry is 32 years old, has 115 students and over 2000 graduates. It has given vocational training to a large number of disabled soldiers. Lancaster has two handsome high school buildings of modern construction. In the county is to be found Linden Hall Seminary located at Lititz, Pa., one of the very oldest girls' schools in America.
From the days when the old Juliana Library in Lancaster was named after the wife of Thomas Penn to our own time, a taste for books has pre- vailed among all orders and ranks of people in Lancaster. There are in the city at present the A. Herr Smith Memorial Library, The John Watts DePeyster Library, and the library of the Theo- These three contain at least logical Seminary.
100,000 volumes. The printing establishments of Lancaster turn out more books and magazines of a scientific nature than those of any other city of her size in the country.
In the social and literary life of Lancaster there are a number of organizations of interest and permanent value, such as the Cliosophic Society, which for forty-two years has promoted congenial literary study and refined social intercourse be- tween a number of persons of kindred tastes. The Travel Club, the Fortnightly Club, the Present
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Day Club, the Liberal Club, the Musical Art Society are other organizations of similar char- acter. The Iris Club has for twenty-five years been of great value to the higher life of Lancaster. More recent additions to the cul- tural life of Lancaster are the Association of Organists and the Lancaster Municipal Orchestra.
The Lancaster Chamber of Commerce has re- cently been reorganized with over a thousand members. The Rotary, Kiwanis and Quota Clubs have rendered great service to the community. The Manufacturers' Association has undertaken a program of Americanization.
Lancaster has to-day 63 churches, representing practically every denomination. The city has two hospitals, equipped with modern appliances, maintaining a high record of efficiency. There are homes and asylums which provide for young and old who need assistance. The charities of the city are organized under the leadership of Dr. A. V. Hiester, president of the Lancaster Community Service Association. The Y. M. C. A. and the Y. W. C. A. have large and beautiful buildings. They are both bee-hives of activity. The Y. M. C. A. celebrated a year ago its golden jubilee. The efficiency of the organi- zation owes a great deal to the services of the late James Shand who for many years was the president of the Board of Trustees as well as to the fine enthusiasm of its present secretary, Mr. E. B. Searles. Throughout the great war the
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Y. M. C. A. building in Lancaster was the civic center and rallying point of the community. On the site of the old historic Shippen home on East Orange street the citizens of Lancaster erected a few years ago a handsome building for the use of the Y. W. C. A. This organization under the leadership of Miss Pratt has proved one of the most valuable assets to the higher and better life of the community.
Lancaster has many beautiful residences and many handsome suburban homes. A large per cent of the population own the houses in which they live. There are also a number of handsome apartments in the city. Among the hotels are to be noted the Brunswick on the site of the former Caldwell House, the Stevens, named after the great Commoner, the Wheatland and the new Weber. In the corridor of the Brunswick is a tablet presented by the late W. U. Hensel and unveiled by the Lancaster Historical Society to commemorate the fact that from the balcony of the former hotels on the same site Abraham Lincoln, Horace Greeley, James Buchanan, Win- field Scott Hancock and Theodore Roosevelt had delivered addresses. It appears that Lancaster has entertained seven men who at the time of their visit here or shortly thereafter became President of the United States, and at least three others who were nominated for that high office but failed of election.
The city owes much of unalloyed joy to its five
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beautiful parks. These breathing places provide air, sunshine and the enjoyment of nature for the people of Lancaster.
This quaint old town of two hundred years standing is indeed an interesting and beautifully located spot. As you walk the streets of Lan- caster, a thousand busy thoughts rush on the mind, a thousand images of the past come up before you. Whatever faults the community has-and like all other types, it is irregular in its development- the stranger will find here no lack of the atmos- phere of friendliness, the visitor will feel the pervasive influence of hearty cordiality. There is a mingling here of the old and of the new, of the yesterday and of the to-morrow; there is a softness in the sky in May, a mellowness in the air in October. If you will look into the soul of this old city, you will find there a spirit of hos- pitality and brotherliness which will make you feel at home at the ends of the earth. There are handsomer, cleaner, richer, and more intellec- tual cities than Lancaster, but there is none which has more thoroughly developed the resources of simple and genuine friendliness.
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