Wagner, Philip 1853 – 1936
WAGNER, SCHROEDER, SCHWEBACH, ETTELDORF, RAHE
Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 5/13/2015 at 08:24:35
PHILIP WAGNER.
Philip Wagner, proprietor of the Grand View Stock Farm, a fine property of two hundred and forty acres, lying on section 4, Military township, was born in Wisconsin on the 17th of October, 1853, and is a son of Peter and Mary (Schroeder) Wagner, natives of Germany. They came to America in 1848 and located in Wisconsin where they resided for a number of years, removing from that state to Winneshiek county in 1865. During the greater portion of his life the father followed farming, but in his later years lived retired in Dubuque, where his death occurred on the 20th of March, 1910. He had survived his wife only a few years, her death occurring July 1, 1907. To their union were born four children: Nicholas, who resides in Fort Atkinson, Iowa; Philip, of this review; Catherine, the wife of Philip Schwebach of Minnesota; and John B., who lives in Fort Atkinson.
Philip Wagner was twelve years of age when he came with his parents to Winneshiek county and he has made his home in this part of Iowa since that time. He acquired an education in a parochial school and at twenty-one turned his attention to mercantile pursuits, following this line of occupation for eight years thereafter. In 1883 he purchased one hundred and twenty acres in Military township and began the development of this property along modern and practical lines, steadily carrying forward the work of cultivation for fifteen years and making it by his own well directed labors a valuable and productive farm. Eventually he sold eighty acres of this tract and bought two hundred acres on section 4 and upon this property he resides at the present time. The farm, called the Grand View Stock Farm, is fully equipped and splendidly improved and in all respects is worthy of comparison with the best agricultural properties in the state. Upon it Mr. Wagner engages in general farming and stock-raising, both branches of his activities being important sources of income to him. His business interests are carefully and conservatively conducted and have brought him a gratifying measure of success, which places him today in the front ranks of the township's progressive farmers and substantial business men.
Mr. Wagner married Miss Mary Schwebach and to their union were born thirteen children: Peter F., who resides in South Dakota; Mary, the wife of Nick Etteldorf, also of South Dakota; James, a physician and surgeon in Granville, Iowa; Catherine, the wife of Henry Rahe of Dyersville, Iowa; John, who is attending college in Los Angeles, California; Helen, who is a trained nurse at La Crosse, Wisconsin; a son who died in infancy; Frances, who is still with her parents; Clara, who makes her home in Granville; a daughter who died in infancy; Edward and Theodore, who live at home; and Virginia, who died in infancy.
Mr. Wagner is a member of the Roman Catholic church and fraternally is connected with the Knights of Columbus and the Order of Foresters. His political allegiance is given to the democratic party and he has ever been stanch in his support of its principles and policies both as an office holder and as a private citizen. He has served as township trustee and road supervisor and in this and many other ways has promoted the interests of the community in which he has so long resided and to the agricultural and general business development of which he has made such substantial and tangible contributions.
Source: History of Winneshiek County, Iowa Vol. II Chicago the S. J. Clark Publishing Company 1913
Transcriber's Note: The gravestone shows the year of birth as 1854
St. Francis de Sales Cemetery
Winneshiek Biographies maintained by Jeff Getchell.
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