Jonathan Hager
Encyclopedia
Jonathan Hager is the founder of Hagerstown, Maryland, United States
. He was born in Germany
and fought in the French and Indian War
serving out of Fort Frederick
.
Little information has been learned and proven about Jonathan Hager's early childhood, education, and other aspects of his early life. Information that has been verified by mulitple sources is as followed. Jonathan Hager came to the American
colonies in 1736 and arrived at a port in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
. After a three tract through Pennsylvania and Maryland, he decided to settle in Maryland
. On 5 June 1739, he bought 200 acre (0.809372 km²) from Daniel Dulaney and begain immediate construction on the grounds. He built a sound foundation over two fresh water springs that flowed over the property and constructed a barn. The house and grounds became known as "Hager's Fancy," now encompassing the site known as the Hager House and Museum (in present-day Hagerstown City Park
). Jonathan Hager, 26, would wed Elizabeth Kirschner, 15, in the year 1740. The couple would only reside in "Hager's Fancy" for five year. Jonathan would sell the property to Jacob Rohrer and relocate other land he had obtained. This new location, named "Hager's Delight" is thought to be the location where his children were born, though it is around this time that Jonathan Hager began using a townhome directly in Elizabethtown. Jonathan and Elizabeth would have three children, though only two would survive into adulthood. The two surviving children were Rosanna Hager (1752) and Jonathan Hager Jr. (1755). Elizabeth died in 1765 at the age of 40. Hager recorded is his Book of Sermons: "We lived together until the 16th day of April, 1765, then it pleased the Lord to call her, after severe suffering, out of this world. What God does is well done." As a triubute to his wife, Jonathan named the area Elizabethtown.
In 1762, Hager officially founded the town which he named after his wife. The name Elizabethtown would soon give way to Hager's Town and both names would be used until 1813. On December 5, 1813, the City Council voted to change the name from Elizabethtown to Hagerstown, then on January 26, 1814, the State Legislature passed an act to officially call the town Hagerstown.
In 1776, Jonathan Hager became known as the "Father of Washington County" after his many efforts finally secured Hagerstown becoming the county seat of newly created Washington County, Maryland
which Hager had also helped create from neighboring Frederick County
.
Hagerstown, Maryland
Hagerstown is a city in northwestern Maryland, United States. It is the county seat of Washington County, and, by many definitions, the largest city in a region known as Western Maryland. The population of Hagerstown city proper at the 2010 census was 39,662, and the population of the...
. He was born in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and fought in the French and Indian War
French and Indian War
The French and Indian War is the common American name for the war between Great Britain and France in North America from 1754 to 1763. In 1756, the war erupted into the world-wide conflict known as the Seven Years' War and thus came to be regarded as the North American theater of that war...
serving out of Fort Frederick
Fort Frederick State Park
Fort Frederick State Park is a Maryland state park surrounding the restored Fort Frederick, a fort from the French and Indian War and American Revolutionary War. The park is south of the town of Big Pool on the Potomac River; the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal runs through the park grounds...
.
History
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
colonies in 1736 and arrived at a port in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
. After a three tract through Pennsylvania and Maryland, he decided to settle in Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
. On 5 June 1739, he bought 200 acre (0.809372 km²) from Daniel Dulaney and begain immediate construction on the grounds. He built a sound foundation over two fresh water springs that flowed over the property and constructed a barn. The house and grounds became known as "Hager's Fancy," now encompassing the site known as the Hager House and Museum (in present-day Hagerstown City Park
Hagerstown City Park
Hagerstown City Park is a public urban park just southwest of the central business district of Hagerstown, Maryland, United States. The park is located at the junction of Virginia Avenue, Key Street, Walnut Street, Prospect Street, and Memorial Boulevard....
). Jonathan Hager, 26, would wed Elizabeth Kirschner, 15, in the year 1740. The couple would only reside in "Hager's Fancy" for five year. Jonathan would sell the property to Jacob Rohrer and relocate other land he had obtained. This new location, named "Hager's Delight" is thought to be the location where his children were born, though it is around this time that Jonathan Hager began using a townhome directly in Elizabethtown. Jonathan and Elizabeth would have three children, though only two would survive into adulthood. The two surviving children were Rosanna Hager (1752) and Jonathan Hager Jr. (1755). Elizabeth died in 1765 at the age of 40. Hager recorded is his Book of Sermons: "We lived together until the 16th day of April, 1765, then it pleased the Lord to call her, after severe suffering, out of this world. What God does is well done." As a triubute to his wife, Jonathan named the area Elizabethtown.
In 1762, Hager officially founded the town which he named after his wife. The name Elizabethtown would soon give way to Hager's Town and both names would be used until 1813. On December 5, 1813, the City Council voted to change the name from Elizabethtown to Hagerstown, then on January 26, 1814, the State Legislature passed an act to officially call the town Hagerstown.
In 1776, Jonathan Hager became known as the "Father of Washington County" after his many efforts finally secured Hagerstown becoming the county seat of newly created Washington County, Maryland
Washington County, Maryland
Washington County is a county located in the western part of the U.S. state of Maryland, bordering southern Pennsylvania to the north, northern Virginia to the south, and the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia to the south and west. As of the 2010 Census, its population is 147,430...
which Hager had also helped create from neighboring Frederick County
Frederick County, Maryland
Frederick County is a county located in the western part of the U.S. state of Maryland, bordering the southern border of Pennsylvania and the northeastern border of Virginia. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 233,385....
.
See also
- Hager House
- Hagerstown City ParkHagerstown City ParkHagerstown City Park is a public urban park just southwest of the central business district of Hagerstown, Maryland, United States. The park is located at the junction of Virginia Avenue, Key Street, Walnut Street, Prospect Street, and Memorial Boulevard....
- Hagerstown, MarylandHagerstown, MarylandHagerstown is a city in northwestern Maryland, United States. It is the county seat of Washington County, and, by many definitions, the largest city in a region known as Western Maryland. The population of Hagerstown city proper at the 2010 census was 39,662, and the population of the...
- Washington County, MarylandWashington County, MarylandWashington County is a county located in the western part of the U.S. state of Maryland, bordering southern Pennsylvania to the north, northern Virginia to the south, and the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia to the south and west. As of the 2010 Census, its population is 147,430...