Black Hawk County returns to the house this winter the Hon. W. E. Hager, one of the most conspicuous members of the Twenty-sixth General Assembly and its arduous extra session. Mr. Hager was born in Washington, Tazewell County, Ill., March 9, 1866. When he was six weeks old his parents removed to Iowa and located near La Porte City. In 1880 his parents moved into La Porte City, where the son entered the high school, from which he was graduated in 1883, at the age of 17 years. After his graduation he began teaching school, working on the farm in the interim. In 1884 he entered Cornell College, at Mt. Vernon, and graduated in 1888, passing the examination for state certificate. In 1889 and 1890 he had charge of the La Porte City schools as principal, making a great success of his work and of the schools. The close confinement of the work impaired his health, and he was compelled for that reason to resign at the end of the second year. He taught in the Waterloo Collegiate Institute and Commercial College in 1891 and 1892, in which capacity he gave the best of satisfaction. Subsequently he read law for a year, but his health would not permit a continuance of the study. In 1893 Cornell College conferred on him the degree of M. A. The same year he wrote the book, -"Signal Thoughts," which has been most favorably received, and given Mr. Hager no little prominence as a writer. He has also gained much favorable comment through his work in the lecture field. Last session he was house chairman on enrolled bills, one of the most important committee positions of the extra session. He served on the committees on school and textbooks, suppression of intemperance, agriculture, normal schools, industrial schools, College for the Blind, penitentiaries, and representative districts. He served two years on the republican county central committee of Black Hawk County. Mr. Hager was superintendent of the Waterloo Academy and School of Commerce, which grew rapidly under his management. He was a member of the Knights of Pythias lodge. He was one of the bachelors of the assembly. He was a rising young politician and educational man and deserved the success he attained.

Black Hawk County returns to the house this winter the Hon. W. E. Hager, one of the most conspicuous members of the Twenty-sixth General Assembly and its arduous extra session. Mr. Hager was born in Washington, Tazewell County, Ill., March 9, 1866. When he was six weeks old his parents removed to Iowa and located near La Porte City. In 1880 his parents moved into La Porte City, where the son entered the high school, from which he was graduated in 1883, at the age of 17 years. After his graduation he began teaching school, working on the farm in the interim. In 1884 he entered Cornell College, at Mt. Vernon, and graduated in 1888, passing the examination for state certificate. In 1889 and 1890 he had charge of the La Porte City schools as principal, making a great success of his work and of the schools. The close confinement of the work impaired his health, and he was compelled for that reason to resign at the end of the second year. He taught in the Waterloo Collegiate Institute and Commercial College in 1891 and 1892, in which capacity he gave the best of satisfaction. Subsequently he read law for a year, but his health would not permit a continuance of the study. In 1893 Cornell College conferred on him the degree of M. A. The same year he wrote the book, -"Signal Thoughts," which has been most favorably received, and given Mr. Hager no little prominence as a writer. He has also gained much favorable comment through his work in the lecture field. Last session he was house chairman on enrolled bills, one of the most important committee positions of the extra session. He served on the committees on school and textbooks, suppression of intemperance, agriculture, normal schools, industrial schools, College for the Blind, penitentiaries, and representative districts. He served two years on the republican county central committee of Black Hawk County. Mr. Hager was superintendent of the Waterloo Academy and School of Commerce, which grew rapidly under his management. He was a member of the Knights of Pythias lodge. He was one of the bachelors of the assembly. He was a rising young politician and educational man and deserved the success he attained.