This prominent young citizen of Fortville, Hancock County, Indiana, and the proprietor of the largest grain elevator in the vicinity, was born in this village June 14, 1868, and is the son of Andrew and Elizabeth Hagen, natives respectively of Germany and Ohio. Andrew Hagen is really the father of Fortville, in a business view, he having come from Ohio to the village thirty-five year ago and having been the first to give impetus to its business prosperity. He was a man of considerable public importance and exerted a broad spread and powerful influence over the affairs of the county. He was treasurer of Hancock county from 1876 until 1880, was for years chairman of the Democratic county committee, and was state coal and oil inspector four years. In 1891 he went to Indianapolis, where he established the Home Brewing Company, of which he is now the secretary and treasurer.

Paul Hagen received his preparatory education in the graded school of Fortville and then attended Notre Dame University at South Bend, Indiana, three years, from September, 1881, until June 1884, after which he took a year s course of study in the Indianapolis Business College. In 1887 he engaged in the grain business in Fortville in partnership with George Shultz, under the style of Hagen and Shultz. This partnership was maintained until July, 1897, when Mr. Hagen became the sole proprietor, and at once proceeded to increase his facilities and to enlarge the scope of trade, and now owns the largest elevator in the locality.

Fraternally Mr. Hagen is a member of the Fortville Lodge No. 178, F. & A.M., and also of Lodge No 404, K.P., of the same place, He was united in marriage November 10, 1892, with Miss Bertha Borrey, of Greenfield, Indiana, who was born at Ravenna, Ohio, July 13, 1870, a daughter of John and Louise (Hahn) Borrey. Mr. Hagen s union with Miss Borrey resulted in the birth of two children, Marie and Lucile, who would be a source of pride and joy to any household in the land.

Mr. Hagen is recognized as one of the most energetic as well as farseeing business men in Hancock County and he is following the footsteps of his illustrious father with unerring precision.

Transcribed from Biographical Memoirs of Hancock County B. F. Bowen, Publisher, Logansport, Indiana, 1902 Pages 419-420.

Submitted by Sylvia (Rose) Duda, Laingsburg, MI Aug 15, 2006.

Return to 1902 Index | Return to Hancock Co. Main Page