BIO: David Knight Wagner, Cumberland County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Bookwalter

Copyright 2010.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/
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History of Cumberland and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania.
Containing History of the Counties, Their Townships, Towns, Villages, 
Schools, Churches, Industries, Etc.; Portraits of Early Settlers and 
Prominent Men; Biographies; History of Pennsylvania; Statistical and 
Miscellaneous Matter, Etc., Etc.  Illustrated.  Chicago: Warner, Beers 
& Co., 1886.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/beers/beers.htm
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                                PART II.

             HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA.

                               CHAPTER XL.

                        BOROUGH OF SHIPPENSBURG. 

446  BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

  DAVID KNIGHT WAGNER, of the firm of D. K. & John C. Wagner, 
publishers, Shippensburg, was born in Shippensburg, this county, 
February 6, 1832, son of David and Catharine Elizabeth (Gessner) 
Wagner, former a native of Cumberland County, of German descent; latter 
born in Hanover, Germany.  David Wagner was a wagon-maker, and carried 
on this business extensively in Shippensburg for many years, but after 
the Cumberland Valley Railroad was built to this place he embarked in 
the grain and produce business, owning his own cars.  He was twice 
married, and had eleven children; he died here in November, 1845.  Our 
subject (child by second wife) received his education in the public 
schools of his native town, and early in life was employed as salesman; 
subsequently learned the printing trade, and, in 1851, formed a 
partnership with J. Bomberger in the publication of the Shippensburg 
News, but in 1856 he sold his interest, and, until 1861, was employed a 
part of the time as traveling salesman.  In the fall of 1861 he 
enlisted in the Seventh Pennsylvania Reserves as a member of the 
regimental cornet band, and served until it was honorably mustered out 
of service, in 1862.  He then worked at printing in Bedford County, 
Penn., until 1866, when he purchased the Fulton Republican at 
McConnellsburg, Penn., which he sold out in 1867, and the same year the 
present firm was formed, and purchased and are publishing the 
Shippensburg News.  They established the news, book and stationery 
store in Shippensburg.  Mr. Wagner was married, in 1869, to Susan, 
daughter of Mr. John Gish, late postmaster at Shippensburg.  Mr. Wagner 
is a Republican in politics.  He served as member of the school board 
for several terms, and is its late secretary.  He is a member of 
Colwell Post, No. 201, G. A. R.; of the Grand Lodge of Odd Fellows of 
Pennsylvania, and also of the Masonic order.