Jennie Doris (Gager) Magner Family Tree

The Gager/Magner Relationship to William Frederick Cody/ "Buffalo Bill"

Herbert Gager, son of Nathaniel Jagger and Elizabeth Randsdell was born October 18, 1798 and died on March 3, 1883 in Columbus, Kansas - Cherokee County.

Herbert married Achsah CODY on March 14, 1822 in Ontario, Canada.  They had eleven children; Jay, William, Mary, Griffin, Nelson, Aaron, Bradford, Elford, Sarah, John and Susan.

Their son, Elford was born on April 7, 1835 in Canada near the US border in West Mariposa TWP and was a twin, the other baby, a boy named Bradford died.

Elford's mother, Achsah Cody died when he was 11 years old.  Elford roamed with his father, Herbert over the north central states until his own marriage to his bride, Sarah Eliza Bunnell.

After Herbert Gager's first wife, Achsah died; he married Margaret Howard on February 9, 1868.

**Achsah was a 1st cousin to Buffalo Bill's mother, Mary Bonsell who was married to Isaac Cody

My Uncle Merritt Lee Caldwell purchased a pair of silver spurs belonging to W.F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody and donated them in my maternal grandmother Jennie (Gager) Magner's name to the Buffalo Bill Historical Center - 720 Sheridan Avenue in Cody, Wyoming.  Today you can view the exhibit along with Jennie's name on the gift card.

Albert Lanville Magner

Jennie Doris (Gager) Magner Family Tree
Jennie's Mother, Nora Mae (Hughes) Gager Parents


Mount Hope Cemetery - Galesburg, Kansas - Neosho County

 

 

Albert Lanville Magner

Jennie Doris (Gager) Magner Family Tree

Jennie's Mother, Nora Mae (Hughes) Gager Parents and Siblings

 

 

 

 

 

Albert Lanville Magner

Jennie Doris (Gager) Magner Family Tree

Jennie's Mother, Nora Mae (Hughes) Gager Parents and Siblings

 Nora's mother, Mary Jane (Heflin) Hughes 

 

 

Nora with two sisters and one brother

 

Albert Lanville Magner

Jennie Doris (Gager) Magner Family Tree
Jennie's Mother, Nora Mae (Hughes) Gager Parents

Obituary of William Henry Hughes

Wm. Hughes an old and respected pioneer of Neosho County died at his home at 6 a.m. Saturday, September 13, 1902.  Aged: 71 years - 7 months - 8 days. 

Deceased was born in Devonshire Wales December 5, 1830 and came to this country in 1851 settling in Madison County Ohio where he was married to Miss Mary Jane Heflin in 1858.  To this union was born twelve children, four sons; John of Aurora, Illinois, William Oliver of Russell, Kansas; Charles of this place and Everett, the fourth child who died in infancy.  The eight daughters are Mrs. Mollie Kent of Pueblo, Colorado; Mrs. Lesta Johnson of Victor, Colorado; Mrs. Barbara Gardner of Salt Lake City, Utah; and Mrs. Sarah Venus, Mrs. Ella Ramsay, Mrs. Nora Gager, Mrs. Jennie Shepard and Cora Hughes of this place.

He enlisted in the Civil War in Company One, 113th Ohio Voluntary Infantry and was discharged June 28, 1865.  Wm. was converted in Madison, Ohio in 1858 and joined the Methodist Church.  He came to Kansas in 1870 where he joined the U.B. Church of which he remained a faithful member until his death.  He had been sick about a year but bore his suffering with Christian fortitude and seemed to long for the time when he would be called to that land where there will be no sorrow or pain.

Saturday about 2 a.m. he called all of his children who were at his bedside and talked to them of that home above to which he was prepared to go and cautioned them to be good to their mother, and taking them by the hand called each by name, telling them not to weep for him.  Then he bade his friends who were there, goodbye calling each by name.  And when asked if anything further he answered "all is well, all is well."  When his faithful wife imprinted a kiss on his forehead he said "God bless you Mother; do not weep for me." It seemed a happy thought that they would meet again where there will be no parting.

Deceased was a member of the G.A.R. which took charge of the funeral services, which were held at the Methodist Episcopal Church, Reverend Woods officiating after which the body accompanied by the bereaved family and a large concourse of sympathizing friends was taken to Mount Hope Cemetery and tenderly laid to rest.  We extend heartfelt sympathy to the grief stricken widow and children. 

Note:  U.B. stands for United Brethren and G.A.R. stands for the Grand Army of the Republic, a fraternal organization composed of veterans of the Union Army who served in the American Civil War.

