This is township 94 north,
range 5 west, and contains thirty six full sections.
It is south of Monona, west of Farmersburg, north of
Boardman, and east of Marion. It is drained by
numerous streams, of which the largest is Turkey
River, flowing through the southwestern part. Near
where it leaves the township are situated the
well-known Big Springs. These beautiful springs run
from under an almost perpendicular bluff, and are
situated about thirty rods from the river, and are
the same distance apart. The next stream of water to
the north is Dry Run, which enters the township in
section 19, and runs in a southerly direction for
about two miles, when it is lost in a sink-hole about
a mile from Turkey River. The hole in which it sinks
is large enough for a man to descend in very easily.
Milo P. Clark descended eighty feet into this hole
and failed to reach the bottom. In the southern and
eastern part of the township there are many of such
sink-holes, which are very deep. The deepest
soundings fail to reach the bottom. Robert's Creek
flows in a winding course diagonally through the
township, from northwest to southeast. It was named
after Mr. Roberts, the first white man who lived on
its banks. He settled in Marion Township. This creek
enters Wagner in section 7, and leaves the town in
section 25. It is a beautiful stream, and in the
western part of the township there are several good
water-powers. In the eastern portion of the township
the greater part, and at some seasons of the year all
the water in this creek, is lost in the sink-holes.
It takes the name of Pony Creek after entering Pony
Hollow. There is excellent timber in Wagner, and
about one-third of the land is prairie.
Wagner was named after one of the first settlers,
John Wagner, Sr. He was truly a pioneer. Born in
Pennsylvania, he emigrated to Ohio while yet a young
man. He lived there until the country began to settle
up, and then in 1845 he again emigrated to Illinois.
Not liking it there, in 1846 he came to Iowa and
settled in this township.
The township was organized in 1852, and the first
election was held the following year. At that time
the population was less than a dozen families, the
principal citizens being - John Wagner, Joseph
Stiner, John Hopas, Sr., Philip Walter and William
Patterson.
Allen E. Wanzer, now deceased, was probably the
first settler in Wagner Township. He located on the
banks of Turkey River and built a cabin, where he
traded with the Indians for a number of years.
Another early settler and Indian trader was a Mr.
Williams, who also had a cabin on Turkey River. Other
early settlers were Mr. Ebersoll, who settled on
Turkey River; John Wagner (deceased), who came in
1846 and settled on what is now the Patterson farm
(died in 1864). Mr. Hoppas, Mr. Stiner and others
came soon after, and from that time immigration was
rapid.
The first death occurred in 1849, and was that of
a woman, name unknown, who was passing through with
an emigrant train, at the house of J. Hoppas. At
about the same time a Mr. Stewart died, who was
buried in the Patterson graveyard.
The first birth was that of Rosalia Patterson, a
daughter of William Patterson.
The first marriage was that of Isaac Havens and
Sarah Wagner, daughter of John Wagner, Nov. 15, 1846.
The ceremony was performed by H. H. Singer, Esp. Mr.
and Mrs. Havens now live in Elkader.
The first Justice of the Peace in Wagner was a Mr.
Jackson, who afterward removed to the southern part
of the State.
The first school in Wagner was taught in a log
school-house by Laura Williamson, who lived in Pony
Hollow. About the same time (1850) a school was
opened in a log hut on section 29, and was taught by
Sara J. Patterson, now Mrs. Alexander Atwood. About a
year previous a log school-house had been partially
erected on section 20, but it was taken down and
moved away.
The first land entered was the farm on section 33,
now owned by Ezra Patterson.
The Norwegians, of whom a great number live in
Wagner Township have several schools where children
are taught in the Norwegian language. They have one
school-house near the Lutheran church, and in other
portions of the township schools are conducted in
private houses.
Wagner does not boast of many manufactories, as
its people are almost entirely agricultural. There is
one good mill however. Walter's Mill, run by
water-power, was built on Robert's Creek on section
17, in 1871, by P. Walter. It is thirty feet wide,
forty feet long and three stories high. It has two
run of stone, and is supplied with the necessary
machinery for making flour, meal, etc. It has the
custom of the country for many miles around. It costs
$10,000, including machinery, dam, etc. The creek
always furnishes a sufficient head of water to run
the mill.
The first election was held April 4, 1853, in the
Haskins school-house. The officers then chosen were:
David Reddick, Philip Walter and Lucius Haskins,
Trustees; Milo P. Clark and Joshua Jackson, Justices
of the Peace; Joshua Jackson, Assessor; Milo P.
Clark, Town Clerk; John Harhhaus and Coleman Garvin,
Constables; Henry Geil, John Patterson and Jacob
Ashely, Road Supervisors.
The present township officers are : D.T. Walton,
Wesley Patterson and John Larson, Trustees; Ed.
Reynolds and William Monlux, Justices of the Peace;
John Johnson, Assessor; William Monlux, Clerk; Henry
Holverson and Henry Ronquist, Constables. Elections
are held in Havens' school-house.
Wagner has seven school districts, with a good
school-house in each, one, in district three, being
of stone, and the others frame structures. The
average value is $500. The building at St. Olaf cost
$1,000. There is an independent district, composed of
three sections from the northeastern corner of Wagner
and three from Farmersburg Township, which contains
two school-houses.
There are three churches in Wagner Township - the
Norwegian Lutheran, the United Brethren, and the
German Methodist.
The Norwegian Lutheran Church was organized in
1854, with 100 members. Their first house of worship
was built in 1857. This was a small frame building,
and was used until 1874, when the present building
was erected. It is 36 X 60 feet, and cost $5,570. The
present membership is 421. The first pastor was Rev.
Mr. Korn; the present one is Rev. Ole Waldeland.
The United Brethren Church was built on section 17
in 1881. It is 40 X 46 feet, and cost $1,800. The
first pastor was John Baskerville, who was succeeded
by Rev. Mr. Smith, the present incumbent. Services
are held every two weeks. Sunday-school meets every
Sunday, with an average attendance of about
thirty-five.
Wagner postoffice was established about 1859, at
the residence of E.B. Bailey, on section 4. Mr.
Bailey was the first Postmaster, and held the office
several years. It has been held since successively by
Patrick Sullivan, P.B. Eno, W.P. Eno, Simon Early,
William Monlux, Henry Walters, then W.P. Eno again.
Mr. Eno is the present Postmaster, and his residence
is on section 6.
