Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Wagar, Humphrey Robison August 11, 1916
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Nan Wheaton wheaton1624@yahoo.com May 11, 2014, 10:54 am

Ionia Daily Sentinel – Fri. Aug. 11, 1916

DEATH OF H. R. WAGAR IS SUDDEN

PROMINENT IONIAN AND CAPITALIST DIED SUDDENLY AT HIS IONIA HOME

Had Been Ailing for Several Years – Was 81 Years of Age and Head of Ionia 
Electric & Water Power Company. 

H. R. Wagar passed away this morning at 8 o’clock at his residence after about 
two years of failing health. For the past four or five months and since he 
returned home from spending the winter in Washington, D. C. he had failed 
rapidly and on Thursday of last week underwent an operation by Dr. Vandenberg 
of Grand Rapids.

He had been up and around town until about 10 days ago, and his condition since 
his operation was not considered alarming, appearing to be the same as usual 
this morning, but at 8 o’clock he passed very quietly away. The funeral 
services will be held at the residence Monday afternoon at 3 o’clock.

H. R. Wagar was born in Summit county, Ohio, June 4, 1835. At 12 years of age 
he started work as a farm hand later going into a woolen mill until he was 18 
and earning at no time more than $4 a week and his board. At the age of 18 he 
became a spinner and received $26 a month, boarding himself. When he was 21 
years of age he came to Michigan working in a factory at Battle Creek and then 
going to Jackson to learn the clothing business. In 1857 he came to Lyons where 
he clerked in a store and studied medicine for two years. He there purchased a 
stock of merchandise invoici___ $3,700, giving his notes for six __ and 24 
months, without security, having no money or property of ___ description. He 
paid the notes as they matured and established an excellent credit. 

In 1859 he married Miss Ophelia Libhart and seven children were born to them. 
Of these three are living, Fred and Ernest E. of Washington, D. C., and Mrs. 
Nellie Peterson of Detroit. Ernest E. Wagar has been here for several days on 
account of the critical condition of his father.

In 1860 he sold out his business at Lyons and removed to Muir where he again 
engaged in the mercantile business. In 1870 he embarked in the lumbering 
business, being extensively and actively engaged in many lumbering operations 
in this section and still being interested in lumbering in Alabama, Washington, 
Wisconsin and Arkansas.

Since 1879 he has been an active resident of Ionia city and has been connected 
with many business ventures of the city, having been a stockholder in the 
County Savings bank, Michigan Clothing company, and the Ionia Water Power & 
Electric company of which company he was president. He has served the city as 
Mayor and it was during his administration that the first paving was done in 
Ionia. Mr. Wagar built several houses in the cast end of the city in what is 
known as Wagar place and the dam in Grand river which now furnishes power for 
Ionia’s electric lights bears his name.

In more recent years Mr. Wagar had spent much of his time in Washington D. C. 
where he resided part of the year, the balance being spent at his home in 
Ionia. 
Highland Park Cemetery



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