West Virginia and Regional History Center
1549 University Ave.P.O. Box 6069
Morgantown, WV 26506-6069
Business Number: 304-293-3536
wvrhcref@westvirginia.libanswers.com
URL: https://wvrhc.lib.wvu.edu
Staff of the West Virginia & Regional History Center
Administrative Information
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Preferred Citation
[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], Harrison Hagans (1796-1867) Papers, A&M 0012, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries, Morgantown, West Virginia.
Biographical / Historical
Harrison Hagans settled in Preston County, West Virginia in 1818. He was involved in several business ventures and held many appointed position throughout his life such as magistrate and postmaster in Brandonville, W. Va.. He was a delegate at the Wheeling Convention in June, 1861 and went to Washington in 1863 to lobby members of Congress to vote for the admission of West Virginia as a state. In 1866-67 he served in the West Virginia Legislature. Harrison Hagans died in May 1867.
Scope and Contents
The papers of the Hagans family of Preston County, West Virginia including Harrison, Elisha, George M., Henry C., John Marshall, Zer Hagans, and others. There are correspondence, invoices, account books, advertisements, and other business records, 1810-1895, relating to various family enterprises.
A chain of general merchandise stores were established, with outlets in Petersburg, Somerfield, and Bryants, Pennsylvania; Oakland, Maryland; and at Brandonville, Kingwood, Greenville, and Palatine, West Virginia.
There are several postal records including financial, correspondence, and certificates from Harrison Hagans' twenty years as postmaster, 1822-1841, at Brandonville, as well as magistrate records and deeds, most pertaining to the leases of right-of-way from Preston County residents to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad for $1.00.
There are also financial records documenting Hagans' years as president of the Greenville Mining and Manufacturing Company which produced iron in Preston County in the 1830s. Other records document Hagans' interests in: county roads, schools, churches, government, and politics; the Preston Telegraph Company; a fulling mill, 1827; and a linseed oil mill, 1842. Hagans developed, patented, and sold in three states, ca.1845, a washing and wringing machine, and also completed working models of mowing and threshing machines.
The collection includes a volume of minutes of the quarterly conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 1834-1859, and an 1832 editorial written by Harrison Hagans and addressed to "The Farmers, Mechanics, and All Who Labor for Their Daily Bread", regarding the tariff, the National Bank and state banks and the "anti-American" spirit which presides over the "administration of public affairs".
West Virginia statehood is documented by some of the 1861 Wheeling Convention papers of Delegate Harrison Hagans. There are also letters from family and friends written during the Civil War, and a copy of a U.S. Congressional bill regarding division of the state of Virginia (in box 1, folder 2).
Subjects and Indexing Terms
- Account books
- Advertising
- Brandonville (W. Va.)
- Business correspondence
- Churches -- Methodist Episcopal
- Churches -- West Virginia -- Preston County
- Civil War -- letters
- Education -- West Virginia
- Financial statements -- West Virginia -- Preston County
- Greenville Mining and Manufacturing Company
- Greenville.
- Hagan family
- Hagans, Elisha.
- Hagans, George M.
- Hagans, Harrison.
- Hagans, Henry C.
- Hagans, John Marshall, 1838-1900
- Hagans, Zer.
- Iron furnaces and iron industry.
- Kingwood (W. Va.)
- Palatine.
- Politics - Secession of Virginia.
- Politics - Western Virginia.
- Preston County (W. Va.)
- Preston Telegraph Company
- Railroads - Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.
- Statehood politics -- West Virginia
Significant Persons Associated With the Collection
- Hagans, Elisha.
- Hagans, George M.
- Hagans, Harrison (1796-1867)
- Hagans, Harrison.
- Hagans, Henry C.
- Hagans, John Marshall, 1838-1900
- Hagans, Zer.
Significant Places Associated With the Collection
- Brandonville (W. Va.)
- Greenville.
- Kingwood (W. Va.)
- Palatine.
- Preston County (W. Va.)
