My Genealogy Hound

JOHN T. WAGNER, of the firm of Wagner & Nyce, attorneys-at-law at Norristown, was born in Hamburg, Berks county, Pennsylvania, January 26, 1866. He is the son of Jacob H. and Sarah A. (Wanner) Wagner, both natives of Berks county, Pennsylvania. They had twelve children, six sons and six daughters : Lucy; Barbara, wife of Milton N. Brandt, of Collegeville; Isabella, wife of Joseph Cook, of Norristown; Charles A., superintendent of the schools of Cheltenham township; John T.; Elmira, wife of Samuel K. Bookheimer, of Centre Point; Alvin E., of West Point, principal of the Upper Gwynedd high school; Katie; Hannah; J. Fred; and two others who died in infancy. The father was a mill-wright, miller and carpenter for many years and later a farmer in Montgomery county, locating at first at Grater’s Ford, in 1879, and later at Iron Bridge on the Perkiomen. He is a Lutheran in religious faith. His wife is a member of the German Reformed church.

Solomon Wagner (grandfather) was a native of Pennsylvania. He lived in Berks county and died there at an advanced age. His wife was Barbara (Hassler) Wagner. He also was a farmer and they had eight children.

Martin Wanner (maternal grandfather) was a native of Pennsylvania. He also resided in Berks county and died there at the age of nearly seventy years, death resulting from a fall from a bridge. His wife was Hannah (Christ) Wanner. He was a broom-maker by occupation. The couple had six children. She was a widow many years and died on Christmas day, 1901, at the age of ninety-four.

John T. Wagner was twelve years of age when he came with his parents to Montgomery county. He was reared on the farm and during his early youth attended the country schools of the neighborhood. Later he became a student at Ursinus College, Collegeville, graduating from that institution in 1892, working his own way through school. While he was attending college, he taught school in the winter for four years, being thus pre-eminently a self-made scholar. Being animated by a desire to enter the legal profession, for which his qualities of mind well fitted him, he began the study of law in the autumn of 1892 at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. After studying two years at the university he came to Norristown and studied in the office of Edward E. Long another year, and was admitted to the bar December 5, 1895. He has practiced here ever since, for five years in partnership with Mr. Williams, a schoolmate of his, and for about a year with Edwin S. Nyce.

On December 25, 1899, he married Miss Mary C. Bean, daughter of James U. and Sarah (Beyer) Bean. They have a little daughter, Grace Dorothy. Mrs. Wagner belongs to the Lutheran church.

Politically Mr. Wagner is a Democrat of the old Berks county school but he is liberal in his views as is indicated from the fact that he was associated in the practice of law with Mr. Williams, who is prominently active in the councils of the Republican party.

Mr. Wagner is also identified with several industrial enterprises, including the Kitchen Specialty Company at Reading, manufacturers of tin specialties, and the Household Manufacturing Company of Royersford.

Mr. Wagner’s success in life is largely the result of his own untiring efforts. He remained at home with his father until twenty-one years of age, giving his parents the benefit of his assistance and good management. Starting out on his own account in the world to make his way through life in a creditable manner, he earned with his own hands the money to pay his way through college and to enable him to pass a successful examination for admission to the bar. He enjoys a good degree of patronage and is generally recognized as one of the rising young members of the Montgomery county bar. He is not now and never has been an office-seeker, preferring rather to devote himself assiduously to the study and practice of law. He does not court notoriety, but rather shuns it, being modest and retiring, although of a very genial disposition.