Was a member with his parents of the 1853 Hagans-Cockrill wagon train.

From E. B. Hagans, "Hagans" 1769 to 1887, p.10:

...after his father died, Alfred with his mother and his family, moved to Columbia Co., Washington.

Supposedly had seven children who servived him and his wife.

Alfred Huddleston Hagans was a member of the Santa Rosa Church of Old School Baptists, and a messenger, who was licensed to preach. This church was founded in about 1859 by Elder Thomas H. Owen in California.

An article Elder A. H. Hagans wrote dealing with some of his religious life, was published probably in New York in the Signs of the Times (from Elder Robert Webb, a Primitive Baptist minister, church historian, and church webmaster):

Anally, California., Dec. 12, 1860.

BROTHER BEEBE:-- If one so unworthy may be permitted to use the appellation, I have had some thought of writing an account of my experience and of the reason of my hope, which is so small that I often feel as though it is not safe to rely upon it. I was born of pious parents, whose ancestors were Baptists of the Primitive order. But that made me no better in my nature than any other person. When I was about twelve years old, by the grace of God I was brought to see my sinful state, and the deceitfulness of my heart. Like all the rest of mankind, I thought there was something I could do to commend me to the favor of God; so I tried my system of works; but it only served to show me how depraved I was, until I felt as though my prayers were vain and my tears unavailing. At times I tried to get rid of my troubles by mingling with the vain and gay, but all to no purpose; they would return with double force. At length it seemed to me, that of all sinners I was the chiefs, and that I had sinned away my day of grace. And it did seem to me that there was none like me; for my father was an example of piety, although not a professor at that time, and my mother had given me precept upon precept, and when I thought of this it would sink me in the lowest depths. Thus I went on for about three years, until at length my effort system failed to be of any worth to me, and I gave up to die; but my prayer was, Lord, receive my soul at last, if thou canst mercy afford. This was on an evening when I was about to retire. I thought of death and of my condition, which seemed to be the worst of all living mortals. But I did not feel as though I should live to see the next rising sun; and to add to my wretchedness, my father was gone from home and had been for some months. To die in this situation was more than I could bear; for die, I thought I must. In this frame of mind I went to bed, and to sleep with these words rolling through my mind, "Lord, have mercy on me a sinner." I awoke, the sun was shining full in my face through a window, an I was praising God for his goodness; I had also dreamed of my father’s return. I took the bible early in the morning, and went some distance from the house, and sat down in a corner of the fence, where I thought no one would find me, to read; for I had a great desire to know what was my duty, if I was a christian, or a subject of grace, which I as yet ha not realized a doubt of; but my mother happened along about this time and inquired what I was doing; and I old her my story, and hat I wanted to be baptized, and hoped that father would join the church, when he returned, as I thought it the duty of all children, to obey their parents. My mother simply said, "My child you may be deceived." In a moment so I also thought.

I will now try to finish my narrative. After my deliverance, I had many doubts about the reality of my hope, whether I was the subject of a real change or the effect of imagination. I tried to feel as I had felt before, but could not. I mourned because I could not mourn; in the meantime, I would come pretty nearly to the conclusion to offer myself to the church. Then there arose a difficulty in the church in reference to the Two-seed doctrine, which caused the firmest members to err. In this I thought they did not do as christians should; and that certainly there was something very wrong, and I would not join. [This was the Pleasant Gap church, in Bates Co., Mo.] About this time I was led away captive by the prince of the power of the air, and I concluded that religion was all a delusion, at least with regard to myself, for it did not seem to me possible for a christian to act, and live, and do as I did. Thus I continued until my twentieth year. I resolved to go to California, and as I was the only child of my father and mother, they would not let me leave them, so they came with me. Crossing the plains did not improve me; but if any thing I got worse; and when in California, my occupation was such as to throw me into the midst of company. Although I would think of the past, and sometimes try to pray, it seemed that I could not. About the year 1857, at which time I was twenty-five years of age, I was, by the grace of God brought to see how far I had wandered from him whom I once thought I had loved, and who had given himself a ransom for me. I was then in the mercantile business, in the mines, in Placer county; and in my meditation I came to the conclusion that money was all I was living for, and that I could not serve God and Mammon; so I resolved to settle up my business and move into a farming country. I now began to try to reform, at least my outward conduct, and to pray God to give me to know that my sins were forgiven. Still I could not feel as I had once felt, that deep sense of guilt. I could only mourn [illegible words] strayed so far; still I could not see how a christian could go so far astray; but it was so, and I was so strong a predestinarian, that I could not believe in the doctrine of salvation by works. In 1858, we moved to Sonoma Co., where we now live. I attended meeting and read the bible, and saw the promises plainly for all but myself; and often times would read the Signs of the Times, and the Messenger. The experiences of the dear brethren and sisters were like good news from a far country; but I was afraid that it would never be my happy lot to relate a genuine christian experience. About this time I attended a meeting at Santa Rosa, Elder Owen was present, and we lodged together at the same house, and occupied the same bed, and we entered into conversation, and he told me that I was a subject of grace, which I doubted; I told him I would be lad if I could claim the least shadow of a hope. Now what to do I did not know; for as yet my parents had not the least idea of the state of my mind. This was in 1859. In this condition I remained until in June, I went into the woods where I could pray in secret to God to give me to know that my sins were forgiven; the anguish of my soul I cannot describe. I felt that I had no power to extricate myself; yet my soul was, as it were, continually poured out in prayer; and on my return to the house it seemed as if some one said, "Son, be of good cheer, thy sins are forgiven thee." "My grace is sufficient for thee." In a moment my mind was carried back to the time and place of my first deliverance, in which I had once seen so much beauty. And here I was made to realize the same to the fullest extent. I was made to rejoice; but not as I had always anticipated – I wanted a bright evidence, a big hope, such an one as the most skeptical could not doubt; but, instead, I simply felt a calmness of mind. I went on, sometimes doubting and sometimes rejoicing until the August meeting at Santa Rosa, on Saturday before the second Sunday, I gave a revelation of my little hope, and was received, and on the next day baptized by Elder Owen.

