The placement here of Catherine as his first wife and identifying her as the one whose obituary appears in the Milford Nebraskan (see below) is based on the 1870 Federal Census Milford Precinct - Seward County entry on page 5, "Milford P. O. Milford Prct, 3 June 1870," for Garret's family. Garret is listed as 35 years old, a farmer, living with "Catherine, 34," "Augustus, 4," and "E. Jane, 2."

In addition, Illinois marriage records contain the following listing:³⁵

HAGEMAN, GARET       PINDER, CATHARINE       KANE [County]        11/28/1858      [Lic.#] 3479

They had the following children:

	12	i.	Augustus B. (~1866-)
	12B	ii.	E. Jane. (~1868-)
	13	iii.	Maria Rita
	14	iv.	Charles M.
	15	v.	Abraham W.
	16	vi.	Ernest D. (Jan. 1887-~1965)

Garret Vanderveer second married Louisia UNKNOWN.⁶ She was born about 1848.⁶

According to S.P. Hageman family records, Garret had "many other children."¹ Their identity and correct placement under his first or second wife has yet to be determined.

Garret Vanderveer Hageman settled on Section 14 in the spring of 1866, according to "First Settlement and Early History [of Seward County]," in Part 1 of Andreas' History of the State of Nebraska:

No further settlement was made till the spring of 1866, when Samuel Brown settled on Section 35; Josephus Brown, on Section 26; William Hageman, on Section 10: and G.V. Hageman on Section 14 -- all in Township 10, Range 3. The following fall found Berry Davis settled on Section 14, John Graybill, on the same section; and Peter Graybill, on Section 22, same town and range. Henry Palmer arrived in the spring of 1867, and took up his claim on Section 14.

--- Mrs. G. Van Hageman died suddenly at 8:30 this morning at her home, two and one-half miles southeast of town. She had been poorly for a couple of months, but had been able to be up and around and was thought to be some better the last few days. She had just laid her baby on the bed and threw a blanket over her shoulders, when she suddenly fell to the floor and expired immediately. The doctor pronounced the complaint heart disease. She leaves a husband and several children, one a babe seven weeks old.

Abraham Wilson Hageman was the first treasurer of the first school district in J Precinct, according to "Seward County Schools," in Part 3 of Andreas' History of the State of Nebraska:

The first school district in J Precinct included the entire limits of the precinct. The district was organized in the spring of 1867, and the school was kept in a little cabin situated on Section 10, and the school was taught by Miss E. B. Schaffer, with about twelve scholars in attendance. Mr. Lesenly, Moderator; Mr. C. J. Neighardt, Director; and Mr. A. W. Hegeman, Treasurer, were the first officers of the district.

The wife of A. W. Hageman died at her home in Seward at 4:45 p.m., on Tuesday, October 25 1892. Mr. and Mrs. Hagaman[sic] have resided in Seward county since May, 1866, having settled on a homestead near Ruby during that year. She enjoyed a large circle of friends who will mourn her departure. The funeral took place from the Methodist church on Thursday afternoon at 2 o'clock [photocopy cut off here]

Died--at his residence in north-east Seward Sept. 30th, 1900, Abraham W. Hageman, aged 59 years, 7 months and 25 days.

A. W. Hageman was born at Fairview, Fulton county, Ill., Feb. 5th, 1841. He lived there with his parents until Aug. 13th, 1862, when he enlisted as a private in Co. D, 103 Ills. Vol. Infantry, in obedience to the call of his country. He served as a faithful soldier until the storming of Missionary ridge on Nov. 25th, 1863, when he was severely wounded in the right arm. He was discharged on account of said wound in the early part of 1864.

Returning home after his service, he, on the 26th day of Jan., 1865, was united in marriage to Miss Henrietta Kirkhuff of Fairview, Ill. In May, 1866, Mr. Hageman, in company with his brother Van, came to Nebraska. They both took homesteads about [illegible--half?] of a mile east-N-E of where the village of Ruby is now situated. Abe and his wife (a most estimable lady) lived on their homestead until about 1884 when they sold out and bought the property now known as the Bowers home joining (on the east) the town site of Ruby. But the wounded arm and other disabilities caused Mr. Hageman finally to sell his little home on the Blue and move to Seward. He purchased a place and came but soon sold out and purchased the site of the beautiful home where he lived until the summons came.

The first Mrs. Hageman died October 25th, 1892 -- as noble a christian woman as ever lived. Abe remained single until Dec. 5th, 1894, when he married Mrs. Naoma M. Baker of Pleasonton, Kan., the most excellent lady who now mourns his loss.

The writer cannot forbear here to testify to the true worth of a comrade who has passed to the beyond -- has answered the last roll call. For 29 years I have known him. In all of that time I have not met a person who dared to say a word against the integrity of Abe Hageman.

He was an honored member and Post Commander of Seward Post No. 3, Dept. of Nebraska, G. A. R. Before his last illness he was always at his place in post meetings. Charitable to a fault with his comrades, yet ever firm in his convictions as to the business ideas of the management of the post. So he was in all his business transactions.

Comrades! we shall miss him and his counsels. So once more a noble husband, a kind and considerate brother and one more of that Grand Army of patriots, who in the dark days of '61 to '65 responded to the call of his country, is mustered out. But we have the consolation to believe from his christian manhood he is in the Grand Army above where the Grand Commander of the Universe commands.

The funeral was held Tuesday afternoon, with interment in the North cemetery.                                                                                            I. D. N.

CARD OF THANKS

I desire to extend heartfelt thanks to the many kind neighbors, relatives and friends who, during the illness of my husband, manifest their love and tender sympathy, and who, by their constant attentions, made his very weary hours brighter. May our heavenly Father bless each and every one.
                                                                     Mrs. A. W. Hageman

Mrs. Hageman, formerly, of this place, died at Helvey Sunday. The funeral services were held at the Methodist church here on Wednesday at 10 a.m. They were conducted by Rev. Story. The body was taken to Pleasanton, Kas. for interment.

The Brokaw children: Alletta Stryker, "Addie" C., William Hageman, and "Frank" Hastings

William Brokaw, born on a farm, near Fairview, Fulton Co., Illinois, attended the schools there, and was a member of the Dutch Reformed Church, in Fairview. Was married in that church to Jane Hageman. She was also born in Fulton Co., as a daughter of William and Althea (Stryker) Hageman. She was a first cousin to Louisa B. (Hageman) Van Liew, the grandmother of Mr. Cecil D. Van Liew, who contributed the bulk of the records on the Isaac Brokaw families. After they were married, William and Jane lived in Fulton County until 1869, when they removed to Nebraska. There he took up an 80 acre homestead, in J Precinct of Seward Co., which was near Lincoln and Nebraska City. Their first home was a dugout; they had to haul lumber from a town 50 miles away. He improved the land and acquired more, until he had 120 acres of good land. A long biographical sketch, called 'Memorial and Biographical Records of Butler, Polk, Seward, York and Filmore counties, Nebraska,' in which was given some on William Brokaw. The census recs. of 1870 listed them in Seward Co., near Nemaha and 1880 in Milford Precinct.

The little villages of Seward and Milford had only a few stores each, and not many settlers, and in 1874, the grasshoppers completely destroyed their corn crops; in 1875, the wheat crops. William Brokaw eventually owned 620 acres land, had good house and farm buildings; was active in public affairs and was treasurer of the township. Was supervisor, 2 yrs, and Dist. Treasurer of the school. In 1895 he was chosen to represent the 29th Dist. in the State Legislature. Both he and Jane d. at Milford, and bur. in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery.