Three Rivers
Hudson~Mohawk~Schoharie
History From America's Most Famous Valleys
Johan
Peter Wagner
Mohawk
Valley Pioneer and His Descendants
This article was written by William P. Webster, Mrs. Hortense Wagner Green, and others. It contains some interesting references and was reprinted from the Enterprise and News, St. Johnsville, NY 1929. Lou D. MacWethy was the owner of the St. Johnsville Enterprise & News for many years. His granddaughter, Peg Davis, has permitted articles from the Enterprise and News to be used on the Fort Klock web site. The Wagner book was just recently donated by Mrs. Davis. Our sincere thanks!
Please cross check with the article, Wagner Family where you will find some of the later information on the Wager family. New research and findings are always appearing, and some of this information is incorrect. Then too, some of the information is confusing because of the format or lack of format used. Use other sources to verify any of this information, please.
The Wagner Family of the Mohawk Valley
The following articles by the late W. P. Webster first appeared in the Fort Plain Standard beginning in March 1900 and continuing for four weeks. Mr. Webster died in Riverside Calif. shortly afterwards. We are indebted for the copies of the article to Mrs. Amy Rich of Lansing, Michigan., and also to Byron Nellis of Nelliston. We are further indebted to Blanche Webster Rich (Mrs. Charles M.) of Marion, NY sister of the late W. P. Webster for offers of the series. In this column during the immediate coming weeks and in connection with this series we will publish the finding of Hortense Wagner Green of Brooklyn who is a student of Wagner history.
Lansing
Michigan
February 25, 1929.
Editor, Enterprise and News,
St. Johnsville, NY
In your paper for February 13th in "Chats with Descendants" you
ask for articles on the Wagner family. I am mailing you a series of articles
written about 1898 by William P. Webster, a descendant of Lt. Col. Peter Wagner,
published, I think, in a Fort Plain paper.
I have other notes on the Wagner family as my paternal great grandmother was Elizabeth Wagner (a granddaughter of Lt. Col. Peter). According to my notes the grandfather of Hon. Webster was John Wagner a son of the Lt. Col. The old Col. had four sons named John, viz, Johan Peter, Johan George, Johan Jost, and Johan, the last being the only one called John.
I have other notes obtained about 1898 from the Syracuse library as follows:
Births -- John Peter Wagner, son of John Peter and Elizabeth Wagner, born Nov. 6, 1750. John George Wagner, son of John Peter Wagner, born Jan 15, 1752. Elizabeth Wagner, daughter of John Peter Wagner, born Dec. 9, 1753. Maria Margaretha Wagner, daughter of Johan Peter Wagner born Jan 26, 1755. William Wagner, son of Peter Wagner, born September 22, 1770. Peter Philip Wagner, son of John and Elizabeth Wagner, born October 11, 1788. Where was this? Catherine Strayer, daughter of Burchard and Catherine Strayer, born October 2, 1770. Anna Strayer, born May 31, 1773. Margaretha Strayer, daughter of John and Maria Strayer, born April 5, 1793.
Marriages -- James Wagner, brother of Hon. Webster Wagner, married Catherine Dillenbeck, Feb. 21, 1828. Charles Fox married Catherine Wagner, July 13, 1828. George G. Wagner Jr. Father of Chauncey Wagner, married Margaretha Strayer, March 10, 1814.
Very
Truly yours,
Amy Y. Rich
(Mrs. Edward D. Rich)
1013 W. Ionia St.
Lansing, Mich.
Wagner
Family
By
W.P. Webster
The rise of patriotic societies has extended and deepened the interest in our ancestors. Perhaps an article on one of the early families of the Mohawk Valley will stimulate inquiry concerning others. My Grandmother Webster was a Wagner, and years ago, while living at Fort Plain, I talked with many old people and examined the church records at Stone Arabia concerning the Wagner family and others allied by marriage. Let me try to reduce my mass of memoranda to order and condense it. I shall give but a small part.
Johan Peter Wagner was "born in Docken-hausen, in the county Brauback, in Hessen-Darmstad, 1687, the 4th of October," says the record. Braunsbach is in Wirtemburg -- he came from the Lower Palatinate. His wife was "Maria Margaretha Laucs, born in Ohren, St. Steiner Landes, 1686." In the Documentary History of New York, Vol. 3, page 569, is a "Statement of heads of Palaten families and number of Persons in both Towns on ye west side of Hudsons River," in which No. 21 (in a list of 82) is Peter Wagner. The tabulation indicates a wife, but no children. They were ten each 24 or 25 years old, assuming the identity of this Peter Wagner and my ancestor, which is altogether probable. They arrived in American in June, 1710. It was in the reign of Queen Anne, when many Germans were colonized by England on the Schoharie and on the Mohawk; "one strong motive being the better security of the province against Canadian aggressions." "It was deemed advisable to locate them where they could best produce for the home government, from pine trees, naval stores, such as turpentine and tar." The hardships and varied experiences of these immigrants are graphically given in the documents published by the state, and in the "Frontiersmen of New York," vol. 1. After being located on the Hudson several years, Wagner moved into the Schoharie Valley, where he seems to have lived some ten years. His seven children must have been born on the Hudson and in Schoharie, and perhaps one on the Mohawk. We may infer some of his experiences form the history of the Schoharie settlement by Mr. Simms.
