John N. Hagan

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John N. Hagan
8th and 12th North Dakota Commissioner of Agriculture and Labor
In office
1917–1921
Preceded byRobert F. Flint
Succeeded byJoseph A. Kitchen
In office
1937–1938
Preceded byTheodore Martell
Succeeded byMatt Dahl
Personal details
Born(1873-08-04)August 4, 1873
Arcola, Indiana, U.S.
DiedJune 4, 1952(1952-06-04) (aged 78)
Bismarck, North Dakota, U.S.
Political partyRepublican (NPL faction)
SpouseRhea Smith

John N. Hagan (August 4, 1873 – June 4, 1952) was a North Dakota Republican/NPL politician who served as the North Dakota Commissioner of Agriculture and Labor from 1917 to 1921 and from 1937 to 1938. He is one of three politicians in the state ever to be recalled; he was recalled during his first time in the office along with fellow NPL politicians Governor of North Dakota Lynn J. Frazier and North Dakota Attorney General William Lemke in 1921.[1]

Biography[edit]

Early years[edit]

John N. Hagan was born on August 4, 1873, near Arcola, Indiana, to parents William and Wilhelmina (Rapp) Hagan. In 1900, he graduated from Valparaiso University. In the fall of 1900, Hagan moved to North Dakota, accepting a job school administration job at St. John. He served in this role until 1903 when he moved to a homestead around Deering, North Dakota. In 1904, he married Rhea Smith. Hagan farmed for several years before getting involved in politics.[2][3][4]

Commissioner of Agriculture and Labor[edit]

In 1916, Hagan joined the Nonpartisan League (NPL), becoming one of its earliest members.[3][4] Also in 1916, Hagan received the endorsement of the NPL for North Dakota Commissioner of Agriculture and Labor. Hagan won the election, and he would be reelected again in 1918 and 1920.[5][6][7]

As Commissioner of Agriculture and Labor, and under the state leadership of the NPL, Hagan served on many boards and commissions, including the Industrial Commission and the Board of Administration.[8]

In 1921, a special recall election, initiated by opponents of the NPL (the Independent Voters Association or IVA) successfully removed Hagan from office. He was replaced by Joseph A. Kitchen. The other two members of the Industrial Commission, Governor Lynn Frazier and Attorney General William Lemke, were also removed from office.[3][9][10][11]

Because of infighting, controversies, and the recall election, the NPL and its influence over North Dakota government was weakened. However, the programs of the NPL and some of its prominent leaders remained popular, and the NPL saw a resurgence in the 1930s.[12][13] Hagan served as Deputy Administrator of the Prohibition Board until 1933.[3] In 1936, Hagan was again endorsed by the NPL and elected Commissioner of Agriculture and Labor, serving one term from 1937 to 1938.[3][14]

Later years[edit]

In 1938, Hagan received the Republican nomination for governor, but he was defeated by John Moses, the Democratic contender.[3][15] In 1942, Hagan received the Democratic nomination for Commissioner of Insurance, but he was defeated by Republican incumbent Oscar E. Erickson.[16]

After this, Hagan retired from politics and returned to farming. He died on June 4, 1952.[4][3]

See also[edit]

External links[edit]

Party political offices
Preceded by Republican nominee for Governor of North Dakota
1938
Succeeded by
Jack A. Patterson
Preceded by Democratic nominee for North Dakota Insurance Commissioner
1942
Succeeded by
Ed P. Cosgriff
Political offices
Preceded by North Dakota Commissioner of Agriculture and Labor
1917–1921
Succeeded by
Preceded by North Dakota Commissioner of Agriculture and Labor
1937–1938
Succeeded by

References[edit]

  1. ^ News article on recalls
  2. ^ North Dakota (1919). North Dakota Blue Book. pp. 560–561.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections. "John N. Hagan Papers, 1897-1960". University of North Dakota. Archived from the original on 2023-02-07. Retrieved 2023-04-28.
  4. ^ a b c Brown, Corabelle (1985). McHenry County: Its History and Its People. p. 188. OCLC 17215650.
  5. ^ North Dakota (1916). "Party Votes, General Election, November 7, 1916" (PDF). North Dakota Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2022-11-12. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
  6. ^ North Dakota (1918). "Party Votes, General Election, November 5, 1918" (PDF). North Dakota Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2022-12-09. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
  7. ^ North Dakota (1920). "PARTY VOTES, GENERAL ELECTION, NOV. 2, 1920" (PDF). North Dakota Secretary of State. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2023-04-05. Retrieved 2023-04-28.
  8. ^ North Dakota (1919). Annual report. Bismarck. p. 35.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  9. ^ "Section 2: End of the NPL | 8th Grade North Dakota Studies". North Dakota Studies Grade 4 Curriculum. Retrieved 2023-04-28.
  10. ^ "Section 3: Recall | 8th Grade North Dakota Studies". North Dakota Studies Grade 4 Curriculum. Retrieved 2023-04-28.
  11. ^ North Dakota (1921). "Recall Election October 28, 1921: Votes for Governor, Attorney General and Commissioner of Agriculture and Labor" (PDF). North Dakota Secretary of State. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2022-11-12. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  12. ^ State Historical Society of North Dakota. "Nonpartisan League - Summary of North Dakota History". www.history.nd.gov. Archived from the original on 2023-03-18. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  13. ^ North Dakota Studies (2022-06-25). "Section 2: End of the NPL | North Dakota Studies". State Historical Society of North Dakota. Archived from the original on 2022-06-25. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  14. ^ North Dakota (1936). "Party Ballot - State Officers - General Election, November 3rd, 1936" (PDF). North Dakota Secretary of State. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2022-11-12. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  15. ^ North Dakota (1938). "Official Abstract of Votes Cast at the General Election Held November 8, 1938" (PDF). North Dakota Secretary of State. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2023-04-05. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  16. ^ North Dakota (1942). "Official Abstract of Votes Cast at the General Election Held November 3rd, 1942" (PDF). North Dakota Secretary of State. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2022-11-13. Retrieved 2023-05-01.