Hans O. Hagen came to Barnes County in the middle eighties, exactly when is unknown. His birth and life before coming to Barnes County are also ~ unknown. It is known that he came from Minnesota and that he returned there after a prominent career in Barnes County and the State of North Dakota.

Shortly after homesteading his land, he became interested in civic affairs and his organizational abilities were soon recognized and he was elected a County Commissioner. Subsequently he was elected to the state legislature and served in both houses. Some time before 1910 he sold his homestead, which was located in the Southeast one fourth of Section 2, Thordensjold Township. He returned to Minnesota, settling at Pelican Lake, where he owned and managed a summer resort.

Records in the Barnes County Court House indicate that Hans O. Hagen served as a County Commissioner for a period of four years from 1888 thru 1892. He entered the State Legislature as a member of the House of Representatives in 1893.

Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 89