Person:Robert Hager (4)

From the Boone County West Virginia History, 1990 by the Boone County Genealogical Society, Inc. Submitted by Janet Barker Hager

The Rev. Robert Hager was born 1810 in Cabell County, VA, the son of Michael and Martha Hager. He died in 1879 on Rock Castle Creek near Inez, KY. Robert married Ruth Adkins, daughter of Joshua Sr. and Adelphia Adkins.

He was one of our earliest and best known Methodist Ministers. He rode circuit over southern West Virginia (then Virginia), Ohio, and northern Kentucky. These trips to visit and establish churches were made by horseback over poor roads or no roads at all, during rain, sleet, snow and beautiful sunshine. He helped establish many churches in the above mentioned areas, married many couples, and helped bury their dead. We owe a great deal to these old ministers of the Gospel.

Robert Hager helped organize our State Government. His name is mentioned as a member of the Wheeling Constitutional Convention of 1861. He strongly supported the abolition of slavery and believed that all men were created equal. On June 20, 1863, Robert Hager, then 53, was listed as a delegate and again in 1864. In 1865, the Rev. Benjamin served as delegate from Boone County. In 1866, 1867, and 1868, the Rev. Robert Hager served as State Senator from this district. His pet project was a better education for the children of West Virginia.