Alva L. Hager
Encyclopedia
Alva Lysander Hager was a three-term Republican
U.S. Representative
from Iowa's 9th congressional district
in the 1890s.
Born near Jamestown, New York
, Hager moved in 1859 to Iowa with his parents, who settled near Cottonville,in Jackson County
. He moved to Jones County
in 1863. He attended the public schools of Monticello
and Anamosa
. He graduated from the University of Iowa College of Law
in 1875. He was admitted to the bar
in 1875 and commenced practice in Greenfield
, in southwestern Iowa. He served as member of the Iowa Senate
in 1891. He served as chairman of the Iowa Republican State convention in 1892.
In 1892, the U.S. House seat for Iowa's 9th congressional district was open because incumbent Democrat Thomas Bowman
did not seek a second term. Hager won the Republican nomination and the general election. After serving in the 53rd United States Congress
, he was re-elected twice, serving in the Fifty-fourth
, and Fifty-fifth
Congresses.
In August 1898, Hager was defeated by Smith McPherson
in the race for the Republican
nomination for Hager's seat. There were four serious candidates for the nomination. For several days, no candidate received the required number of votes, but McPherson prevailed on the 618th ballot, after Hager threw his support to him. In all, Hager served from March 4, 1893 to March 3, 1899.
After leaving Congress, Hager resumed the practice of law. He moved to Des Moines
in 1901 and continued the practice of his profession. He engaged in banking from 1911 to 1918. He died in Des Moines on January 29, 1923. He was interred in Harbach Funeral Home vault.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
U.S. Representative
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Iowa's 9th congressional district
Iowa's 9th congressional district
Iowa’s 9th congressional district existed from 1873 to 1943. The district was configured four times, first as part of a nine-district plan, then twice in eleven-district plans, then again in a nine-district plan...
in the 1890s.
Born near Jamestown, New York
Jamestown, New York
Jamestown is a city in Chautauqua County, New York in the United States. The population was 31,146 at the 2010 census.The City of Jamestown is adjacent to Town of Ellicott and is at the southern tip of Chautauqua Lake...
, Hager moved in 1859 to Iowa with his parents, who settled near Cottonville,in Jackson County
Jackson County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 19,848 in the county, with a population density of . There were 9,415 housing units, of which 8,289 were occupied.-2000 census:...
. He moved to Jones County
Jones County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 20,638 in the county, with a population density of . There were 8,911 housing units, of which 8,151 were occupied.-2000 census:...
in 1863. He attended the public schools of Monticello
Monticello, Iowa
Monticello is a city in Jones County, Iowa, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 3,796. It is part of the Cedar Rapids Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Monticello is located at...
and Anamosa
Anamosa, Iowa
As of the census of 2000, there were 5,494 people, 1,750 households, and 1,135 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,453.4 people per square mile . There were 1,884 housing units at an average density of 841.3 per square mile...
. He graduated from the University of Iowa College of Law
University of Iowa College of Law
The University of Iowa College of Law is one of the eleven professional graduate schools at the University of Iowa, located in Iowa City, Iowa. Founded in 1865, it is the oldest law school in continuous operation west of the Mississippi River. The law school was ranked as the 27th best law school...
in 1875. He was admitted to the bar
Admission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
in 1875 and commenced practice in Greenfield
Greenfield, Iowa
Greenfield is a city in Greenfield Township, Adair County, Iowa, United States. The population was 2,129 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Adair County. The current courthouse, which sits in the middle of the Greenfield Square, was built in 1891 and is listed on the National Register of...
, in southwestern Iowa. He served as member of the Iowa Senate
Iowa Senate
The Iowa Senate is the upper house of the Iowa General Assembly. There are 50 members of the Senate, representing 50 single-member districts across the state with populations of approximately 59,500 per constituency. Each Senate district is composed of two House districts...
in 1891. He served as chairman of the Iowa Republican State convention in 1892.
In 1892, the U.S. House seat for Iowa's 9th congressional district was open because incumbent Democrat Thomas Bowman
Thomas Bowman (Iowa)
Thomas Bowman was a local official, newspaper publisher, and one-term Democratic U.S. Representative from Iowa's 9th congressional district...
did not seek a second term. Hager won the Republican nomination and the general election. After serving in the 53rd United States Congress
53rd United States Congress
The Fifty-third United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1893 to March 4, 1895, during the fifth and sixth...
, he was re-elected twice, serving in the Fifty-fourth
54th United States Congress
- House of Representatives :-Leadership:- Senate :* President: Adlai E. Stevenson * President pro tempore: William P. Frye - Majority leadership :* Republican Conference Chairman: John Sherman- Minority leadership :...
, and Fifty-fifth
55th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:* Republican: 206 * Democratic: 124* Populist: 22* Silver Republican: 3* Silver: 1* Independent Republican: 1TOTAL members: 357-Leadership:-Senate:* President: Garret Hobart * President pro tempore: William P...
Congresses.
In August 1898, Hager was defeated by Smith McPherson
Smith McPherson
Smith McPherson was a Republican U.S. Representative from Iowa's now-obsolete 9th congressional district for one year, and a federal district court judge for over fourteen years....
in the race for the Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
nomination for Hager's seat. There were four serious candidates for the nomination. For several days, no candidate received the required number of votes, but McPherson prevailed on the 618th ballot, after Hager threw his support to him. In all, Hager served from March 4, 1893 to March 3, 1899.
After leaving Congress, Hager resumed the practice of law. He moved to Des Moines
Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines is the capital and the most populous city in the US state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small portion of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857...
in 1901 and continued the practice of his profession. He engaged in banking from 1911 to 1918. He died in Des Moines on January 29, 1923. He was interred in Harbach Funeral Home vault.