Biography of Wiley B. Wagner, Franklin Co, AR

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        Date: 16 Aug 1998
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SOURCE: History of Benton, Washington, Carroll, Madison, Crawford,
Franklin, and Sebastian Counties, Arkansas. Chicago: The Goodspeed
Publishing Co., 1889.

Wiley B. Wagner, one of the oldest citizens of Mulberry Tp., Franklin
Co., Ark., was born in Tennessee on the 8th of September, 1833, and is
a son of Absalom and grandson of Solomon Wagner. The latter was a
native of Virginia, and at an early day removed to Franklin County,
Tenn., and was a soldier in the War of 1812. His son Absalom was born
in Franklin County, Tenn., about 1803, and died in Crawford County,
Ark., in 1843. He was a wealthy farmer, and was married, while a
resident of Tennessee, to Miss Susan Russell, who was born in the same
county as himself, and died in 1860, aged about fifty years. Eight
children were born to their union, three of whom are living: Mark H.,
Lydia (wife of Solomon Wagner) and Wiley B. The latter remained at
home until 1852, then made the overland trip to California, and
remained in that State six years, working part of the time in the
mines. The rest of the time was spent in working on the ranches and
teaming, at which he was quite successful financially, but he spent
his money almost as fast as he earned it. He returned home via the
Isthmus of Panama and New Orleans, and after a short time came to
Franklin County, Ark., where he has since made his home. He owns 153
acres of as fine land as there is in the county, all of which was
earned previous to the Rebellion. In the fall of 1861 he enlisted in
the Confederate army, and served for about three years, being a
participant in a number of hotly contested battles and skirmishes.
January 1, 1860, he was married to Mary E. Nixon, who was born
December 18, 1839, and thirteen children have been born to their
union: Belle D., wife of Moses Fisher; George R., Martha H., Robert
S., Joseph B., James I. and Cassie Lee. The following children are
deceased: Mark H., Phoebe, wife of George Fisher; Lydia F., wife of
Joshua Fisher; Amanda and two infants. Mr. Wagner is a member of the
Primitive Baptist Church, and is a Democrat in his political views.