Born on October 8, 1809, the son of William Hagans and Elizabeth (Smith) Hagans. He was a 3rd corporal in the Illinois Mounted Volunteers in the Black Hawk War in 1832. He came to the county from McDonough County, Illinois, in June, 1854, and was a native of Kentucky. He married Harriet W. Taylor on December 23rd of 1833 in Sangamon County, Illinois. He and his family moved to the newly formed Ringgold County, Iowa, sometime around the year 1855. In election of county officers shortly after the establishment of Mount Ayr as the county seat. He served the people three terms in the office of County Judge from 1855 to 1859, and was elected State Senator at the general election of 1857, from the district composed of the Counties of Ringgold, Taylor, Adams, Union, and Clarke. He served with ability in the Eighth and Ninth General Assemblies. He discharged his last senatorial and official duties at the extra session of September, 1862. One of the most prominent men in the early history of the county was Judge Hagans, who wielded great influence from the time of his first election as County Judge until his death.

Born on October 8, 1809, the son of William Hagans and Elizabeth (Smith) Hagans. He was a 3rd corporal in the Illinois Mounted Volunteers in the Black Hawk War in 1832. He came to the county from McDonough County, Illinois, in June, 1854, and was a native of Kentucky. He married Harriet W. Taylor on December 23rd of 1833 in Sangamon County, Illinois. He and his family moved to the newly formed Ringgold County, Iowa, sometime around the year 1855. In election of county officers shortly after the establishment of Mount Ayr as the county seat. He served the people three terms in the office of County Judge from 1855 to 1859, and was elected State Senator at the general election of 1857, from the district composed of the Counties of Ringgold, Taylor, Adams, Union, and Clarke. He served with ability in the Eighth and Ninth General Assemblies. He discharged his last senatorial and official duties at the extra session of September, 1862. One of the most prominent men in the early history of the county was Judge Hagans, who wielded great influence from the time of his first election as County Judge until his death.