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         P. C. WAGNER, residing on section 21, Grand View Township, about one mile from the village of Grand View, was born in York County, Pa., in 1820, and is the youngest of a family of eight children born to Philip and Ellen (Cover) Wagner. He is of German descent, his grandfather being a native of Germany, though his father, who was a farmer by occupation, was born and reared in Pennsylvania, residing in that State until his death, which occurred in 1846, at the age of sixty-five years. The mother of our subject departed this life, in 1876, at the advanced age of eighty.

The boyhood days of P. C. Wagner were spent upon a farm, but at the age of sixteen years he left home in order that he might learn the trade of a carpenter and joiner, at which he afterward worked for about forty-five years in Pennsylvania and Iowa. Also learning cabinet-making, he followed that vocation for some time, and for thirty-five years past has engaged in undertaking. In 1855 he first came to the State of Iowa, settling in Louisa County, where he purchased a small farm of twenty acres of unimproved land, a part of his present home. The work of developing the wild, unbroken prairie was at once begun, and from time to time other land has been added, until now he has a nice farm which is eighty-two acres in extent, thirty-seven and one-half of which are situated very near the village of Grand View. For a part of this tract he paid $65 per acre. A comfortable residence has long since been erected, a nice barn has been built, and other improvements which are necessary to a well-regulated farm have been made. In his political views Mr. Wagner is a Republican, and an active worker for the interests of that party, having cast his first Presidential vote for William Henry Harrison, in 1840. He has served as School Director for a number of terms, and is one of the enterprising men of the township.

In 1842 Mr. Wagner was united in marriage with Miss Catherine Straw, a native of Pennsylvania, where their union was celebrated. She is a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Martin) Straw, who were born, reared and married in the same State, and there the death of both occurred many years ago. After their marriage the young couple began their domestic life upon a farm in her native State, making that their home until emigrating to Iowa, where they have since resided. They are both members of the Evangelical Church at Grand View, in which Mr. Wagner holds the office of Trustee, and their union has been blessed with a family of eight children, though only four are now living: Elizabeth died in infancy; Ellen, who was the wife of Henry Lange, departed this life in August, 1887; Mary Ann, now Mrs. Wabnitz, is a resident of Muscatine County, Iowa; John, who is married, makes his home at Wilton, Muscatine County; Anna was called to her final home in 1883, at the age of twenty-eight years; Lizzie died at Los Angeles, Cal., in 1887 and was the wife of Israel Keck; Alice, now Mrs. Lowe, is a resident of Concord Township; Charley is single, and still resides with his parents. Mr. Wagner has always been a friend to educational institutions, and was formerly one of the stockholders of the academy at Grand View. An enterprising and prominent farmer, he is held in high esteem by a large circle of friends and acquaintances.