BIO: William WAGNER, Huntingdon County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley: 
Comprising the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata and Perry, 
Pennsylvania, Containing Sketches of Prominent and Representative 
Citizens and Many of the Early Settlers.  Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. 
Runk & Co., 1897, pages 389-390.
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  WILLIAM WAGNER, Thisbe, Huntingdon county, Pa., is a native of Snyder 
county, born October 14, 1836; he is a son of Adam and Mattie (Ritter) 
Wagner. His paternal grandfather, Adam Wagner, was a native of Snyder 
county, a laboring man. He had nine children, of whom only one, Joseph, 
is still living. The others were: Eli; Henry; George; Jacob; Adam; 
Katie; Maria; and Elizabeth. Both he and his wife lived to a very 
advanced age. Mr. Wagner's maternal grandparents, Henry and Martha 
Ritter, were born in Snyder county; the grandfather was all his life a 
farmer. They had a family of ten children, of whom two are living: 
Samuel; and Jacob. Those deceased are: Henry; George; Elizabeth; Susan; 
Mattie; Maria; Sarah; and Sophia. Mr. and Mrs. Ritter lived to a good 
old age; both were members of the Lutheran church. Both Adam Wagner 
(2), and his wife, the parents of William Wagner, were born in Snyder 
county. His calling was always farming; for two years, he was 
supervisor of Beaver township, Snyder county. Their family consisted of 
fourteen children; an equal number of sons and daughters, including two 
pairs of twins. They are: Abraham, who died in 1890, aged fifty-six 
years; Mary Ann, died November 1, 1895, aged fifty-six; Sarah, died in 
August, 1855, aged thirteen; Isaac; William; Henry; Edward and Mary, 
twins, Mary being deceased; Sophia and Andrew, twins; Mattie; Samuel; 
Katie; and Lydia. The father died in 1879, aged seventy-nine; the 
mother in 1873, at the age of sixty-two. They held membership in the 
Lutheran church.
  William Wagner attended the common schools of Snyder county until he 
reached the age of eighteen. He was brought up on the farm, and after 
leaving school worked for different farmers for some time, and then 
went into the business of fence-making, which he carried on for 
eighteen years. He at last abandoned that business for farming, which 
has been his occupation ever since. In 1863, he was drafted, but did 
not enter the service. He is at present supervisor of Shirley township. 
In political views, Mr. Wagner is decidedly Republican.
  William Wagner was married, in December, 1858, to Sophia, daughter of 
Jonas and Mary Machamer. Of seven children, five are living: William 
J.; Daniel R.; Jonas A.; David S.; and Nathaniel L. Mary L. died in 
1863, aged thirteen months; and Jeremiah died June 15, 1872, at the age 
of four years. Mr. Wagner is a member of the Lutheran church.
  Mr. and Mrs. John Machamer were natives of Berks county, Pa., where 
Mr. Machamer was a laborer. His wife was Miss Mary Swenk. They were 
Lutherans. Of their children, four have died: Samuel in 1881, at the 
age of forty-nine; Katie at the age of five years; and Nancy aged 
three; one died in infancy. The surviving children are: Elizabeth (Mrs. 
John Layman); Maria, deceased (Mrs. Daniel Grassmyer); and Sophia (Mrs. 
Wagner). Mr. Machamer died in 1865, aged seventy-two years; his wife 
died in 1871, aged seventy-seven.