Container List
- Mixed Materials Box: 1a Folder: 1
Hagans Correspondence1823–1834
- Mixed Materials Box: 1a Folder: 2
Hagans Correspondence1834–1860
- Mixed Materials Box: 1a Folder: 3
Harvard Commencement Program1838
- Mixed Materials Box: 1a Folder: 4
Minutes of Literary Society1842
- Mixed Materials Box: 1a Folder: 5
Financial Records1826–1857
- Mixed Materials Box: 1a Folder: 6
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Papers1837–1838
- Mixed Materials Box: 1a Folder: 7
Fulling Mill Papers1829–1838
- Mixed Materials Box: 1a Folder: 8
Road Papers and Maps1847–1860
- Mixed Materials Box: 1a Folder: 9
Editorial Letter and Petition1832 and undated
- Mixed Materials Box: 1a Folder: 10
Hagans and Sterling, Greenville Furnace and Mining Co. Papers1834–1844
- Mixed Materials Box: 1a Folder: 11
Greenville Furnace Ledger1848–1849
- Mixed Materials Box: 1a Folder: 12
Washing Machine Patent1845–1858
- Mixed Materials Box: 1a Folder: 13
Brick Yard Account Book1849–1864
- Mixed Materials Box: 1a Folder: 14
School Commission Papers1839–1866
- Mixed Materials Box: 1b Folder: 1
Post Office Business Correspondence1822–1829
- Mixed Materials Box: 1b Folder: 2
Post Office Business Correspondence1830–1836
- Mixed Materials Box: 1b Folder: 3
Post Office Business Correspondence1837–1841
- Mixed Materials Box: 1b Folder: 4
Post Office Financial Records1825–1840
- Mixed Materials Box: 1b Folder: 5
Post Master Appointments and Map of Brandonville1822–1838
- Mixed Materials Box: 1b Folder: 6
Justice of the Peace Court Records1829–1860
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 1
State Convention Papers1861
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 2
Letters regarding West Virginia Statehoodundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 3
Civil War Letters (includes 7 letters)1861–1866
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 4
Invoices1865–1866
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 5
Invoices1871–1872
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 6
Invoices1873–1877
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 7
Business Correspondence1871–1881
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 8
Business Correspondence, Post Cards1874–1876
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 9
Advertisements (includes several fliers for Wilson, Burns & Co. Grocers; the Reisinger Sash Lock, McDowell & Co. Importers and Dealers in Carpets, Oil Cloths, Mattings, etc.; and Stockdale, Smith & Co. Wholesale Druggists; among others)1874–1876
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 10
Ephemera (includes two trade cards, one from Johnson, Eagye, Earl & Co. Wholesale Grocers, and one from P.S. Hyde, Watches, Clocksca. 1874
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 11
U.S. Census regarding Distilled Spirits and General Stores1889
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 1
Bills of Lading and Receipts1865–1867
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 2
Receipts, Advertisements, and Trade Cards1863-1889 and undated
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 3
Receipts1810–1855
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 4
Price Lists1874–1890
- Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 1
H. Clay Hagans Correspondence, A-B-C (includes business correspondence that relates to Hagans store, including requests for goods (especially butter) or samples, and deals with suppliers)1840–1890
- Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 2
H. Clay Hagans Correspondence, D-E-F (business correspondence related to the Hagans store)1839–1878
- Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 3
H. Clay Hagans Correspondence, G-H-I-J-K (includes business correspondence related to the Hagans store; correspondents include Gist & Wells General Produce Merchants, and Johnson, Colvin & Co. Wholesale Grocers)1863–1877
- Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 4
