PARKER MORRIS HAGERMAN

Parker M. Hagerman was my GG-GrandUncle. I had ordered this marker when we thought he was burried among the unknown Federal Soldiers a the LRNC. He born in Washington Co. Ohio probably in 1828. His parents moved their family to Franklin Co. Ohio sometime after 1844. He married Nancy Spillman sometime before 1850 while in Franklin Co. All official documents list Parker by his first name and initial,Parker M. He evidently went by Morris among family and friends.

Parker next appears in the 1860 Census for Moultrie, Co. Illinois. Parker and Nancy Speilman had seven children. They were:

John B. Hagerman 10-30-1850

Sally S. 3-20-1853

Samuel L. ; 11-12-1855

Eliza E. 9-14-1859

Albert S. ; 4-3-1862

Margaret F. ; 8-24-1864

Parker C. ; 8-10-1867

The Civil War had been on for over a year when Parker and his brothers James W. and Aaron E. volunteered for service. Parker was 34 when he enlisted, his brother James was 18 but claimed that he was 19 to make it more believable that the youngest brother was 18. Little Ed, as he was called, was actually only 16 and not eligible for enlistment at that age. All three volunteered in August, but their company was not sworn into service until September 4th, 1862. On that date their company became Co. C, 126th Illinois Volunteer Infantry.

The 126th Illinois began its service in West Tennessee and was involved in a little battle at Humbolt Tennessee in December 1862. A few days later Aaron was on picket duty at night during a storm. Parker heard screaming from the picket line and assumed it was Little Ed. He rushed to relieve his little brother on the picket line but stumbled in the dark and fell heavily on a snag or sharp stump. Parker was able to get up and reach his brother but found that it was not him that was screaming. He remained with his brother on the picket line the remainder for the night.

His Regimental Surgeon wrote ... incapable of performing the duties of a soldier because of injury of the heart, induced by falling on a snag at Humbolt, Tern. in Jan 1863 while on picket. There is no well defined structural disease, but a constant tinunitous, rapid motion of the heart with severe palpitation, the left side of thorax is depressed and very painful on pressure. Has but little use of his left arm. Before the accident was a good soldier. has done no duty since. Is not fit for Invalid Corp. Disability four fifths.

Duvall's Bluff, Arkansas U.R. Bridges, Surgeon March 23, 1864

Discharged May 9th 1864 W.W. Wilshire, Major Commanding Regt.

Parker left his Company and brothers and returned home to Illinois. Although he was able to father one more child after his return, his health continued to deteriorate. He died on August 7th 1867, three days before the birth of his last child, Parker Capps Hagerman.

Nancy filed for a Widows pension in 1868 and was granted $2 per month for each child under the age of 16. She died April 18th, 1881.

This information was gathered from:

1850 Census Records Franklin Co. Ohio

1860 Census Records Moultrie, Co. Illinois

Pension Records File #117447

Oral Tradition from Ezra Hagerman, England Arkansas

(NOTE: The official muster roll for Co. C, 126th Illinois which is in the Illinois archives listed Parker M. Hagerman as Died May 9, 1863. Devalls Bluff, Ark. It was assumed that the year was incorrect because the 126th Ill was not in Arkansas until September 1863. It was also assumed, because of the muster roll that he died and was buried in Devalls Bluff and was subsequently re buried at the Little Rock National Cemetery with all other Union soldiers that had been buried at Devalls Bluff. ALL this information was proved false by his pension records. However, before the truth was revealed I had a Veterans Administration memorial stone erected for him at the Little Rock Nat. Cemetery. Although the inscription is incorrect, it is still a fitting tribute to his memory and service. (Mark Hubbs, 1992)