In 1722, Wagner and others bought land of the Indians in the Mohawk Valley. I have before me a copy of the "deed". It is signed by representatives of the Mohawks, Onondagas, Oneidas, Cayugas, and Secnecas. The date was 9th July, 1722. It conveys a tract "on both sides of the Mohagus river" for "about 24 English miles," and "with all the woodland Northerly and Southerly on the said meadowland, as far as the said Palatines or High Dutch men pleas to take," Containing about in acres we know not," "for a small consideration of payment"! No wonder the old Mohawk chief, Hendrick, complained of these Germans -- mentioning Wagner and several others by name -- as having taken up more land than they had paid for. A grant (of which I have copied the original) from George I to his "loving subjects John Conradt Weiser junior, Johannes Lawyer junior, and Peter Wagner", issued through Gov. William Burnet, is dated 8 July, 1725. By this they obtained 1637 acres on the south side of the Mohawk, north of the Otsequago and south of the Otsquene. See map in the Doc. History NY, vol. 1, page 774. The tract is marked "P. Waganaer." This was about half way between the Mohawk and Cherry Valley. When and how Wagner disposed of this I do not know. The same map shows a tract near the "Caroga" marked "Vogoner," and on that my ancestor settled. Stone Arabia was easterly from him; "Capt. Frey" was down the river; "Fox Mills," were on the Garoga; "Fort Harrison" was to the northwest; the "Canajoharrees" were on "Conowadaga creek" -- what is now Indian Castle -- and the names of Morris, Livingston, Colden, Bleecker, Cosby, etc., appear on the south side of the river. The date of the map I do not know, but it was after the founding of Cherry Valley; probably long after. That the pioneer Wagner and his wife lived to be at least 63 years old is proved by a record of their presence at the baptism of their first grandchild, Peter, November, 1750. When they died I don't know. Their graves had no markets, but they were probably near the grave of their son on the J. Harvey Smith farm.
Their children were: 1) Anna Margaretha, born 15 April, 1712; married Heinrich Tillenbach. 2) Maria Catharina, born 18 August, 1714; married George Rosner (the o with an oomlaut). 3) Utilia, born 16 August, 1716; married Isaac Reit. 4) Catharina Elizabeth, born 10 September, 1718; married --- ---? 5) Maria Magdaline, born 4 January 1720; married Johan Fehling of Freysbush. I have the names of scores of descendants of Frs. Failing. Included are the names of Diefendorf, Weller, Wendell, Seeber, Nestell, Hawn, Abbot, etc. 6) Johan Peter, born 8 January, 1722. Of him I shall have more to say. 7) Maria Elizabeth, born 24 January, 1724; married Heinrich Saltzman. She was the grandmother of Peter I. Salsman, and the great-grandmother of Jacob H.
I judge these marriages took place at and about Stone Arabia, and that the families continued there; except Mrs. Fehling. The pioneer's youngest child was probably born on the Mohawk. If any one can inform me authentically of any son of the first Wagner, besides Peter, or any brother of the pioneer, I shall be glad to learn. Friends interested have put questions concerning certain Wagners in Palatine and in Canada, apparently fo the same stock; questions which I have not been able to answer. In another article I shall speak of the pioneer's son, the second Johan Peter.
W.
P. Webster
Riverside, Cal.
Chapter II
The only son (so far as I have ascertained) of Johan Peter Wagner, the pioneer, was a second Johan Peter born -- probably in Schoharie -- 8 January, 1722, which was not long before his father removed with his family to the Mohawk Valley. The old church record mentions the settlers from Schoharie as "Auff den Helleburg." The Wagner farm, if an uncleared forest can be so called; tract would be better; extended from the river toward Stone Arabia and I may indicate its location by saying that it included the old home of Daniel and Harvey Smith. In this wilderness home young Peter grew up. He was 16 years old when William Johnson (Sir William) came into the valley and settled down the river, in 1738. He was 18 when cherry Valley was founded in 1740. He was 20 when Thu-yen-dan-ega (Joseph Brant) was born. The Upper Castle of the Mohawks was but six or seven miles west or northwest of his home. He must have often seen Hendrick, and have been familiar with Oneidas and Cayugas as well as Mohawks. The piercing cry of the panther was frequently heard, and black bear and wolf, and deer and other game, abounded.
