Tuesday, October 17, 2017

Celebrating the life of Ida Jane Galusha Hagaman

Ida Jane Galusha Hagaman (Courtesy Margie Walz)
Ida Jane Galusha was born 16 October 1856 in the small community of Woodstock, Lenawee County, Michigan.  Her mother, Sarah Ann (Sweet) Galusha delivered Ida with the assistance of Dr. Root.  Ida's dad was Giles Galusha, a farmer who was assisting his father and brother raising livestock and tending fields of their 200 acre farm in near the county boarder with both Jackson and Hillsdale Counties in lower Michigan.  Today, this is area is know as the Artisian Wells at the intersection of US-127 and US-12 with a postal address of Cement City. Ida joined her older sister Marietta and the family of four would subsist with many aunts, uncles, and cousins all living as neighbors.

Soon, the Galusha's would move into Somerset Township, Hillsdale County, where Giles operate his own farm.  The family would continue to grow with the addition of son George in 1860.

The American Civil War would cause a major scar in this family.  Towards the end of this bloody conflict, Giles would volunteer for service in Company A of the 4th Michigan Infantry.  On 4 January 1865 he would died of some communicable disease in a makeshift army hospital in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.  He would later be laid to rest in a "unknown" grave at the National Cemetery in Murfreesboro.  Giles death left his family of 4 without any means of support.  As soon as widow's were able to apply for a pension from the Federal Government, Sarah did so and it is through those documents that we know details of the births and marriages of this little family.

Within a few years, Ida would have a loving step-father come into her life in the person of Isaac Young, a veteran of the Civil War and a neighboring farmer.  Mr. Young would fill the void left by her father's death.

At an early age Ida learned to play the piano.  We know that after becoming a member of the little Methodist Episcopal congregation in the village of Somerset Center, she would play the piano in church regularly.  Probably playing many familiar hymn tunes that one might hear today in the United Methodist churches throughout lower Michigan.  Ida would pass her love of music and her talented musical abilities on to her many children.  Today, one of her great-granddaughters tenderly cares for and has preserved several instruments that were played by members of the family.

In the village of Somerset Center there was a store owned by Jacob Hagaman.  Hagaman was the father of four, one being Mr. George Henry Hagaman, who would marry Ida on 7 November 1875 at Liberty Mills, in Jackson County with the Rev. James H. Tanner of the Methodist Episcopal church officiating.  George's father had died the year prior to the marriage and the assets of the little store in Somerset Center were sold off.  But George would remain working the farm his father had purchase and continue to provide for his mother, siblings, and his new bride.

Soon, the Hagaman family would grow to include 4 daughter and 2 sons: Arminta (1876), Nina (1878), George "Dick" (1881), Verne (1888), Bertha (1891), and Hazel (1892).

By 1900, the Hagaman's had left their farm near Somerset Center and move near the communities of Leoni and Grass Lake in Jackson County.  We know that Ida had relatives in this vicinity and one could imagine that some great opportunity must have prompted them relocate closer to these relatives.

During this early period, Ida would become involved in the Leoni Methodist Episcopal church and become a leader in the Women's Suffrage movement in her community.  We know from a newspaper account that she was the Chairwomen for the suffrage organization for Leoni township. Wish we knew more about the activities of this part of her life...perhaps more will surface at a later date.

George and Ida would continue to live in the Grass Lake Area for several years, mostly on rented farms.  George would died 14 March 1934 at the age of 77 in Leoni Township from chronic kidney disease.  Ida would survive him for a few years, dying on 27 October 1939 at the age of 83 from arteriosclerosis. Her funeral services were held at the Methodist Church in Leoni and her nephew the Rev. Lynn Young, a famous radio and later television evangelist from Toledo, officiated.

The Hagaman's are laid to rest at the Grass Lake West (Maple Grove) Cemetery on Wolf Lake Road, next to many of their children, in unmarked graves.  But they have long been remembered by their many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.