Brother Beebe, I have been somewhat lengthy; but I have only give a mere outline of the most prominent marks of my travail of mind; to which I will only add that I am a poor doubting worthless christian, if I am one at all. As my sheet is not full, I will say, for the consolation of the saints, that it does my soul good to pour over the pages of the Signs, and read of the dealings of our God with his children. There is not one who does not complain of his little hope. But what is that hope? Is it not, "Christ in you, the hope of glory?" And can that be a "little hope"? Nay, verily, for if it be Christ, he filleth all in all. This hope the world knows nothing about. Then let us buckle on the whole armor, and work out our own salvation; for it is God that worketh in us both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Let us all work, only let works be applied in their proper places. Christians should work and thereby exemplify their faith; as the apostle says, faith without works is dead, being alone. Not that works can advance the kingdom of Christ, or effect salvation, which is of grace and grace alone. By works of obedience to Christ resulting from living faith, may we show forth the praises of him who hath called us out of darkness into his marvelous light. We cannot by any works of ours evangelize the world, in advance of the plan and purpose of God who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will, and none can hinder. Our salvation is a perfect and compete salvation; therefore let us rejoice and be glad.

Brother Beebe, dispose of this as you think best, if you think it worthy of a place in your paper, insert it, but not to the exclusion of better matter. Remember us in California, we are lonely and distant from our brethren, and it is a cold and dreary time. Farewell

ALFRED H. HAGANS.

There is also an article under his wife's listing, where she describes her husband being an Old School Baptist preacher.

From Obituary Notices in Signs of the Times, c. 1908, page 605 (from Elder Robert Webb):

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Elder Alfred Huddleston Hagans, my father, was born July 14th, 1831, in Sagamon County, Ill., and died April 6th, 1908. He came to California in 1852, where he resided until 1877, when he moved to Oregon, and then to Washington, where he lived until 1891, when he moved back to California, where he remained until his death until his death. Father was married to Miss Mary Hall, July 16th, 1865, and to this union were born five boys and five girls, seven of whom survived their parents. Mother died June 14th, 1889. Father united with the Old School Baptist Church at Santa Rosa, in 1859. He was licensed to preach the gospel in July, 1862, and was ordained to the full work of the ministry Oct. 26th, 1867, at Santa Rosa Church, Elder Thomas H. Owen presiding. He was 76 years, 8 months and 22 days of age at the time of his death. The principal cause of his death was old age and a general breaking down of his vitality.

W. A. HAGANS

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I FIRST became acquainted with Elder Hagans in 1860, in Green Valley, Sonoma Co., Cal. He was a member of an Old School Baptist Church which belonged to a body of six, calling themselves The Corresponding Meeting of California. Later he and his father moved to Oregon, near Hepner, thence to Columbia County, Wash., were he, with Elder J. P. Allison, organized Harmony Church, near Dayton, of which he was pastor several years. He afterward moved to Los Angeles, where he died as his son herewith states. Elder Hagans' moral character was good; he was honorable in business, a faithful friend and neighbor, a good husband and father and faithful christian.

I. N. NEWKIRK

DAYTON, Wash.

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