The Mohawk and the Garoga were deeper than now, and transportation was largely by water. Harold Frederick's "In the Valley" gives us a graphic description of the conditions under which our ancestors lived.
When 26 years old, Peter Wagner received a commission as second-lieutenant in Captain Barnt Wemp's company in the second battalion of the regiment of the county of Albany (Palatine was then in that county), which was under the command of (Sir) William Johnson. It was dated August 25, 1748, and signed by George Clinton, the colonial governor. What service young Wagner had seen before, we are not told. He doubtless served under Johnson in the French wars. Much may be inferred as to what he saw and experienced for years, from, e. g., Griffis's Life of Sir William.
In the year 1750, Mr. Wagner married Barbara Elizabeth Dagstetter (now Dockstater), who lived on the Sand Flats, in the eastern part of the present Montgomery county. They had twelve children; the first born in '51 and the last born in '70, apparently. Of these more anon.
Of the first Wagner, Mr. Hutchinson said, "About the year 1750 he built his residence -- the old stone dwelling (now standing and in a good state of preservation). It was quite similar in style to the well know houses of Frey, Ehle, Van Alstine, and Wormouth, which were erected about the same period." He elsewhere confounds the father and son, and I presume he has done so here. The first had built some sort of habitation 25 years earlier. The younger man was about 28 years old at this time. I quote Mr. Hutchinson further: "The Wagner house is said to be the oldest house now standing in the state of New York, west of Fort Plain. In early times, and during the wars, it was stockaded and known as Fort Wagner, and a blockhouse was said to have been situated some 50 feet southeasterly of the dwelling, some of the timbers of which are still in the barn buildings on the farms. And a part of the old foundation still remains." I have been in the stone house built by Colonel Wagner -- it is a part of the old home of J. Harvey Smith. A good photograph of it -- the gift of E. Dunbar Rich, of Utica -- is before me at this moment.
In religion, all of the Wagners were Lutherans up to 1834, when Peter J. joined the Dutch church. Colonel Wagner and family were communicants at Stone Arabia. In 1770 the stone house of worship near the river (at Palatine Church) was erected. Says Hutchinson: "Henrich Nellis gave a deed of the land, the title being made to Colonel Peter Wagner, Andrew Reeber and John Eisenlord, church wardens, Jan 2, 2769; and Peter Wagner, Andrew Reeber and Christian Nellis, Jr., were bowmasters in charge of the erection of the church. Col. Wagner subscribed for that purpose 100 pounds, Mr. Reeber the same amount, and Mr. Nellis giving 50 pounds."
In politics, the Wagners were Whigs. As the times that tried men's souls drew on, their patriotism was fervent. The old pioneers had evidently passed away. The second Wagner was prominent on the Committee of Safety, but as the "Frontiersmen of New York." "Life of Brant," and other works give the records of the meetings of the committee, I will save space here; nor will I more than mention that Wagner held the position of lieutenant-colonel of the second battalion from the Palatine District, Jacob Klock colonel, and that he fought bravely and conspicuously at Oriskany -- two of his sons, Peter (a second-lieutenant) and George being also in the battle.
I have copies of a number of letters and other papers left by Col. Wagner; they have already been published, but I append three.
Palatine
26th June 1780
Sir I do not doubt but you know that our scout made a discovery of the Enemy
this afternoon, near our Quarters. I Emmediately on the endelegence send a
few lines to Colo. Clyde Informing him of the aproge of the Enemy and also
desire some assistence of him he emediately send 18 men, which arrived here,
Capt. Diffendorf with his Company Lise at Cox's which we send for to come
over this Evening. now I desire you would send all the yung abble men to morrow
by day brack from all the forts from you up. In order to durn out at day brack
to attack the enemy, as all the men here mean to durn out, if we could be
Lettle more Ranforced, I would be Glad if you desire Colo. Klock to send some
men from Stoneraby also no more as Remain Sire, you most Humble servt. JACOB
G. KLOCK
COLO.
WAGGENER.
Fort Paris July 13th 1780
Sir pleas to order twelve of the Smartest men that you have in the different
forts under your command to Joyn Capt. John Cassalm's Company with four days
provition with the quickest dispach from your friend and humble servant JACOB
KLOCK COLL
To
Lt Colo. Waggoner
Fort Paris June 5th 1781
Sir. I This Mement Recd. a letter from the Commanding Officer at Johnstown,
that the Enemy have Yesterday taken several Prisoners & Burnt Stone Building
in those quarters, and it is thought by him that they will make a stroke either
at Stoneaby or Else up the River. -- the Enemy is Sixty or Seventy Strong
you'll give Notice to all the Posts up above without a Moments Delay
I am your PETER S. DEYGERT
Major
To Cols. Klock & Waggoner
This article is intended to be suggestive, not exhaustive.
