David Hagler’s paternal grandparents, Walter and Bernice [Wright] Hagler, and his maternal grandparents, James and Lucille [Fernandez] Milner, were close friends. Both couples were active for many years in local, state, and national affairs of the American Legion and the legion’s women’s auxiliary, referred to in this collection as the ‘Eight and Forty Auxiliary.’

Walter Hagler (Nov. 12, 1895-Jun. 9, 1977) was a native of Virden, Illinois. He was a member of the U.S. Marine Corps during WWI, shortly after which he and his wife Bernice (Oct. 28, 1895-Nov. 9, 1972) settled in Springfield. Walter worked for the Wells Construction Company from 1920-1923, and for First National Bank from 1923-1938, first as a vault attendant and later as building manager.

In 1936 Walter Hagler was elected to the office of Sangamon County Treasurer, which he held for one four year term. He then served as the Sangamon County Sheriff for one term, from 1940-1944. Walter Hagler was the Commander of the Springfield Post of the American Legion in 1937. Bernice Hagler was President of the Eight and Forty Auxiliary’s Springfield Post 32 from 1936-1937, and Director of District 21 from 1939-1940.

The Haglers’ sons, Harold Hagler (May 13, 1920-Dec. 1969) and Donald Hagler (Nov. 29, 1921-Mar. 7, 1951) were members of the Sons of the Legion during their youth. Harold Hagler earned several medals as an Air Corps pilot in WWII and Donald worked as a deputy sheriff in Sangamon County during Walter Hagler’s time as sheriff.

James Milner (Dec. 25, 1893-Feb. 25, 1979) was born in Mount Pulaski, Illinois. He married Lucille Fernandez (Sep. 14, 1891-Sep. 16, 1977) of Anderson, Indiana in 1918. Milner served in the military during WWI, after which he and Lucille moved to Springfield, Illinois. Milner worked as a truck driver for Edwards and Chapman Laundry from 1924-1938. Walter Hagler appointed Milner to the office of County Cashier in 1936 and to Chief Clerk in the sheriff’s office in 1940. In 1948 Milner joined the Friden Calculating Machine Agency as a bookkeeper. He worked as a custodian of the American Legion Memorial Home in Springfield from 1950-1951.

James Milner was Commander of the Springfield Post of the American Legion in 1938. Lucille Milner was Chapeau of the Eight and Forty’s state-level organization in 1939. Lucille Milner was active in establishing Illini Girls’ State, the Legion Auxiliary’s mock state government program for young women in 1939. The couple’s daughter, Betty Lou Milner (Sep. 23, 1923-May 7, 1983) was secretary of the Junior Auxiliary in 1939.

Donald Hagler and Betty Lou Milner married in 1944. Donald Hagler left the sheriff’s office in the late 1940s and was working for Springfield’s utility company City Water, Light, and Power when he died in 1951, shortly before the birth of his and Betty Lou’s son, David. After Donald’s death, Betty Lou worked as a secretary, first for the Illinois Association of School Boards and later for the Horace Mann Insurance Company. She remarried to James D. Van Grundy, who passed away in 1961. Betty Lou passed away in 1983.