ELIZA HAGEN

CANADA’S OLDEST METHODIST

MRS. HUGH HAGEN

[People’s Press, 17 October 1911]

              Nearly a century of history was embodied in the life term of the late Mrs. Hugh Hagen, who died on Wednesday last, October 11, 1911, at 10.45 p.m., at the residence of her son-in-law, Mr. Geo. W. Bates, Welland.

             The 17^th of this November would have been her ninety-fifth birthday. Possessed of a remarkable intellect which remained unimpaired in the day of her death, she had lived her life to the full, and there were few sorrows by which her path had not been crossed.

             Until twelve days before her death when she was taken to her bed, she read the newspapers daily, without the aid of spectacles. She was well acquainted with the current topics of the day, in politics, religion and other channels.

             Mrs. Hagen, whose maiden name was Eliza Bailley, was born at Carrick-Fergus in the County of Antrim, Ireland in the year 1816. At the age of eight years, she joined the Methodist church, and at the time of her death was on record as the oldest Methodist in Canada.

             In 1839, at the age of twenty-three, she was married to Hugh Hagen in Ireland, in the evening, and on the following morning they embarked for Canada.

             Upon arriving in this country, they settled in Hinchinbrook in lower Canada. That district was then a wilderness and many incidents were told by her of the excitement and danger through which she and her husband and children lived. On one occasion she saved her husband’s life while he was ill in bed, by placing herself between him and the guns. A band of Papineau’s followers of the  roughest sort who sought the life of his brother and had mistaken him for their man. She faced them in their anger until they explained who they were looking for and their reason for doing so. Hugh Hagen’s brother, an outspoken man, had openly objected to the liberties which the bandits were taking and had harmed them materially.

             After residing at Hinchinbrook for several years, they moved across the border and lived for nine years on the frontier of New York and Vermont states. They had the misfortune of losing two sons while there.

             They returned to Canada and took up a homestead in the township of Townsend in Norfolk county.

             Later they moved north to a farm above Simcoe where they lived until the husband died. Hugh Hagen was twelve years older than his wife and his death preceded hers by the same number of years. The both lived to the age of ninety-five.

             After her husband’s death, Mrs. Hagen came to live with her daughter, Mrs. Geo. Bates of Welland. She spent the whole twelve years here and it was here she died.

             Mrs. Geo. Bates of Welland, and Mr. James Hagen of Wellsvale, Alberta, are the only two of her children who survive her. Two sisters, and one brother also remain alive-Mrs. Wm. Hagen of Walsingham, Mrs. Margaret Meecham of Hagersville and Mr. John Bailey of Hagersville.

             The funeral of Mrs. Hagen took place on Saturday morning. Services were held on Friday afternoon at the home of Mr. George Bates at which there was a large attendance. Rev. C.D. Draper of Acton, a nephew of the deceased lady was expected to act as the officiating clergyman, but through illness was unable to do so. Rev. Daniel Ecker of Stevensville delivered the funeral sermon in his place. Numerous and beautiful were the sprays and wreaths of flowers which were sent by the friends of Mrs. Hagen.

             On Saturday morning the body was conveyed to the 8.50 T.H. & B. westbound train and taken to Waterford for burial. Upon the arrival there was a large number of friends from that district gathered at the station and accompanied the funeral cortege to the cemetery.

             The pall bearers were Messrs. Wm. Draper, Chatham; John Culver, Ernest Evans, Elgin Bates, Hamilton; Walter and George Bates of Welland.