FRITZ HAGEMANN FAMILY

John Frederic Andrew (Fritz) Hagemann was born May 10, 1850 in Cantnitz Mecklenberg, Strelitz, Germany, the son of Charles Hagemann and his wife, Dora, nee Mansel.

From 1871 to 1873 he served in the German Army. In 1873 he married Dorothea Benzen, who was born in Germany, December 22, 1957.

They emigrated to the United States in 1883 with their son Fred (1877-1941) and settled on the Burckal farm on Warrenville Road, northeast of Naperville. They became faithful members of St. John’s Evangelical Church, and attended church regularly. Fritz was one of the first to join the Brotherhood League of the church and rarely missed a meeting.

Fritz and Dorothea were blessed with two more sons: Frank (1883-1957) and Herman (1888-1968) and two daughters, Marie (1886-1954) husband Robert Long and Anna (1891-1964) husband Fred Born.

About this time the family moved to the Bailey Hobson farm on Hobson Road, where they lived until the parents purchased the house at 19 N. Mill Street, Naperville, and moved into town.

In 1907 Fritz bought the farm on Plank Road, where their son Frank moved and started a dairy and grain farm.

Dorothea died May 31, 1920, and Fritz married Mrs. Mary Kerth on October 2, 1920. She was born December 26, 1884. They lived in the house on Mill Street where Fritz passed away November 4, 1936. Mary died on December 24, 1953.

Frank C. Hagemann Sr was born February 18, 1883 in Lisle Township. He married Ella Leonhardt on February 13, 1908. Ella was born January 24, 1889 and she lived in Lemont, Illinois with her parents Jasper and Magdeline nee Ritzentower, Leonhardt. They lived on the farm on Plank Road, where Frank formerly lived alone.

They were members of St. John’s Lutheran Church. Through their industrious and diligent work, the farm prospered.

Frank & Ella were the parents of five boys: Frank Jr., Fred, Walter, Herman and Wilbert.

Every day Frank hitched a team of horses to his wagon and hauled the milk to the Burlington railroad station milk depot in Naperville, where it was loaded onto the train and taken to Chicago. Later on he hauled the milk in his truck to the Union Dairy in Lisle, Illinois.

In 1939, after his father Fritz died, Frank Sr and Ella purchased the farm from the estate.

In 1952 they bought the house at 19 N. Mill Street, and followed the tradition of moving to town upon retirement. Son, Walter; took over the operation of the farm.
Frank Sr passed away October 31, 1957 and Ella died May 9, 1968.Walter Elmer Hagemann was born October 27, 1920 in Naperville, the son of Frank Sr and Ella Hagemann. He married Bonnie Evelyn Campbell of Danville, Illinois on November 23, 1944. They were blessed with two daughters, Constance Louise and Jennifer Lynn. Connie is married to Steve Pattermann and has two children, Vikki Highland and Andrew Highland.

Walt and Bonnie moved to the Hagemann farm when his parents moved to town. They are members of the Wesley Methodist Church. He is also a member of the Loyal Order of Moose #1290 and is Vice President of the board of directors of the DuPage County Farm Bureau, and is a member of the board of directors of the DuPage County Fair Association.

In 1977 Walt retired from farming and sold his farm machinery at a public auction. He then went to work at Agrinetics in Naperville and he and Bonnie purchased their home overlooking the DuPage River on Riverview Drive, and moved to town.

The farm on Plank Road was sold and is now the Colony subdivision. At the top of the hill a street called Hagemann Court, will occupy the sight where the house and farm buildings once stood.

The five Hagemann brothers, their wives, children and grandchildren have fond memories of the Hagemann farm on Plank Road.

Wilbert Hagemann, the youngest son of Frank and Ella Hagemann, was born on July 25, 1930 in Aurora, Illinois. He attended Ellsworth Elementary School and Naperville High School. On July 14, 1949 he married Ruth Drendel, daughter of Paul and Lillian Drendel of Naperville. The first year of marriage he worked for Gordon Gregory and they lived on the Harry Gregory farm. In May of 1950 they moved to the apartment above the Frank Hagemann farm house, when Wilbert started driving a farm route milk truck. This was his occupation for 22 years. During these years he was a manager for Little League baseball for eleven years, and his All-Star team won the Illinois State Championship in 1963. The Pony League also had his services for four years.

In 1971 he sold the milk truck and route and took over the management of Kearns Feed and Supply Store on Ogden Avenue where he is presently employed.

Wilbert and Ruth bought 4 acres on Oswego Road in 1974 and raise sheep, chickens, ducks and turkeys. He is co-chairman of the Farmers Riverwalk Project and the first Farmers Pig Roast was held on their property. They also helped plan and carry out the second Pig Roast that was held on M.M. Erb’s property,

He is on the board of directors of the DuPage County Fair and on the DuPage Ag and Executive Councils.

They have four children: Steven and wife Kathy (Isbrandt) have two children, Miranda and Britton, and live on ten acres in Plainfield.

Karen and Michael Barnhill live in Lombard with children Jerry, Sean, Angela and Melanie.

Marjorie and Bruce Homnback and children Todd and Beth reside in Boulder Hill. Martin lives and is employed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Herman Hagemann, son of Fritz and Dorothea Hagemann, married Anna Gress on Nov. 11, 1911. They lived on the Burckal farm on Warrenville Road for 3 years. In 1914 they moved to the Hobson farm on Hobson Road, and lived there for 5 years. The Emma T. Wood farm was their next move in 1918, and they bought the farm in 1949. They had 25 dairy cows, fed steers, raised hogs, chickens, ducks and geese: at one time they even had goats. When they retired in 1955, they built a little Cape Cod house on the farm.

Herman passed away on June 17, 1968, and Anna still resides in her house on the farm. Their son Delbert works the farm since his parents retired.

To this union were born five children; Maybelle (deceased), Dorothy (Arthur Staffeldt), Clara (LaVern Jackson), Delbert (Beverly Baish) and Bernice (Ken Yeater). There are 5 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.