Albert Hazen.—This Kansas pioneer and veteran of the Civil war is an honored citizen of Barnes, Kan. He was born in Ashtabula county, Ohio, June 14, 1836, and is a son of Alonzo and Rachel (Hoyt) Hazen, the former a native of New York and the latter of Vermont. The father learned the machinist's trade in early life, but later was engaged in the lumber business. He was born in 1809 and his wife in 1814. When Albert was a small boy his parents removed to Crawford county, Pennsylvania, where he attended the public schools and a "select" school. He later attended the Mt. Union Academy and the Mt. Union University at Mt. Union, Ohio. He then went to work with his father in the lumber business, and in 1858 the family came to Kansas, settling in Doniphan county, on what was known as the Burr Oak bottoms, along the Missouri river. They had brought mill machinery with them from the East and erected a mill and the father gave Albert a half interest in the same, and they commenced a milling business. They were thus engaged when the Civil war broke out, and in June, 1861, they sold their mill property.

On July 3, 1861, Albert Hazen enlisted in Company F, Fifth Kansas cavalry. This regiment was later reorganized into the Third Kansas cavalry and still later the Third and Fourth were consolidated into the Tenth Kansas cavalry. The first engagement in which they participated was at Dry Wood, near Fort Scott, Kan., under the command of Gen. James H. Lane. After that the regiment participated in the battles of Prairie Grove, Cane Hill and Morristown, and several other engagements in Missouri, Arkansas and Texas. His regiment took part in only one battle in which Mr. Hazen was not present. He was discharged August 19, 1864, as first sergeant, having enlisted as a private. During his term of service his company had elected him second lieutenant twice, but he refused to accept a commission. At the close of his military service he returned to his Kansas home and resumed the milling business, in partnership with his father, which they conducted until 1868. He then sold his interest and engaged in farming and stock raising. In the fall of 1869 he was elected to the legislature from Doniphan county. He also served one term as registrar of deeds of Doniphan county. In the meantime he had bought a farm on the Little Blue river in Washington county, and in 1875 removed to that place, where he followed farming until 1884, when he and Clinton Hogue built a store and engaged in the general mercantile business. This partnership continued until December 27, 1886, when Mr. Hazen was elected to the legislature from Washington county. He then sold his interest in the store to Mr. A. Ballard. During this term he was active in legislative matters and made a good record as a representative of the people. He introduced the bill limiting the amount of municipal bond issues for railroads; also a bill to increase the legal school tax one mill, also a bill for the building of township store houses. After serving his term in the legislature he returned to his farm and remained until 1889, when he purchased an interest in a flour and feed business at Barnes and sold his farm. Mr. Hazen was appointed postmaster of Barnes, Kan., and served until Cleveland's administration, and in 1897 he was appointed to the same position under McKinley. He held this office until April 3, 1910, when he resigned. Mr. Hazen was first married, May 20, 1866, to Mrs. Theresa Kincaid, a daughter of Benjamin F. Brock, of Missouri. She departed this life February 28, 1867, and Mr. Hazen was married again, March 6, 1870, to Miss Martha, a daughter of Andrew McChesney, a native of Maryland, who removed to Ohio at an early date, where he was engaged in the pottery business until 1853, when he came to Kansas. Mrs. Hazen was born in Ohio, and was a child when her parents removed to Kansas. To Mr. and Mrs. Hazen were born one child, Flora, who married Wright Wertenberger. They reside in Washington, Kan., where he is engaged in the livery business. They have three children—Fred, Fay and Ruby.

In addition to the State and county offices which Mr. Hazen has held he has served as township trustee, justice of the peace and several minor offices. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he has been class leader for forty-five years, and is also a trustee of the church and has always taken a very active part in its work. Mrs. Hazen died February 10, 1910. She was a woman of noble Christian character whose death was mourned by her many friends and deeply felt by her bereaved husband.