Sacramento-Tulare-Contra Costa County CA Archives Biographies.....Wagner, Theodor 1841 - 
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/ca/cafiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com November 29, 2005, 5:40 pm

Author: W. A. Slocum & Co., Publishers (1882)

THEODOR WAGNER.—The subject of this sketch, the distinguished Surveyor-General
of the State of California, whose portrait appears in this work, was born in
Hesse-Cassel, September 9, 1841. Coining to the United States at the early age
of fifteen years, he may justly be considered one of our "self-made men," who by
his own industry, labor, efforts and exertions has succeeded in reaching the
honorable And responsible position he has held for the past four years, and
which is about to be relinquished by him. The Great Rebellion found him in
Florida. Leaving the small savings he had acquired there, he at once proceeded
to the North and entered the Union army, in the service of which he earned the
higher grades of rank, remaining until the close of the war. Going to Arkansas
after the termination of the conflict, he served as Deputy Secretary of State,
and thence moving to Missouri, he there entered upon the practice of law and
surveying. Arriving in California in the year 1872, he took up his residence at
Visalia, Tulare county, and there practiced almost exclusively as an attorney in
land cases. The investigation ordered by the Hon. Carl Schurz, then Secretary of
the Interior, into the so-called "desert land swindles," enabled him to use his
experience in land matters to such good effect on behalf of the Government that
the appointment of United States Surveyor-General was conferred upon him, which
office he has held ever since. In this elevated position he has had
opportunities for proving his talent for organization and his usual
conscientiousness, while he has succeeded in infusing into the affairs of the
important office a perfect system, which will inure to the advantage of his
successor, as well as bestow invaluable benefit to the public at large. Mr.
Wagner established perfect order in arranging the documents relative to private
land claims in California, some of which are of the greatest importance, and all
of public interest, heretofore only existing in a chaotic mass, thereby
rendering them safe and secure against waste, theft, and the dangers of being
counterfeited. Previous to his advent the clerks and draftsmen in the
Surveyor-General's office received their pay at irregular intervals, subjecting
their salary demands to a heavy discount, and thereby becoming a prey to money
sharks—an iniquity he has most effectually rectified. A large amount of work was
left undone, and the sum of eight thousand dollars—set apart for doing the
same—was used for unnecessary expenditures, probably with a view to keep up a
set of political barnacles. The neglected work was taken in hand and completed
by a system of savings from other sources of expenditure, so that in due time
the employes of the office were promptly paid at the end of each month; the work
of the offices was perfectly systematized, and there exists no deficiency in any
manner. Mr. Wagner has been singularly fortunate in rendering decisions to
frustrate the nefarious designs of land sharks and land speculators, a case in
point being the now celebrated "Sobrante" case, where over sixty thousand acres
of valuable land in Contra Costa and Alameda counties were preserved to the
public and prevented from becoming a prey to speculators. It was but natural
under these circumstances that he should be assailed by parties representing
adverse interests and their tools who have failed in their endeavors to use him
for their nefarious schemes. These attacks resulted in an investigation,
demanded by him, which proved his inviolable integrity, and resulted in exposing
the groundlessness of the charges. These facts are the best acknowledgment of
the excellent manner in which Mr. Wagner has administered the office of
Surveyor-General. It is therefore much to be regretted that he cannot be
prevailed upon to seek a reappointment, and although earnestly requested to do
so, he feels obliged to decline the honor, as the salary attached to the
position is not commensurate with the arduous and responsible duties devolving
thereupon; with this, however, we are assured that in whatever calling Mr.
Wagner may embark in the future he will not only succeed, but have the good
wishes of all for his success, and will leave behind him a record, saying
monumentum cere perennius—a monument more durable than brass.

Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

HISTORY OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY,
CALIFORNIA,
INCLUDING ITS GEOGRAPHY, GEOLOGY, TOPOGRAPHY, CLIMATOGRAPHY AND DESCRIPTION;
TOGETHER WITH A RECORD OF THE MEXICAN GRANTS; THE BEAR FLAG WAR; THE MOUNT
DIABLO COAL FIELDS; THE EARLY HISTORY AND SETTLEMENT, COMPILED FROM THE MOST
AUTHENTIC SOURCES; THE NAMES OF ORIGINAL SPANISH AND MEXICAN PIONEERS; FULL
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY OF THE COUNTY; SEPARATE HISTORY OF EACH TOWNSHIP, SHOWING
THE ADVANCE IN POPULATION AND AGRICULTURE;
ALSO,
Incidents of Pioneer Life; and Biographical Sketches
OF EARLY AND PROMINENT SETTLERS AND REPRESENTATIVE MEN;
AMD OF ITS TOWNS, VILLAGES, CHURCHES, SECRET SOCIETIES, ETC.
ILLUSTRATED.
SAN FRANCISCO: W. A. SLOCUM & CO., PUBLISHERS
1882.



File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/sacramento/bios/wagner73gbs.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/cafiles/

File size: 5.7 Kb