BIOS: David E. WAGNER, Shade, Somerset County, PA

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BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW, Vol. XXXII, Containing Life Sketches of Leading 
Citizens of Bedford and Somerset Counties, Pennsylvania. Boston, 
Biographical Review Publishing Company: 1899, pp. 117-118.

  David E. Wagner, a prominent citizen of the town of Shade, Somerset 
County, and one of its leading agriculturists, was born September 13, 
1839, on the farm he now owns and occupies, and on which his father, 
Jonathan Wagner, was a life-long resident.
  His paternal grandfather, Michael Wagner, was born in Germany.  
Coming to the United States in early manhood, he was one of the first 
settlers of the town of Shade, where he bought land and improving the 
property here made his home until his death, at the age of ninety-two 
years.  His wife also, Mary Cabold, was a native of Germany.  They 
reared seven children, Jonathan being the youngest son.
  Jonathan Wagner was born at the parental homestead in Shade on 
October 30, 1799.  By sturdy toil, prudence, and good management, he 
made a success of farming, and was held in high esteem by his fellow-
men.  A man of much public spirit, he gave support to all movements 
designed for the good of the community, and served in many of the local 
offices, including School Director.  In politics he belonged to the 
Whig party until the organization of the Republican party, when he 
became one of its firmest supporters.  He was for several years Deacon 
of the Lutheran church, of which both he and his wife were members.  He 
married Savilla Reel, who was born in Quemahoning, Pa., June 12, 1803, 
a daughter of Mathias and Polly Reel.  Thirteen children were born of 
their union, and seven are now living, a brief record being as follows:  
Daniel married Alice Williamson, and they have four children - Paul, 
Rush, Maud, and Charles; Maria, wife of Edward Lambert, has three 
children - Charles, Annie and Savilla; Annie, wife of Jefferson Shank, 
has four children - Bertie, Elnora, John, and Howard; Sophia, widow of 
the late Martin Statler, has seven children - Lorenzo, Jennie, David, 
Robert, Martin, Mary, and Franklin; Jennie is the wife of Dennis Hay; 
David E. is the special subject of this biographical sketch, and 
further mentioned below; Charles who married Elizabeth Geiger, has six 
children - Howard, Robert, Daniel, Carl, Stewart, and Bessie.
  David E. Wagner was educated in the district schools, and on the home 
farm was faithfully trained to agricultural pursuits.  In 1863 he 
enlisted in Company D, One Hundred and Thirty-third Pennsylvania 
Volunteer Infantry, as a private, and while in that regiment took an 
active part in many engagements, including the battles of Antietam, 
White Plains, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville.  At the expiration 
of his term of service he re-enlisted in 1864 in Company L, Twenty-
second Regiment of Pennsylvania Cavalry, in which he served until 
receiving his honorable discharge in October, 1865.  As a cavalryman he 
participated in various skirmishes and in many hard-fought battles, 
including the engagements at Leetown, Maryland Heights, Snicker's Gap, 
Martinsburg, Foster Hill, Mount Vernon, and Cedar Creek.  At the close 
of the war Mr. Wagner resumed work on the old homestead, which has 
since come into his possession.  He has two hundred and thirty acres of 
land, on which he carries on general farming the most approved methods, 
in each branch of his industry meeting with well-merited success.
  Politically, he affiliates with the Republican party, and is an 
earnest promoter of town and county interests, favoring any wise 
project tending to further develop their resources.  He has held all 
the offices within the gift of his fellow-townsmen, excepting those of 
Constable and Justice of the Peace.  For twenty-two years he was School 
Director; for the past five years he has been Supervisor; and in 1889, 
1890, and 1891 was County Commissioner of Somerset County.  
Fraternally, he is a member of the Reuben Ferner Post, No. 318, G.A.R., 
of Stoyestown.  He attends the Lutheran church to which his wife 
belongs.
  On March 4, 1864, Mr. Wagner married Mary L. Grimm who was born June 
30, 1844, in Stoyestown.  Her father, Adam Grimm, was a son of Jacob 
and Mary (Schaff) Grimm.  He was born May 21, 1822.  During his earlier 
life he worked as a saddler in Stoyestown, but later improved a farm in 
that place and has since occupied it.  His wife, Elizabeth Mains, was 
born October 17, 1824, a daughter of Frederick and Ruth Mains.  Nine 
children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Grimm, of whom these are living, 
namely: Mrs. Wagner; Agnes; Lottie, wife of John Bender and mother of 
two children - Albert and Agnes; William; David; and Eveline, who 
married Phillip Berkebile.
  Mr. and Mrs. Wagner have nine children, eight of whom are living, the 
following being their record: Lizzie J., born November 30, 1868, is the 
wife of Franklin Sipe, and has no children; Harry E., born September 5, 
1870, married Annie Specht, and has two children - Mary B. and Carl; 
Lottie A., born June 25, 1872, is the wife of Philip Lambert, and has 
one child, David William; Willou M., born November 2, 1873 is the wife 
of William E. Specht, and has one child, Mary Josephine; Ira D., born 
October 2, 1875, married Cora F. Berkebile, and they have one child, 
William D.; Russell G., born June 9, 1877, married Bertha Gayner; David 
G., born January 21, 1880; and Louis C., born August 24, 1884.