My Genealogy Hound

JONAS S. WAGNER, president of the Tri- County Banking Company, of Pottstown, was born in Obelisk, Frederick township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, November 9, 1856, son of Jonas and Esther (Schneider) Wagner, both natives of Pennsylvania. They had nine children, five sons and four daughters, of whom five are now living: Michael, of Obelisk; Henry, of Obelisk; Jonas S.; Mary A., wife of Joseph Rawn, of Obelisk; and Lizzie, wife of John Pennypacker.

Jonas Wagner (father) was a farmer in Frederick township, where he died in 1886, at the age of seventy-seven years. His wife died in 1890, at the age of seventy-eight years. Both were members of the Reformed church. In politics he was a Republican. Michael Wagner (grandfather) was born in Montgomery county. He was a farmer. He married Mary Boger and they had six children. He was of German descent. Jacob Schneider (maternal grandfather) was born in Montgomery county. He was a farmer and general business man, conducting an oil mill. He served in the Mexican war. His wife was Mary Grubb, and they had two daughters and five sons. He was a prominent man, and held various offices of trust and honor. He was of German descent.

Jonas S. Wagner was reared on the farm in Frederick township, and attended the district schools and Frederick Seminary, and later Washington Hall at Trappe, and Ursinus College. He taught school three terms. He engaged in the jewelry business at Schwenksville for two years, and then associated himself with his brother Jacob in a general store at Bechtelsville for eight years. In 1886 he went to Pottstown and did a real estate business until 1891, when he became one of the organizers of the Tri-County Banking Company, and was its president from the beginning. He has continued in this office ever since. He is also connected with the Light Manufacturing and Foundry Company of Pottstown, and is president of its board of directors.

October 7, 1886, Jonas S. Wagner married Miss Adelaide A. Dechant (died April 21, 1904), daughter of Rev. A. L. Dechant and Amanda (Stauffer) Dechant. They have two children, Esther and Frank. The family are members of the Reformed church at Obelisk. Politically Mr. Wagner is a Republican.

Mrs. Wagner’s parents were also natives of Montgomery county, and had nine children, of whom seven are now living: Rev. Amber S., Rev. Frank, Jacob, Mary, wife of Samuel Summers; Emma, wife of Eugene Scholl; Esther, widow of Professor W. H. Traub; Ella, wife of J. L. Raush. Mrs. Wagner’s father was a preacher in the Reformed church, and preached in Montgomery county nearly all his life. He died in 1901, at the age of seventy-nine years. His wife still survives. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Wagner was Jacob Dechant. He was also a minister in the Reformed church. His wife was Miss Andre. His father was a minister in the Reformed church, and came to America from Germany. He settled first in Ohio and later came to Pennsylvania. The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Wagner was John Stauffer, a native of Berks county. He was associate judge of Berks county for some time and served several terms in the Legislature.