Very recently I found yet another envelope with a Chattanooga, Ohio, postmark, dated 2 September 1896.
When I received the envelope I was pleasantly surprised to see that it came with a letter!
The letter and envelope were written on the personal business stationery of Dr. George R. Hagerman, physician and surgeon in Chattanooga, Ohio. I had never heard of this man but he probably lived in Chatt and his medical office could have been right in his house or close by.
Envelope from Dr. G.R. Hagerman, Chattanooga, Ohio, 1896.
The letter to the Adams County, Indiana, Auditor reads:
Office of
G.R. Hagerman, M.D.
Physician & Surgeon
Chattanooga, Ohio, Sept 2nd 1896
To the Commissioners of Adams Co. Ind,
Dear Sirs—I write you my bids to doctor the county poor for Jefferson and Blue-Creek Townships:
Twenty dollars for Jefferson
Thirty for Blue Creek
If any bids lower then these are made you can sell it to me at 1.00 lower than the sum of the lowest bids for the two Townships.
Yours Very Respct…
Dr. G. R. Hagerman
Chattanooga, Ohio
To Auditor
Please hand this to the Commissioners,
Respt…
Letter from Dr. G.R. Hagerman, Chattanooga, Ohio, 1896.
The letter was received in Decatur, Indiana, on 3 September. I wonder if he got the bids. He certainly seemed interested in the position.
Back of envelope from Dr. G.R. Hagerman, Chattanooga, Ohio, 1896.
Four years later, in 1900, Dr. Hagerman and his family lived in Liberty Township, Mercer County. In the household was George R, 43; Elizabeth A, 35; Charles W, 15; Edward W, 4; and James F, 1. This census enumeration tells us that George was a physician, born in Ohio in August 1856. He and his wife had been married 18 years and she had given birth to three children, all of whom were living. Their son Charles was a huckster driver. They lived next door to another physician, 46 year-old Price Whaters. Other neighbors included Joseph Markle, Philip Deitsch, John Strabel, Andrew Koch, Philip Koch, John Allmandinger, Fred Heffner, William Betzel, and Simon Riffle. [1]
On the 1900 Chatt plat map Hagermans are shown on lots 12 and 14, in downtown Chatt, on the east side of what is now State Route 49. These buildings were across from what was the Chattanooga Hotel.
Who was Dr. George R Hagerman?
According to his death certificate, George Robinson Hagerman was born 2 August 1856 in Mendon, Ohio, the son of James and Elizabeth Hagerman. [2]
In 1880 George, age 23, was a physician in Mendon, Ohio. He was single and lived in John Heppard’s boarding house. John C. Miller, another physician, also lived in the same boarding house. [3]
George Hagerman married Elizabeth Luella Dutton on 25 May 1882 in Mercer County, Ohio. [4]
Elizabeth was also from Mercer County, the daughter of James W. and Sarah C. (Grant) Dutton. [5]
George and Elizabeth were living in Chatt in 1900 but by 1910 they had moved to Camden in Lorain County, Ohio. In their household: George R, 59; Elizabeth, 46; and James, 10. [6]
George remained in Lorain County the rest of his life, where he died on 6 June 1939 at the age of 82 years. [2]
His wife Elizabeth (Dutton) died in Port Clinton on 13 May 1941, at the age of 77 years. [5]
George, his wife Elizabeth, and their two young sons are buried in the Mendon Cemetery. Inscribed on the tombstone: Elizabeth L (1864-1941); Wallace E (1889-1902); Charles W (1884-1911); George R (1856-1939). [7]
What an interesting piece of Chattanooga history.
[1] 1900 U.S. Census, Liberty, Mercer, Ohio, ED 85, p. 10A, dwelling 184, family 189, George R Hagerman; Ancestry.com (accessed 2 Mar 2017); FHL microfilm 1241304, NARA microfilm T623, roll 1304.
[2] “Ohio Deaths, 1908-1953,” FamilySearch.org (accessed 2 Mar 2017), Geo Robinson Hagerman, 6 Jun 1939; Camden, Lorain, deaths; FHL microfilm 2023716.
[3] 1880 U.S. Census, Mendon, Mercer, Ohio, ED 191, p.535D, dwelling & family 43, George Hagerman; Ancestry.com (accessed 2 Mar 2017); FHL microfilm 1255048, NARA microfilm T9, roll 1048.
[4] “Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2013,” FamilySearch.org (accessed 3 Mar 2017), Geo R Hagerman & Libbie L Dutton, 25 May 1882; Mercer Co Marriages, Vol 5, p.135, FHL microfilm 914956.
[5] “Ohio Deaths, 1908-1953,” FamilySearch.org (accessed 2 Mar 2017), Elizabeth Luella Hagerman, 13 May 1941; Port Clinton, Ottawa deaths; FHL microfilm 2023916.
[6] 1910 U.S. Census, Camden, Lorain, Ohio, ED 101, p.3A, dwelling 67, family 69, George R Hagerman; Ancestry.com (accessed 2 Mar 2017); FHL microfilm 1375219, NARA microfilm T624, roll 1206.
[7] Findagrave.com, George Robinson Hagerman Memorial #64361248.
