King Hagler facts for kids

This 1775 map shows Native American lands in North and South Carolina. You can see the Catawba lands south of Mecklenburg County.

King Hagler (also spelled Haiglar) or Nopkehee (born around 1700, died 1763) was a very important chief of the Catawba Native American tribe. He led his people from 1754 to 1763. Hagler is sometimes called the "Patron Saint of Camden, South Carolina." He was the first Native American to be honored in the South Carolina Hall of Fame.

Hagler was known for working to get fair land rights and agreements for the Catawba people. He also encouraged the Catawba people to avoid strong drinks.

The Catawba people did not use European titles like "King" among themselves. Their word for chief was Eractasswa or Arataswa. The English settlers often called their leaders "King" to make communication easier. Hagler was also known by other names and spellings, like King Haigler, Haiglar, Nopkehe, Arataswa, and Oroloswa. His English name, Hagler, might have come from his skill at negotiating or "haggling" over decisions.

Hagler's Early Life

Hagler was likely born around 1700. His birthplace was in the area where the Catawba traditionally lived, along the Catawba River in what is now North Carolina. We don't know much about his early years.

Some records suggest he might have gone to a European school in Virginia. In 1717, another Catawba leader agreed to send eleven Catawba boys to be educated. This was at Fort Christanna in Virginia. These boys were sent to show that the Catawba would keep their promise to end the Yamasee War. Hagler might have been one of these boys. This would explain why he spoke English so well, which many people noticed at the time.

Becoming a Chief

Hagler became the Eractasswa (Chief) after the previous chief, King Yanabe Yalangway, was killed. This happened in October 1750. Following Catawba tradition, the new chief was usually the former chief's sister's son.

Right after Yalangway's death, the Catawba General Council chose Hagler to lead the tribe. At that time, tribal politics were very difficult. Many important Catawba leaders had died from diseases they caught from European settlers. Even with this danger, Hagler traveled to Charles Town in late 1750. There, he received official recognition as Chief of the Catawbas from Governor James Glen.

Working for Peace

One of Hagler's first big jobs was to make a peace agreement with the Iroquois Six Nations. In June 1751, Hagler went to a peace meeting in Albany, New York. He was joined by Lieutenant Governor William Bull and other Catawba leaders. At this meeting, Hagler shared a peace pipe with the Mohawk leader Hendrick Theyanoguin.

In 1752, a group of Iroquois visited the Catawba. They exchanged prisoners, which helped build peace. The Catawba also made a peace agreement with the Shawnee, who were not part of the Six Nations. The Cherokee invited the Catawba to join them, but Hagler said no to this offer.

Protecting Catawba Lands

Building Fort Catawba

In May 1756, the British asked Hagler to send Catawba warriors to help them during the French and Indian War (1754-1763). Hagler promised to send forty warriors. In return, Hagler asked North Carolina Governor Arthur Dobbs for supplies and ammunition. He also asked for a fort to protect the Catawba people while their warriors were away fighting.

Governor Dobbs agreed, though he was not happy about it. A place was chosen near what is now Old Fort, North Carolina. General Hugh Waddell and his soldiers started building. The project stopped several times because Hagler and Dobbs did not always agree. But the fort was finally finished in late 1760.

The Pine Tree Hill Treaty

Between 1738 and 1759, many smallpox outbreaks greatly harmed Native American communities. In 1758, twenty-five Catawba warriors brought smallpox back to South Carolina after a military campaign. By 1759, the Catawba nation was much smaller, with fewer than a thousand people left.

European settlers began moving onto the Catawbas' traditional lands, which now had fewer people. This led Hagler to negotiate the Pine Tree Hill Treaty in 1760. He met with Edmond Atkin, who was in charge of Indian Affairs for the Southern District, in Camden, South Carolina (then called Pine Tree Hill).

This treaty gave the Catawba a territory near Waxhaw, North Carolina. This land was about two million acres along the Catawba River. In exchange, the Catawba gave up 55,000 square miles of land they considered their traditional home. This larger area included parts of North Carolina, much of South Carolina, and even some of Virginia.

Diseases like smallpox and influenza continued to reduce the Catawba population. On July 5, 1762, Governor Arthur Dobbs wrote that the Catawba warriors had gone from 300 to only 50 in a few years. He noted that all their males, old and young, were no more than 100. He said they were "scarce a nation but a small village."

Hagler's Death

On August 30, 1763, Hagler was in the Waxhaws, a Waxhaw community. This area is in the Piedmont region of North and South Carolina. He was attacked and killed by a group of seven Shawnee people. Reports say he was shot six times.

The reason for his killing was never fully clear. Hagler was buried with his most valuable belongings. However, his grave site was disturbed by white settlers soon after his burial. His body was later moved to a secret place.

Hagler's Legacy

Historian James H. Merrell described Hagler as a smart negotiator. He found a way to keep Catawba traditions alive while dealing with the growing number of settlers.

Hagler had to work within both the colonial and Catawba ways of life. He was not the first chief to know that his people depended on the English settlers. He also was not the first to talk with colonial officials.

However, Nopkehe was especially good at meeting the needs of both the old and young, and the settlers and distant officials. He fit the traditional role of a chief from birth. Through experience, he learned that openly fighting colonial society was useless. Instead, he learned how to influence that society in quiet ways.

At a very important time for the Catawba Nation, Hagler helped keep peace between different groups. He also helped keep his people united. He guided them through difficult times of decreasing population, dependence, and sadness. Many other Native American nations struggled during this period, but Hagler helped the Catawba survive.

Remembering King Hagler

• A weather vane showing "King Haigler" with a bow and arrow was made in 1826. It was placed on the opera house tower in Camden, South Carolina. Today, you can see it on the city hall tower in Camden.
• A painting of King Hagler hangs in the South Carolina Hall of Fame. This is located inside the Myrtle Beach Convention Center in Myrtle Beach, SC. He was honored there in 2009.
• In October 2012, a statue of King Hagler meeting Colonel Joseph Kershaw (1727-1791) was revealed. It was created by Maria J. Kirby-Smith and is on Market Street in downtown Camden.
• In December 2014, sculptor Chas Fagan created another statue. This one shows King Hagler meeting Thomas Spratt. Spratt was one of the first European settlers in what is now Charlotte, North Carolina.