M. W. Brother Henry Marcellus Hagelbarger was born at Spring Mountain, Coshocton County, Ohio, December 2, 1867. It was a double event in the family, his twin brother being V. H. Hagelbarger.
He studied in the grade school at Spring Mountain, the high school in Warsaw, and attended Ohio Northern University at Ada. He taught school while perfecting himself in other useful arts. So proficient was he that for seven years he rendered a distinctive service to the courts of Summit County as official stenographer. During those years he completed his law course and in 1899 entered upon the practice of law in Akron. He was elected county prosecutor in the fall of 1901, and held that office for seven years. Following that service he practiced law with several associates until 1920, when he was appointed the first law director of Akron, retiring from that office in 1927 to re-enter the private practice of law.
He married Miss Lillian Lodge and to this union two sons and two daughters were born. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Cuyahoga Falls. He was also a member of the Silver Lake Country Club. He was an outstanding figure in the civic, religious, and professional life of his home community for more than a quarter of a century, and was a worthy example for others to follow.
M. W. Brother Hagelbarger was initiated in Adoniram Lodge, No. 517, F. & A. M., Akron, on December 20, 1897; passed to the degree of Fellowcraft January 25, 1898; and was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason February 28, 1898. In his Lodge he held the offices of Junior Deacon, Senior Deacon, Junior Warden, Senior Warden, and was Worshipful Master in the year 1904.
He was made a Mark Master, April 15, 1898; Past Master, May 13, 1898; Most Excellent Master, May 13, 1898; and Royal Arch Mason, May 20, 1898, in Washington Chapter, No. 25, R. A. M., which he served as Principal Sojourner in 1903. He was made a Royal Master, Select Master and Super Excellent Master in Akron Council, No. 80, R. & S. M., on October 6, 1910.He was knighted in Akron Commandery, No. 25, K. T., receiving the Order of the Red Cross, July 20, 1898; Order of Knight of Malta, July 27, 1898; and Order of Knights Templar, July 27, 1898. He served his Commandery as Junior Warden, Senior Warden, Generalissimo, and was elected Eminent Commander in 1920.
In the Scottish Rite he received the degrees in Eliadah Lodge of Perfection, 14°, September 30, October 7, and October 14, 1898; in Bahurim Council, Princes of Jerusalem, 16°, October 18, 1898; in Ariel Chapter, Rose Croix, 18°, October 21, 1898. In Lake Erie Consistory, 32°, Cleveland, he became a Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret, October 28, 1898. He was crowned a Sovereign Grand Inspector General, 33°, and Honorary Member of the Supreme Council Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, September 21, 1920. On May 25, 1899, he was made a Noble of the Mystic Shrine in Al Koran Temple, Cleveland.
In the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Ohio he was appointed District Lecturer in 1904, and served the Twenty-First District as such for six years. He was appointed Junior Grand Deacon, October, 1910; Senior Grand Deacon, October, 1912; Grand Orator, October, 1913; was elected Junior Grand Warden in October, 1914; Senior Grand Warden, October, 1915; Deputy Grand Master, October, 1916; and Most Worshipful Grand Master, October 18, 1917. As a Past Grand Master he rendered distinctive service when Chairman of the Committee on Charters and Dispensations, and Jurisprudence.
M. W. Brother Hagelbarger departed this life on February 17, 1932. A great throng gathered at the Cuyahoga Methodist Episcopal Church on Sunday, February 21, 1932, and paid loving tribute to the memory of our Brother. His body was laid to rest in Glendale Cemetery, Section 25, Lot 17, Akron, Ohio.