Magne Hagen1

#16208, (4 April 1895 - 24 June 1931)

Family

Margaret Murray b. 1887, d. 1935
Birth*4 April 1895He was born on 4 April 1895 at Reudahn, Norway.2 
between 20 February 1918 and 10 January 1919He was between 20 February 1918 and 10 January 1919.3 
3 February 1920He appeared on the census of 3 February 1920 at School Dist. 4, Powder River Co., MontanaG.4 
Marriage*22 December 1924He married Margaret Murray, daughter of Richard Henry Murray and Julia Agnes Roche, on 22 December 1924 at Miles City, Custer Co., MontanaG.1 
1 April 1930He and Margaret Murray appeared on the census of 1 April 1930 at Custer National Forest Reserve, Township 5, Powder River Co., MontanaG.5 
Death*24 June 1931He died on 24 June 1931 at age 36.3 
Burial*circa 27 June 1931He was buried circa 27 June 1931 at Sheridan Memorial Cemetery, Sheridan, Sheridan Co., WyomingG.3 
The states of Oregon and Washington form the backdrop for one of the most interesting dramas of the First World War. When the U.S. entered the War, it was quickly discovered that the nation had no capacity to build warplanes in quantity. Even though the U.S. had invented the airplane, by 1917 the European powers had already spent years developing it for warfare, and deploying it in deadly combat. Those nations were trying to produce enough machines to keep the skies occupied over the front lines in France. The lumber industry in the Pacific Northwest of the United States was supplying the Allies with spruce timber, vital to the construction of wing spars and other parts. As 1917 continued into 1918, the logging industry lost many men to the draft, and labor strife increased. These labor shortages caused the flow of aircraft spruce to nearly dry up.
The Army formed the Spruce Production Division (SPD) to increase the flow of airplane wood, by providing men to work in the forests and mills. Eventually, the use of Army men and equipment helped to greatly increase the production of spruce, fir, and cedar (all being used for airplane and ship production). A large contingent of Army men worked side-by-side with civilians in the forests and mills. (They were paid the same wages as the civilians, minus their Army pay.)
In addition, Army men built and worked in a special wood production plant at Vancouver Barracks. This "cut-up" plant provided wood ready for the airplane manufacturers, since most mills in the Pacific Northwest were not equipped to meet airplane specifications.
Finally, many Army men in the field built roads and railroads to reach the spruce stands along the Pacific coast. They even operated the railroads, and drove the log transport trucks. In the past, commercial loggers had paid little attention to these trees, and the stands were not accessible to existing roads.6
 

Citations

  1. [S1473] Montana, County Marriages 1865-1950, online FamilySearch.org, Custer Co. Marriages, v. 9-11 (to p. 301) 1923-1934, p. 146, no. 4413, img. 160/857. Magne Hagen, res. Otter MT, age 29, b. Norway, son of Garen Hagen and Anna Kivarnes, single; and Margaret T Murray, res. O'Neil NE, age 33, single, dau. of Richard H Murray and Agnes Roach; lic. issued 22 Dec 1924; marr. Miles City, Custer Co., 22 Dec 1924, by J. J. O'Carroll, Catholic priest.
  2. [S1278] World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, image viewed online FamilySearch.org or Ancestry.com. 5 Jun 1917, Red Ink no. 2284, no. 4, Prec. 33, Custer Co. MT. Magne Hagen, age 22, res. Otter MT, b. Reudahn Norway, 4 Apr 1895; citizen of Norway, rancher, empl. by L S Howes at AL Ranch, single.
  3. [S1184] Applications for Headstones for U.S. Military Veterans, 1925-1941/1963; Publications M1916 (1925-1941) and M2113 (1941-1949), Record Group 92, Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General, NARA, online Ancestry.com. Magne Hagen, b. 19 Nov 1895, d. 24 Jun 1931; enlist. MT 20 Feb 1918, ser. no. 567561, Private 25th Sqdn 2nd [poss. 5th] Prov. Reg, ASAP, discharged 10 Jan 1919; bur. Sheridan Memorial Cemetery, Sheridan WY; appl. submitted by N V Kurtz, S.O., American Legion Post # 7, certified 1 May 1947; upright marble monument shipped from Proctor VT 26 Sep 1947.
  4. [S11] 1920 U.S. Federal Census. Magne (24), b. and parents b. Norway, farmer, imm. 1914, naturalized 1920.
  5. [S7] 1930 U.S. Federal Census. Magne (35), b. and parents b. Norway, farmer; Margaret (35), b. NE, parents b. IA; both 1st marr. age 30.
  6. [S1474] Swanson's On The Road, online http://swansongrp.com/, "The U.S. Army Spruce Squadrons in the First World War," http://swansongrp.com/spruce.html