BIO: Samuel C. 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. SAMUEL C. WAGNER, grain and flour dealer, and State Senator, representing the Cumberland and Adams District, Newville, a son of John and Jane (Klink) Wagner, was born August 9, 1843, and was educated at schools and academies in the county, afterward getting a business education at the Iron City Commercial College, Pittsburgh, Penn. In 1859 he kept books in a wholesale dry goods house in Leavenworth, Kas., for a few months, when he returned to Newville, this county, and worked in the tannery of his father until August 8, 1861; when, just eighteen, he enlisted in Young's Kentucky Cavalry, afterward the Third Pennsylvania Cavalry. He has a most brilliant record as a soldier. Six months after his enlistment the young man was promoted to regimental commissary sergeant, and in a few months more was promoted again to second lieutenant of Company I. In a short time he was again promoted to first lieutenant and regimental commissary. On the reorganization of the cavalry, under Gen. Pleasanton, he was assigned to the staff of Gen. J. B. McIntosh, commanding the First Brigade of Gregg's division of the Cavalry Corps of the Army of the Potomac. He was afterward assigned to fill a vacancy caused by the disability of Capt. Pollard, of Gen. Gregg's staff, at Warrenton, Va., in the winter of 1863. In the spring of 1864, when Gen. Grant began his movement toward Richmond, he was ordered to report to Gen. Patrick, provost- marshal-general of the Army of the Potomac, as commissary to prisoners, in which he remained until mustered out in the fall of 1864, in front of Petersburg, where he was brevetted captain for gallant services. He took part in the battles of Savage Station, White Oak Swamp, Charles City Cross Roads, Malvern Hill (where he was one of the last officers to leave the 455 BOROUGH OF NEWVILLE. Hill), Antietam, Kelly's Ford, Stoneman's cavalry raid in rear of Lee's army, the cavalry fight at Culpeper, where he had a narrow escape. He was on the left of the skirmish line, when he was ordered by Col. Horace Binney Sargent, in command, to give report to two officers on a hill, a short distance away, whom he supposed to be Gens. Gregg and McIntosh. Young Wagner told the colonel they were rebel officers, but was not believed, the colonel sending his own orderly after him. On reaching and saluting the group he found his suspicious verified, and was ordered to dismount, but instead he struck spurs to his horse, threw himself flat on the animal's back, and galloped back amid a shower of bullets. The orderly, who was behind him, sat erect, and was literally riddled with bullets. The next fight he was in was at Sulphur Springs; then Auburn, Bristow Station, Salem, Upperville, and in all the cavalry skirmishes on the march to Gettysburg, at which place he was wounded by a piece of rebel shell while fighting the rebel cavalry under Wade Hampton and Fitzhugh Lee. On recovering he rejoined his command, near the Rappahannock, and was in the advance when Grant crossed the Rapidan, and then took part in all the fights in the Wilderness, at Spottsylvania, North Anna River, Cold Harbor, and the different skirmishes in front of Petersburg. He was with the Army of the Potomac until mustered out, as stated, by expiration of term, when he returned home, a veteran, barely twenty-one years of age, having seen more service than fell to the lot of many a soldier. He was then elected book-keeper of the First National Bank of Newville, which he resigned July 1, 1868, to engage in the grain and lumber business. This he disposed of in July, 1884, when he bought the "Keller Mill," at the head of Big Spring, which he remodeled, making it one of the most complete roller flour-mills in the state. This he is still engaged in. In 1882 he was a candidate for nomination for State Senator in the district composed of Cumberland and Adams Counties, under the Crawford County system, against two veteran journalists of the county, when he received 600 more votes than both combined, and was elected after a memorable contest over James W. Bosler. His term will expire January 1, 1887. In 1866 Mr. Wagner married Laura E., daughter of John M. Woodburn, of Newville. They have eight children: Charles W., Jennie E., Annie L., Sallie G., George B., Walter E., Samuel C., Jr., and Thomas H., in ages from eighteen to four years. Mr. Wagner is a Knight Templar, belonging to St. John's Commandery of Carlisle, and to Big Springs Lodge, No. 361, of Newville. He is also a member of Cavalry Post, No. 35, G. A. R., of Philadelphia. A gallant soldier, a pure politician, and an upright business man, he deserves the honors put upon him by his neighbors. In politics he is a Democrat.