My Genealogy Hound

JOHN A. WAGNER. Randolph County is the home of quite a number of men who were thrown upon their own resources at an early age, and whose natural aptness and energy were developed and strengthened by contact with the world, resulting in making their lives more than ordinarily successful. Among this number is John A. Wagner, one of the most prominent and successful merchants of Evansville.

A native of Germany, our subject was born in Kur-Hessen May 27, 1848, and is a son of Valentine and Anna Catherine (Dill) Wagner. The parents emigrated to the United States in 1857, and coming directly to Illinois, located in Monroe County, where they made their home on a farm for eight months. August 10 of the following year, they removed to Evansville, where they died just thirty-six hours apart in 1889, the father’s decease occurring March l, and the mother’s March 3. The father was a mining engineer in his native land, but after coming to America followed the trade of a cooper. The paternal grandfather of our subject, Nicholas Wagner, was also a native of Germany, and died there when Valentine was a child.

The parental family included two sons and four daughters, of whom those living are: Catharine, Mrs. G. E. Heck; Dorothy, Mrs. Joseph Yeagle; Frederick and our subject. John A. has made this place his home since 1858, and received his education in the common schools, which he attended during the winter seasons. Soon after reaching his majority he began working at the trade of a cooper, which he had learned under his father. He continued to be thus engaged until 1867, and later followed the carpenter’s trade for about three years. At the expiration of that time he began clerking in the general store of John Bratney, of this place, and remained with him for three years and four months. After leaving his employ his services were engaged by George Wehrheim, and fourteen months later he formed a partnership with his brother Frederick and opened up a general store, which they conducted successfully for eleven years. Upon disposing of the stock, our subject found another location and has since been engaged in the mercantile trade.

September 17, 1874, John A. Wagner and Miss Sophia Heiman, a native of St. Louis, were united in marriage. To them were born five children, of whom the three living are Frederick, Adelaide and Anna. Mr. Wagner is public-spirited, and maintains a deep interest in all movements which promise to advance the material or moral prosperity of the citizens. His many sterling qualities and unassuming manners have won him a high place in the esteem of his fellow-citizens, who have elected him to the offices of Town Treasurer and Trustee. Socially, he is a member of Egypt Star Lodge No. 286, I. O. O. F., of Bud Red, and joined the Masonic fraternity in 1876, being a member of Kaskaskia Lodge No. 86. He is also a member of Staley’s Chapter No. 103, at Sparta. In politics he is a Republican and cast his first vote for U. S. Grant.