H. Clay Hagans Correspondence, L-M-N-O-P (includes correspondence related to the Hagans store from Laughlin Brothers & Co. Wholesale Druggists; Leyda & Gaddis, Wilson Sewing Machine Company; Daniel Miller & Co. Importers & Jobbers of Dry Goods; the National Bank of Kingwood; and others)1860–1886
- Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 5
H. Clay Hagans Correspondence, R-S-T-U (includes correspondence related to the Hagans store from Sickel, Shingleton & Co., dealers in Wholesale Notions, White Goods, Hosiery, etc.; John F. Stratton & Co. Musical Merchandise; Tallant & Delaplain Wholesale Grocers; Samuel Townsend & Son Produce Commission Merchants; and others)1840–1878
- Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 6
H. Clay Hagans Correspondence, V-W-X-Y-Z (includes correspondence related to the Hagans business, including postcards from Wilson, Burns and Co.; letters from J.H. Windsor & Co.; letters from Ziegler & Swearingen Hosiery, Gloves, White Goods and Notions; and others)1856–1873
- Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 7
Circular Letter No. 21864
- Mixed Materials Box: 5 Folder: 1
Account Books and Receipts1841–1848
- Mixed Materials Box: 5 Folder: 2
H. Hagans and Son: Sales and Bills1840–1842
- Mixed Materials Box: 5 Folder: 3
G.M. Hagans and Co.: Sales1844–1857
- Mixed Materials Box: 5 Folder: 4
G.M. Hagans and Co.: Bills1843–1845
- Mixed Materials Box: 5 Folder: 5
H. Hagans and Son: Letters1840–1842
- Mixed Materials Box: 5 Folder: 6
G.M. Hagans and Co.: Letters1843–1849
- Mixed Materials Box: 5 Folder: 7
G.M. Hagans and Co.: Letters1850–1857
- Mixed Materials Box: 6 Folder: 1
G.M. Hagans and Co.: Bills1846–1847
- Mixed Materials Box: 6 Folder: 2
G.M. Hagans and Co.: Bills1848–1849
- Mixed Materials Box: 6 Folder: 3
G.M. Hagans and Co.: Bills1850–1852
- Mixed Materials Box: 6 Folder: 4
G.M. Hagans and Co.: Bills1853–1854
- Mixed Materials Box: 6 Folder: 5
G.M. Hagans and Co.: Bills1855–1857
- Mixed Materials Box: 6 Folder: 6
H. Hagans and Co. A/C Tallant and Delaplain1856–1858
- Mixed Materials Box: 6 Folder: 7
L.A. Hagans and Co.: Letters1860–1862
- Mixed Materials Box: 6 Folder: 8
H.C. Hagans and Co.: Papers1865–1866
- Mixed Materials Box: 7 Folder: 1
Z.&H. Hagans: Bills1818–1822
- Mixed Materials Box: 7 Folder: 2
Z.&H. Hagans: Bills1823–1826
- Mixed Materials Box: 7 Folder: 3
Z.&H. Hagans: Letters1818–1829
- Mixed Materials Box: 7 Folder: 4
Harrison Hagans Letters1836–1838
- Mixed Materials Box: 7 Folder: 5
Harrison Hagans Letters1839–1840
- Mixed Materials Box: 7 Folder: 6
Harrison Hagans Letters1850–1866
- Mixed Materials Box: 8 Folder: 1
Z.&H. Hagans: Bills1827–1829
- Mixed Materials Box: 8 Folder: 2
H.&E.M. Hagans: Letters1830–1839
- Mixed Materials Box: 8 Folder: 3
H.&E.M. Hagans: Sales1832–1839
- Mixed Materials Box: 8 Folder: 4
H.&E.M. Hagans: Bills1830–1832
- Mixed Materials Box: 8 Folder: 5
H.&E.M. Hagans: Bills1833–1836
- Mixed Materials Box: 8 Folder: 6
H.&.E.M. Hagans: Bills1837–1839
- Mixed Materials Box: 9 Folder: 1
Brandonville Account Book1818–1824
- Mixed Materials Box: 9 Folder: 2
Brandonville Day BookJanuary 19, 1819-March 1, 1819
- Mixed Materials Box: 9 Folder: 3
Brandonville Account Book1819–1830
- Mixed Materials Box: 9 Folder: 4
Brandonville Account Book1821–1822
- Mixed Materials Box: 9 Folder: 5
Brandonville Account BookMay 28, 1822-June 17, 1823
- Mixed Materials Box: 10 Folder: 1
Brandonville Day BookJanuary 1836-December 1836
- Mixed Materials Box: 10 Folder: 2
Brandonville Account Book1823–1830
- Mixed Materials Box: 10 Folder: 3
Brandonville Account Book1829–1831
- Mixed Materials Box: 10 Folder: 4
Brandonville Account Book, Contains estate settlement ("recapitulation")November 1831-December 1836
- Mixed Materials Box: 10 Folder: 5
Brandonville Account BookMay 1832- January 1833
- Mixed Materials Box: 11 Folder: 1
Brandonville Account BookDecember 1834-January 1836
- Mixed Materials Box: 11 Folder: 2