Albert Lanville Magner

Jennie Doris (Gager) Magner Family Tree

Jennie's Mother, Nora Mae (Hughes) Gager Parents

Obituary of Mary Jane (Heflin) Hughes

GRANDMA HUGHES DEAD                                      February 23, 1929

Mrs. M.J. Hughes, known to many Thayer people as Grandma Hughes passed away at her home in Thayer, Kansas, Saturday, February 16th after several weeks' illness.  Mrs. Hughes was taken sick with flu and was recovering when from weakness she fell breaking her hip.  The shock was too much for her at her age, thus the end came to a very useful woman.  Grandma had many friends as she was a splendid neighbor and friend to all.  Funeral services were held Monday afternoon at 2:30 at the Christian Church in Thayer by Reverend L.C. Swan and burial in Galesburg Cemetery.

Mary Jane Heflin was born August 17, 1840 at Lily Chapel, Ohio and died February 16, 1929 in Thayer, Kansas aged 88 years - five months and 29 days.  She was married in Madison County, Ohio to William Hughes by Rev. T.J. Archey.  To this union twelve children were born, ten now living, one son dying in infancy and one daughter some twenty years ago.  The surviving children are: Mrs. Nora Gager of Thayer, Kansas; Mrs. Mollie Kent, Monterey, California; Mrs. Lesta Johnson, Long Beach, California; Mrs. Sarah Venus, Tacoma, Washington; Mrs. Barbara Gardner, Los Angeles, California; Mrs. Cora Yeamans, Portland, Oregon; John H. Hughes, Lynn, Missouri; Charles Hughes, Thayer, Kansas; W.O. Hughes, Buckingham, Colorado.  One brother also survives, Charles Heflin, Erie, Kansas.  Mrs. Hughes has 58 grandchildren, 74 great-grandchildren and three great-great- grandchildren.

She, with her husband came to Kansas in 1870 and settled on a homestead southeast of Thayer.  Here they lived 33 years.  And here six of their children were born.  They moved into Thayer 26 years ago where Sister Hughes has since resided.  While yet living in Ohio, Mr. and Mrs. Hughes united with the Methodist Church.  On coming to Kansas they found no organization of this kind in their community so they united with the United Brethren Church at Fairview school house.  Later she united with the Christian Church in Thayer where she retained membership until her death.


Mary Jane Heflin Parents; mother Jemimah Ann Jackson and father, William Ellis Heflin.

Albert Lanville Magner

Jennie Doris (Gager) Magner Family Tree

Jennie's Mother, Nora Mae (Hughes) Gager Parents

 William Henry Hughes                              

 

 

William Henry Hughes and wife, Mary Jane Heflin   

Albert Lanville Magner

Jennie Doris (Gager) Magner Family Tree

Jennie's Mother, Nora Mae (Hughes) Gager Parents


Nora Mae (Hughes) Gager Parents
Father: William Henry Hughes
Born: December 5, 1830 - Devonshire Wales
Died: September 13, 1902 - Galesburg, Kansas - Neosho County
Interment: Mount Hope Cemetery - Galesburg, Kansas - Neosho County


William Henry Hughes came to the United States in 1851 and enlisted in the Civil War, a member of the Company 1-113 Ohio Volunteer Infantry.  William and Mary Jane Heflin were married May 6, 1856 in Madison County, Ohio and had twelve children.

Albert Lanville Magner

Jennie Doris (Gager) Magner Family Tree

Jennie's Father, Jesse Jay Gager Parents

Sarah Eliza Bunnell and Elford E. Gager 

 

Mount Hope Cemetery - Galesburg, Kansas - Neosho County

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PHOTO SOURCE:  Susan Kay (Magner) Van Vleck

Albert Lanville Magner

Jennie Doris (Gager) Magner Family Tree

Jennie's Father, Jesse Jay Gager Parents

Sarah Eliza (Bunnell) Gager Obituary

THAYER WOMAN 98 YEARS OLD DIES          Tuesday, June 30, 1942

Mrs. Sarah Eliza Gager, 98 years old, early day resident of Labette and Neosho counties died at 2:40 o'clock yesterday afternoon at the home of her son Jesse Gager, Route 2, Thayer, Kansas. She had been bedfast for some time.

She was born February 12, 1844 in Crawford County Pennsylvania to Harriett and Jesse Bunnell.  She was married in 1861 to Elford Gager, who died in 1915.  Eight children were born to them, but only one son and two daughters survive.  The daughters are Mrs. Ida Parker, Bartlesville, Oklahoma, and Mrs. Eunice Hufford, Riverside, California.

