Henry F. Fager - Bishop Post, G.A.R.

Born in Pennsylvania, Henry Fager (Feger) was a true patriot who served multiple enlistments in the Union Army.  He reported on the 1890 Veterans Census that he enlisted as a private in Company B, 10th Pennsylvania Infantry, on April 26, 1861, and served until July 31, 1861 - a 3 month enlistment.  

Then, on August 10, 1862 he enlisted again as a private in Company K, 127th Pennsylvania Infantry, serving until May 29, 1863.







On February 3, 1864, he enlisted once more as a private in Company H, 21st Pennsylvania Cavalry.  At some point, he suffered a gunshot wound in his left foot.  Perhaps some of the time unaccounted for was recuperation time for this wound.  His list of service differs somewhat from his pension card. 

A photo of a young Henry F. Fager appeared on a public family tree on Ancestry, and it may be seen HERE.

By the mid- 1870s, Henry had settled in Defiance, Ohio where he obtained work at the wheel factory.  The 1880 census indicated that he and his wife, Mary E. (Coy) were here with three children: William, 6, born in Ohio; Mattie, 5, born in Pennsylvania, and Clinton, 2, born in Ohio.  It could be possible that Henry came ahead to find work and a home in Ohio, and then went back to Pennsylvania where he had family waiting or his wife might have gone to her own home for the birth of her second child. This might be an explanation for Mattie's birth in Pennsylvania.

By 1900, Henry was still working at the wheel factory, but now the family rented a home at 702 Hopkins Street.  The census reported that Mary had had seven children, but only four were living at the time.  At home still was Frances, 23, who worked as a stenographer.  

By 1920, Henry and Mary were approaching 80 and they shared the home at 702 Hopkins Street with their daughter, Mattie, and her husband, John Imbers, and their son, Roger.  Henry was retired and John was employed as a machine hand at the machine works.

Sadly, on January 29, 1922, Mary Coy Fager died.  Her funeral was held at the Hopkins Street home and she was buried in the Evansport Cemetery. Henry lived on until July 10, 1928.  

Henry and Mary Fager on www.findagrave.com

(This is part of a series on Civil War veterans of Defiance County who were part of the G.A.R., Bishop Post, that headquartered in the city.  Formed in 1879, the post was named after a local man, Captain William Bishop, Company D, 100th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Army who died as a result of wounds received in battle.  The veterans' photos are part of a composite photo of members that has survived.  If you have other information or corrections to add to the soldiers' stories, please add to the comments!)