Brandonville Account BookMay 18, 1839-December 26, 1839
- Mixed Materials Box: 12 Folder: 1
Brandonville Account BookDecember 10, 1838-May 17, 1939
- Mixed Materials Box: 12 Folder: 2
Brandonville Account BookJanuary 1836-June 1836
- Mixed Materials Box: 12 Folder: 3
Brandonville Account Book1836–1837
- Mixed Materials Box: 12 Folder: 4
Brandonville Account BookSeptember 1837-June 1838
- Mixed Materials Box: 12 Folder: 5
Brandonville Account Book1837–1838
- Mixed Materials Box: 12 Folder: 6
Brandonville Account BookJune 1838-December 1838
- Mixed Materials Box: 13 Folder: 1
Brandonville Account BookMarch 1840
- Mixed Materials Box: 13 Folder: 2
Brandonville Account BookJanuary 1840-October 1840
- Mixed Materials Box: 13 Folder: 3
Brandonville Account BookOctober 1840-May 1841
- Mixed Materials Box: 13 Folder: 4
Brandonville Account Book and Diary1841–1842
- Mixed Materials Box: 13 Folder: 5
Brandonville Account BookJuly 1845-March 1846
- Mixed Materials Box: 14 Folder: 1
Brandonville Account BookMarch 1846-January 1847
- Mixed Materials Box: 14 Folder: 2
Brandonville Account BookFebruary 1848-June 1848
- Mixed Materials Box: 14 Folder: 3
Brandonville Account BookJune 16, 1848-January 9, 1849
- Mixed Materials Box: 14 Folder: 4
Brandonville Account BookNovember 1849-May 1850
- Mixed Materials Box: 14 Folder: 5
Brandonville Account BookMay 1850-October 1850
- Mixed Materials Box: 15 Folder: 1
Brandonville Account BookOctober 1850-January 1851
- Mixed Materials Box: 15 Folder: 2
Brandonville Account BookMay 1851-October 1851
- Mixed Materials Box: 15 Folder: 3
Brandonville Account BookOctober 1851-May 1852
- Mixed Materials Box: 15 Folder: 4
Brandonville Account BookMay 1852-November 1852
- Mixed Materials Box: 15 Folder: 5
Brandonville Account BookNovember 1852-June 1853
- Mixed Materials Box: 15 Folder: 6
Brandonville Account BookJune 1853-March 1854
- Mixed Materials Box: 16 Folder: 1
Brandonville Account BookJanuary 1855-July 1856
- Mixed Materials Box: 16 Folder: 2
Brandonville Account BookApril 1855-December 1855
- Mixed Materials Box: 16 Folder: 3
Brandonville Account BookAugust 1855-February 1856
- Mixed Materials Box: 17 Folder: 1
Brandonville Account Book1856–1857
- Mixed Materials Box: 17 Folder: 2
Brandonville Account BookJuly 1856-May 1857
- Mixed Materials Box: 17 Folder: 3
Brandonville Account BookMay 1857-November 1857
- Mixed Materials Box: 17 Folder: 4
Brandonville Account BookMarch 1858-April 1858
- Mixed Materials Box: 17 Folder: 5
Brandonville Account BookJanuary 1856-1863
- Mixed Materials Box: 18 Folder: 1
J.M. Sterling, Byrants, Pa.March 1835-May 1836
- Mixed Materials Box: 18 Folder: 2
J.M. Sterling & Co. Account BookMay 28, 1836-May 31, 1838
- Mixed Materials Box: 18 Folder: 3
Brandonville Account Book1884–1890
- Mixed Materials Box: 19 Folder: 1
Brandonville Account BookFebruary 1891-March 1891
- Mixed Materials Box: 19 Folder: 2
Smithfield Account Book1823–1836
- Mixed Materials Box: 19 Folder: 3
Bills1818–1826
- Mixed Materials Box: 20 Folder: 1
Smithfield Account BookNovember 4, 1831-March 8, 1833
- Mixed Materials Box: 20 Folder: 2
Sommerfield [Somerfield?] Account BookApril 25, 1831-November 2, 1832
- Mixed Materials Box: 20 Folder: 3
Account Book1834–1839
- Mixed Materials Box: 20 Folder: 4
M. E. Church Records (documents management of finances)1834–1836
- Mixed Materials Box: 20 Folder: 5
Time BookMarch 1, 1837-October 21, 1837
- Mixed Materials Box: 20 Folder: 6
Memo Book1844
- Mixed Materials Box: 20 Folder: 7
Muddy Creek Falls, Preston Co., Va.May 9, 1854-April 17, 1855
- Mixed Materials Box: 21 Folder: 1
Day Book1832–1834
- Mixed Materials Box: 21 Folder: 2
Day BookDecember 1836-December 1837
- Mixed Materials Box: 21 Folder: 3
Account Book #11891
- Mixed Materials Box: 21 Folder: 4
Account Book #21891
- Mixed Materials Box: 21 Folder: 5
Account Book #11892
- Mixed Materials Box: 21 Folder: 6
Account Book #21892
- Mixed Materials Box: 21 Folder: 7
