BIO: Jacob Wagner, Jefferson County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Jean Wall Copyright 2008. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/pa/jefferson/ http://usgwarchives.net/pa/jefferson/beers/beers-bios.htm _____________________________________________________________________ Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens. Chicago, Ill.: J. H. Beers, 1898, pages 1095-1096. _____________________________________________________________________ JACOB WAGNER. Success worthily won and well deserved has crowned the efforts of this gentleman, and to-day he is living a retried life, enjoying the fruits of his former toil. His life has been a busy and useful one, and he is numbered among the worthy citizens of Worthville. Born in Northumberland county, Penn., August 28, 1827, Mr. Wagner is a son of Jacob and Rebecca (Geist) Wagner, natives of the same county. His paternal grandfather, Jonathan Wagner, was a farmer and veterinary surgeon who died in Schuylkill county, Penn., at an advanced age. The maternal grandparents were Andrew and Christina (Snyder) Geist, natives of Lancaster and Northumberland counties, respectively. The parents of our subject were married in Northumberland county, whence they removed to Schuylkill county, where the father engaged in farming. He was a member of the Lutheran Church, and gave his political support to the Democracy. He died in 1827, just six months before the birth of our subject. His widow afterward married Solomon Shunkwiller, and returned to Northumberland county, where she died an estimable lady, whose many excellences of character have won her a large circle of friends. She was born in Northumberland county June 11, 1835, and is a daughter of Henry and Barbara (Hoff) Haines, who were born and married in Northumberland county. In 1838 they removed to Clearfield county, and after two years came to Jefferson county, locating at the present site of Freedom. The father died in 1840, at the age of eighty-seven, and was buried in Hawthorn churchyard in Clarion county, Penn. both were active members of the Reformed Church. The mother was blind six years prior to her death. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Wagner are: Malinda, wife of Samuel W. Shick, a merchant of Reynoldsville, Penn.; Elizabeth, wife of George W. Graham, a farmer and merchant of Ringgold township; Alice, wife of Albert M. Smith, a carpenter of Johnsonburg, Penn.; Jacob E., who married Anna Shaffer, and operates the home farm; Flora, wife of Seth Shaffer, a blacksmith of Marionsville, Penn.; John, who is attending the normal school in Lock Haven, Penn., and Minnie, at home. The father of this family holds membership in the Lutheran Church. In politics he is a Democrat, and is leading citizen of Worthville, whose deep interest in the welfare of the town has led him to give an active support to all measures calculated to prove of public benefit. He is a man of progressive views, who keeps abreast with the times in all particulars, and his well-spent life is indeed worthy of emulation. Mrs. Wagner is one of the three surviving children of her father's family, the others being: Mary, wife of George Neece, a retired farmer of Oakridge, Penn.; and Catherine, wife of Van Lawhead, a miner and farmer of Oakridge. There were also three children, now deceased: Eli; Anna, who died at the age of three years, and Samuel.