"Trail of the Haglers"
 		       By Travis Jackson Hagler
 		   Library of Congress No. 96-79599 
                  Reviewed by Helen Huntley Stambaugh	

     This book focuses on the John Hagler who settled in Mecklenburg County
(now Cabarrus County), North Carolina in the mid 1700s, and his descendants.
It includes a genealogy, copies of many original documents, maps, photographs
of Hagler family members and of sites where our early Hagler ancestors lived.
The author also reports on his research expeditions to Switzerland, where
this line of the Haglers likely originated, and to North Carolina. It is a
valuable addition to the genealogy collection of anyone interested in this
line of the Hagler family, which includes our ancestors, John "The Cripple"
Hagler (probably called that because of a club foot), J. Peter Hagler, Hiram 
Wilson Hagler and Marcus Culpepper Hagler.  

    The second edition of the book sold out, but the author expects to
publish a third edition in 2000. The second edition may still be available by
interlibrary loan. Persons interested in purchasing a copy of third edition when
published should contact T.J. Hagler by e-mail (tjhagler@aol.com) or write
him at 8006 Allison Dr. SE, Huntsville, AL 35802, to be advised of the purchase
price at the time of printing.  Mr. Hagler also publishes a twice-yearly
newsletter on this line of the Hagler family. Subscriptions are $3 per year.
    
    According to the book, the original Haglers were German-speaking people who
lived in the Rhineland area of Germany and Switzerland.  Many Haglers sailed from
ports in Germany and the Netherlands to the United States and Canada between 1750
and 1840. Our ancestor, whom we call John Hagler I to distinguish him from the
other John Haglers, was originally Johannes Hagler (with two dots over the a). We
do not know if he was born in Europe or the United States. The book concludes that
he most likely was born in Switzerland and even suggests a potential candidate: 
Johannes Hagler, born in Diegten, Switzerland in 1726 to Hans-Jakob Hagler and Maria
Mohler. John I and his grandson, J. Peter, both operated grist mills and may have been
continuing a family tradition. There is a mill in Lausen, Switzerland that was built
by a John Sebastian Haegler (born 1767.) Sometime before 1765, our Hagler ancestors
came to North Carolina, probably by wagon from Pennsylvania. 

   Hagler is spelled many different ways, even among members of the same family.
Hagler and Haigler are the most popular U.S. spellings.

   John Hagler I first appears in the North Carolina public record February 10, 1765,
when he bought 255 acres of land on the east side of Dutch Buffalo Creek, south of
present day Mount Pleasant, N.C. In addition to operating a mill, he was a farmer,
builder, weaver, distiller and soldier. His estate included woodworking and blacksmithing
equipment. The name of his first wife, mother of John II, is not known. His second
wife was probably Barbara Clontz, but possibly Barbara Barringer/Behringer. He was a
Tory, siding with the governor of North Carolina and the king of England. In 1771,
he was called up by the governor to help put down rebellions by a group known as the
Regulators. He died May 22, 1772, and the book suggests that he may have been killed
by the Regulators.

   The book contains many interesting research discoveries and theories regarding
Hagler family members, including the marital difficulties of J. Peter Hagler
and Margaret Polk, whose strife coincided with J. Peter leaving North Carolina
for Alabama.