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Portrait and Biographical Album of
Huron County, Michigan
Pub. Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1884

           [271-272]

           IRA GAGER,  farmer, residing on section 18, Sand Beach Township,
        is a son of NOAH and WELTHY (HUNTLY) GAGER, natives of Dutchess
        Co., N.Y., in which State they resided until seven years after
        their marriage. They then moved to Canada, in which country they
        both died.
           IRA GAGER, the eldest son of a family of nine children, was born
        in Dutchess Co., N.Y., June 20, 1827. He remained at home assisting
        the father on the farm and attending the common schools until he
        attained the age of manhood, when he went forth upon the road of
        uncertainty to fight the battles of life alone. His first effort
        was that of farming, at which he continued for a period, and then
        engaged as "mine host." Finally, abandoning the hotel business, he
        built a saw-mill, which he operated for a period of three years,
        and then sold and moved to Niagara Co., N.Y., and engaged in
        farming.
           MR. GAGER came from the latter county to this county in 1866,
        and homesteaded 160 acres of land on section 18, Sand Beach Town-
        ship, and has resided on the same up to the present time. His land
        was unimproved, and he entered at once upon the laborious task of
        clearing and improving it, determined to make it a pleasant and
        productive abiding place for himself and family. How well his
        efforts have proven successful and his aim accomplished, his farm,
        with about 100 acres improved, will testify.
           MR. GAGER was first united in marriage to MISS DIADAMIA MANN, a
        native of Canada, of American ancestry, April 17, 1848. She was the
        mother, by MR. GAGER, of nine children, namely: RACHEL, FRANKLIN,
        OLIVER, SUSANNA, MATILDA, FRANCIS, CALEB, HENRIETTA and NELLIE. The
        wife and mother departed this life October, 1879, in Sand Beach
        Township, mourned by all who knew her.
           MR. GAGER was a second time married, Aug. 24, 1884, to MRS. MARY
        PEUGH, widow of JOSEPH PEUGH.
           In the fire of 1871, which will never be forgotten by the resi-
        dents of Huron County, MR. GAGER lost all his personal property,
        crops, etc. His house took fire several times, but by tremendous
        exertion was saved from the destroying element. Hoping he might be
        enabled to save his furniture, he removed it from the house and it
        was entirely consumed. His estimated loss was $1,000.
           In the second great fire in this county, 1881, MR. GAGER again
        lost his fences, but managed to save his buildings. He had a son
        living one and one-half miles west of him (in Sigel Township) at
        that time, and, knowing that he would certainly be burnt out, MR.
        G., in company with another gentleman, started with two horses to
        his assistance. They arrived within a half mile of his son's house,
        when they realized they were between two fires, and, actually in
        the fire. The heat was so severe as to scorch the hair on their
        horses, yet they succeeded in getting through. When within a few
        rods of the son's house they observed it had been totally destroy-
        ed. They supposed the family had all perished, but, by vigorous
        shouting, attracted their attention. The family had located in a
        small corner of the field and were almost suffocated. They had
        actually given up all hopes of rescue and resigned themselves to
        the terrible fate that would most certainly have overtaken them had
        not MR. G. and assistance so timely arrived.  MR. G. conducted the
        family to a place of safety, where they remained until the follow-
        ing morning and then accompanied him to his home. The family refer-
        red to was that of his son OLIVER, who now resides in Sigel
        Township.
           MR. G. has held the office of Justice of the Peace of his town-
        ship and other minor offices. He built the school-house in frac-
        tional District No. 1, Sigel Township. Politically he is a Repub-
        lican.

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