The Gagers came to Kansas in 1867 and settled on a farm ten miles southeast of Parsons.  They moved to Neosho County in 1896 and Mrs. Gager moved to her son's home following the death of her husband.

She was a member of the Methodist Church.  Funeral services will be held at the Galesburg Methodist Church at 4 p.m. Thursday with the Reverend Charles Wogan officiating and burial will be in the Galesburg Cemetery.  The Wilson Funeral Home has chare of arrangements.

SOURCE:  Noretta (Magner) Caldwell    

Albert Lanville Magner

Jennie Doris (Gager) Magner Family Tree

Jennie's Father, Jesse Jay Gager Parents

Elford Gager Obituary

Elford Gager was born in Canada April 7, 1835 and died February 2, 1915 at his home east of Thayer, Kansas. He lived in Canada until he was eighteen years of age and then moved with his father to the state of Iowa, his mother having died when he was eleven years old.  He roamed over the north central states until December 23, 1861 when he was united in marriage to Sarah Eliza Bunnel.  They continued to live in Iowa until the fall of 1869 when they immigrated to Kansas, locating nine miles southeast of Parsons in Labette County, staying there until the fall of 1896 when he sold his farm and bought between Thayer and Galesburg, Kansas.

He was the father of eight children, only three of which survive him; five dying in infancy.  At the age of 43 he gave his heart to Christ and lived an upright Christian life the rest of his days.  he leaves behind him to mourn his loss, a wife, three children, thirteen grandchildren and one great-grandchild.  Also two brother, one sister and numerous friends.

SOURCE:  Noretta (Magner) Caldwell   

Elford's Father: Herbert Gager

Elford's Mother: Achsah Cody

Albert Lanville Magner

Jennie Doris (Gager) Magner Family Tree
Jennie's Father, Jesse Jay Gager Parents

Jesse Jay Gager Parents

Elford and Sarah Eliza (Bunnell) Gager  - 50th Wedding Anniversary      

 Source: Noretta (Magner) Caldwell

Albert Lanville Magner

Jennie Doris (Gager) Magner Family Tree

Jennie's Father, Jesse Jay Gager Parents

Jesse Jay Gager Parents
Mother: Sarah Eliza Bunnell  "Eliza"
Born: February 12, 1844 - Pennsylvania - Crawford County
Died: June 29, 1942 - Thayer, Kansas - Neosho county
Interment: Mount Hope Cemetery - Galesburg, Kansas - Neosho County

Married: December 23, 1861 - Preston, Minnesota - Fillmore County - Stanwix Hotel

Sarah "Eliza" had two brothers; Daniel C. and Milo, who never married and are buried in the Montana Cemetery, Montana, Kansas as are her parents; Harriett N. and Jessie A. Burnell.  She also had four sisters; Alma, Ella, Celinda and Phoebe.  Sarah was 16 years old when they married and moved to Kansas in 1867.  Elford and "Eliza" owned a 160-acre farm just 2 1/2 miles from Montana, Kansas.  Today the farm is part of the Kansas Army Ammunition Plant which is a few miles southeast of Parsons, Kansas.

Sarah "Eliza" gave birth to eight children with just three growing into adulthood.  after their eighth and last child, Charles H. died, Elford came home from the funeral and took the cradle to the woodpile and chopped it up saying "no more babies."

Source:  Noretta (Magner) Caldwell  

Albert Lanville Magner

Jennie Doris (Gager) Magner Family Tree

Jennie's father, Jesse Jay Gager's Parents

Jesse Jay Gager Parents
Father: Elford E. Gager
Born: April 7, 1835 - Canada West Mariposa TWP near Orillia
Died: February 2, 1915 - Thayer, Kansas - Neosho County
Interment: Mount Hope Cemetery - Galesburg, Kansas - Neosho County

Elford married Sara Eliza Bunnell on December 23, 1861 - Preston, Minnesota - Fillmore County - Stanwix Hotel


Elford had three brother; Will, Aaron and Griffin.  He would tell about the deep snow in Canada and people were worried about the world coming to an end.  He and his friends thought "how silly with all the snow on the ground." 

Elford's mother's maiden name was Cody and related to Frederick William Cody or known as Buffalo Bill. 

Elford was a kind man and he walked with a limp wearing a strap around his knee.  What caused his limp is unknown.  He died at his home east of Thayer, Kansas from hardening of the arteries and high blood pressure at the age of 80.

Source: Noretta (Magner) Caldwell