Biography:  Michael Wagner of Shade Township

Copyright © 1998 by Leroy V. Baldwin (lbwitchdoc@aol.com). 
This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives.  

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Michael Wagner came westward across the mountains from
Lancaster County in search of a new home and settled in Shade
Township in 1791, thus becoming one of the township's earliest
founders.
   
Mr. Wagner purchased and received a warrant for 316 acres
of land lying on the west slope of Chestnut Ridge along the Forbes
Road, about one mile west of Edmund's Swamp. Near the top of
the ridge he quickly clearer several acres of land surrounding a
spring of cool, clear water. Here he built his first log cabin
home.  This place was called "Happy's Improvement." (This is
the Stewart Wagner, Sr., Farm, one mile north of the Lincoln
along Legislative Route 55078.)
  
The assessment lists for 1816 show Michael Wagner (Wagoner) assessed 
as a distiller with 316 acres of land. Michael Wagner
was a veteran of the Revolutionary War and a distinguished
citizen of the community. Many of Mr. Wagner's descendants still
in the township.