Account Book1894
- Mixed Materials Box: 21 Folder: 8
Account Book1894
- Mixed Materials Box: 22 Folder: 1
Account Book1895
- Mixed Materials Box: 22 Folder: 2
Account Book1895
- Mixed Materials Box: 22 Folder: 3
Furnace Account BookMarch 1837-October 1837
- Mixed Materials Box: 22 Folder: 4
Furnace Account Book1855–1857
- Mixed Materials Box: 23 Folder: 1
Greenville Account BookMarch 19, 1837-June 13, 1837
- Mixed Materials Box: 23 Folder: 2
Furnace Account BookJuly 1838-February 1839
- Mixed Materials Box: 23 Folder: 3
Furnace Account BookFebruary 1848
- Mixed Materials Box: 23 Folder: 4
Greenville Furnace & Mining Co. Account Book1851–1855
- Mixed Materials Box: 24 Folder: 1
Greenville Furnace Account BookDecember 1836-March 1837
- Mixed Materials Box: 24 Folder: 2
Furnace Account BookNovember 1837-January 1838
- Mixed Materials Box: 24 Folder: 3
Furnace Account BookMarch 1838-June 1838
- Mixed Materials Box: 24 Folder: 4
Furnace Account Book1838
- Mixed Materials Box: 24 Folder: 5
Furnace Account Book1839–1840
- Mixed Materials Box: 25 Folder: 1
Day BookOctober 1830-February 1831
- Mixed Materials Box: 25 Folder: 2
Account BookMay 1841-December 1841
- Mixed Materials Box: 25 Folder: 3
Brandonville Account BookApril 1842-November 1843
- Mixed Materials Box: 25 Folder: 4
Brandonville Account BookJuly 1838-May 1840
- Mixed Materials Box: 25 Folder: 5
Palatine, Va. Account BookMay 1851-December 1852
- Mixed Materials Box: 26 Folder: 1
Unidentified Volume, pp. 277-827March 2, 1818-April 7, 1820
- Mixed Materials Box: 26 Folder: 2
Unidentified VolumeMarch 16, 1823-September 18, 1825
- Mixed Materials Box: 26 Folder: 3
Unidentified Volume, pp. 9-230May 17, 1818-January 19, 1819
- Mixed Materials Box: 26 Folder: 4
Unidentified VolumeJanuary 20, 1828-June 7, 1828
- Mixed Materials Box: 26 Folder: 5
Account Book1830
- Mixed Materials Box: 26 Folder: 6
Unidentified Volume, pp. 842-873February 16, 1824-May 1, 1824
- Mixed Materials Box: 27 Folder: 1
Unidentified Volume, pp. 143-476April 20, 1831
- Mixed Materials Box: 27 Folder: 2
Unidentified Volume, pp. 135-749February 5, 1830-April 8, 1831
- Mixed Materials Box: 27 Folder: 3
Unidentified Volume, pp. 377-729February 9, 1828-January 5, 1830
- Mixed Materials Box: 27 Folder: 4
Unidentified Volume, pp. 334-341October 29, 1827-November 16, 1827
- Mixed Materials Box: 27 Folder: 5
Unidentified VolumeAugust 7, 1826-July 11, 1836
- Mixed Materials Box: 28 Folder: 1
Unidentified Volume, pp. 218-313December 19, 1826-September 1, 1827
- Mixed Materials Box: 28 Folder: 2
Unidentified Volume, pp. 170-217August 4, 1826-December 19, 1826
- Mixed Materials Box: 28 Folder: 3
Unidentified Volume, pp. 130-169March 29, 1826-August 3, 1826
- Mixed Materials Box: 28 Folder: 4
Folder of Miscellaneous Itemsundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 28 Folder: 5
Folder of Miscellaneous Itemsundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 29 Folder: 1
Unidentified Volume, pp. 193-367November 14, 1833-July 29, 1834
- Mixed Materials Box: 29 Folder: 2
Unidentified Volume, pp. 834-881January 29, 1834-May 18, 1834
- Mixed Materials Box: 29 Folder: 3
Unidentified VolumeJune 23, 1837-October 19, 1837
- Mixed Materials Box: 29 Folder: 4
Palatine Account Book1852–1854
- Mixed Materials Box: 29 Folder: 5
Unidentified VolumeNovember 8, 1837-November 27, 1837
- Mixed Materials Box: 30 Folder: 1
Volume 18 -- Account BookJanuary 22, 1821-January 19, 1844
- Mixed Materials Box: 31 Folder: 1
Volume 19 -- Account Book (two in one)December 10, 1823-October 26, 1831 and October 24, 1831- October 14, 1835
- Mixed Materials Box: 32 Folder: 1
Volume 20 -- Account BookApril 22, 1829-April 28, 1834
- Mixed Materials Box: 31 Folder: 2
Volume 21 -- Account BookDecember 24, 1832-October 20, 1844
- Mixed Materials Box: 33 Folder: 1
Volume 22 -- Account BookMarch 18, 1835-May 24, 1841
- Mixed Materials Box: 34 Folder: 1
Volume 23 -- Account BookMay 22, 1851-February 13, 1856