BIO: John 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/ ______________________________________________________________________ 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 ______________________________________________________________________ PART II. HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA. CHAPTER XLI. BOROUGH OF NEWVILLE. 454 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: JOHN WAGNER, bank president, Newville, is the representative of the Wagner family, from whom Wagner's Gap, in the Blue Ridge, took its name. His great-grandfather immigrated in 1740, and his grandfather, Jacob Wagner, whose father and mother both died on the ocean while on their way from Switzerland, first settled in Rock Hill Township, Bucks County, Penn., afterward removing to this county, where he took up a tract of 700 acres on what is known as Wagner's Road, leading from Carlisle to the Gap. He died there in 1809. The farm is still owned by members of the family. His wife was Mary Cathrine Bauer. They had nine children: John, Jacob, George, Abraham, Philip, Catherine, Mary, Margaret and Henry. Jacob, father of John Wagner was born in 1760, and on his father's death inherited half of the land where he lived all his days. In 1806 he married Christiana, daughter of Nicholas Ferdig, of North Middleton Township, Cumberland County. They had four children: John, Jacob, George and Elizabeth. Of these Jacob, who succeeded to the mansion farm, married Ann, daughter of John Lane, Esq., and died near Carlisle in 1884; George married Sarah Strohm, and lived near Carlisle, where he died in 1880, his widow is still living; Elizabeth (deceased in 1853) was the wife of Peter Lane, a brother of Ann Lane (Mrs. Jacob Wagner); John, the only survivor, was born April 30, 1808, in North Middleton Township, Cumberland County, Penn., and when eighteen years old he went to Perry County, Penn., to learn the tanner's trade; thence to Buffalo , N. Y., for a year, and then back to the farm. The following year he worked in a tannery, which he subsequently bought in 1850, and ran until 1878, since which time he has leased it. In January, 1871, he was elected president of the First National Bank of Newville, an office which his associates have since insisted on his retaining. In 1836 he married Jane, daughter of George Klink, of Newville. They celebrated their golden wedding June 2, 1886. to this union nine children have been born. The deceased are Mary Ellen, who became wife of John Curn, of California, and died in 1877; Jacob A. and Eva F. died after reaching their majority. The living are John P., a contractor living in Iowa; Samuel C. of whom a sketch appears below; Annie E., wife of S. I. Irvine, now living in Sioux City, Iowa; Sarah J., wife of Thomas N. Henderson, merchant of Germantown, Md.; and Lydia, wife of Joseph S. Henderson, a farmer near Germantown (the Hendersons are sons of the former pastor of Big Spring Presbyterian Church in Newville); Rebecca K. lives with her parents. Mr. Wagner has on many occasions held the office of burgess, town councilor, and was school director for nearly forty years. He and his wife are members of Big Spring Presbyterian Church, of which he is an elder, and for thirty ears he was superintendent of the Union Sabbath- school. He and his wife are now enjoying the fruits of a long unblemished life, with all the comforts that ample means can procure and with the good-will of every member of the community.