William Wagner, 1880

Posted4U@Charter.net on Sun, 11 Feb 2001

Surname: WAGNER, OLDENBERG, MILLER, FRANKE

Source: 1918 History of Clark Co., WI, by Franklyn, Curtiss-Wedge

WILLIAM WAGNER, who is engaged in agriculture in section 4, Lynn Township, where he has a good farm of 120 acres, was born in Calumet County, Wis., April 28, 1880. His father, Adam Wagner, was born in Saxony, Germany, Jan. 2, 1849. When about 4 years old Adam accompanied his parents, with two brothers and four sisters, to the United States, the father buying 120 acres of wild land in Calumet County, Wis. There Adam grew to manhood, residing at home until he was 26 years old.

He was then married, in October, 1875, to Sofia Oldenburg, and he and his wife took up their residence on 150 acres of land adjoining the home farm. There, two sons were born and reared: John, who is still on the home farm. William Wagner spent the first twenty-two years of his life on his parents' homestead. He then bought 120 acres of land in section 4, Lynn Township, and at the same time, or on March 18, 1902, he the responsibilities of domestic life by marrying Anna Franke, daughter of Louis and Barbara (Miller) Franke, her parents being farming people of Calumet County, Wis., and the father a native of Saxony, Mr. Wagner has since greatly improved his farm, now having over eighty acres under the plow.

He is president of the board of directors of the Co-operative Elevator at Chilli, Wis., former secretary of the Telephone Company, and now is its treasurer; a director of the bank at Chili, and a shareholder in the Wausau Packing Company. For twelve years he served as school director and has also been chairman of the township board and a member of the side board, thus taking an active and useful part in public affairs. He and his wife are the parents of four children: Roland, Ethel, Gladys and George, all of whom reside at home.