Mr. Hutchinson says, "He was one of the grand jury at the first court of quarter sessions, under the new State government, held at Johnstown September 8, 1788, and represented his district as a member of assembly at the second, third and fourth sessions, in the years 1777, 1778, 1779, 1780, 1781."
Said Peter G. Webster to me, speaking from tradition: "The colonel was a man of energy and power, imperious in manner, and yet highly respected and of great influence in his community. His occupation was farming. He possessed over 600 acres, and he had several white men at work and a number of Negro slaves."
From the Stone Arabia records, I copy: "Year 1812, 1st July, died Barbara Waggener, aged 88 years, leaving as a widower Mr. Colonel Peter Waggener old man in his 92d year. She lived with the colonel 64 years, and was the mother of 12 children, viz 5 sons and 7 daughters -- one son and one daughter died before. Children's children she had 73, and great grandchildren 70. She died of old age and was buried on Friday, 3d July, 12 noon, on the Waggener family burying ground beside the house of col. Peter Waggener. The funeral sermon was preached in the stone church near the river. I Kings xix 4."
Again: "Year 1813. On Sunday, the 23d of May, in the morning at 9 o'clock, died Johan Peter Wagener. Was born in year 1722, 8 of January. Was 91 years, 4 mos. and 19 days old. He was colonel in the war of Independence. He lived with his wife (that died 11 months ahead of him 1 of July, 1812) 64 years,and was the father of 12 children, vix 5 sons and 7 daughters. Of these tow children -- one son and one daughter -- died before him. Grandchildren 78, and great-grandchildren 74. The blessed dead died of old age and was 9 days on his sick bed. Was buried on Tuesday, the 25th of May, at 12 o'clock noon, in the Waggener's family burying ground, near the house of his son Col. Peter Waggener's. Lies beside his wife. Sermon was preached in the stone church near the river, on the text, Rev. 20, v. 12"
The remains of this old couple and of their oldes son and his wife now repose in the Fort Plain cemetery.
In
a third article I shall speak of Col. Wagner's children.
W.P. WEBSTER
Riverside, Cal.
Chapter III
We know from the records that I quoted that Lietuenant-colonel Wagner and his wife were the parents of five sons and seven daughters. Four of the sons were named Johan -- three of them having double names. Apparently there were duplicate names among the daughters. (In the first Peter's family were two Marias, two Catharines and two Elizabeths, viz., Maria Catharine, Catharine Elizabeth, and Maria Elizabeth.) Double names were shortened in usage, "Johan Peter" becoming "Peter." It is not easy to identify the adult daughters of Col. Wagner with the names in the record, which is incomplete. In it is the name "Maria Margarita." I know that one daughter was Maria and one was Margaret: which one was Maria Margarita?
The children whose births are recorded are these: Johan Peter, 1750; Johan Georg, 1752; Elizabetha, 1753; Maria Margarita, 1755; Johan Jost, 1759; Anna, 1766; William, 1770. The children whose births are not on record are: Johan, Maria, and Catharina (as, in the records, the name is nearly every where phonetically spelled). This accounts for ten of the twelve. Two may have died in infancy, but of this there is there is no proof. What tow are not identified? Elizabeeth married William Nellis; Margaret married Henry Klock; Maria married William Nellis (two brothers-in-law named the same); Anna married Johan Casper Leib (now Lipe); Catarina married William Saltzman. The records show that the daughter who married 'William I. Nellis' was known as Magdalinea or Lena, but whether this was Elizabeth or Maria is uncertain. 1) The first son was Johan Peter, born Nov. 6, 1750. He was therefore 26 when the Revolution opened. I have no detailed account of his life. He was a man of force; was a second-lieutenant in the battalion of which his father was lieutenant-colonel; he fought at Oriskany. In 1782 he married Anna or Nancy Bell, by whom he had nine children, as follows: Peter, 1782, Catharina, 1784; Johann Jost 1785; William 1787; Magdalena, 1788; Jerg Heinrich, 1790; Nicolaus, 1792; Johannes, 1794; Jacob; and Abraham, 1797. Anna Bell came, I believe, from near Little Falls. She is remembered by her great-grandson, J. B. Rosencrants, of Sparta, Wis., who writes me thus: "I distinctly remember my great-grandmother and of listening to the heartrending tales of the cruelties perpetrated by the Indians during the Revolution, and of my fearing to look at a window after dark lest I should see an Indian's face pressed against the window. How many times they were forced to flee for their lives to a place of rendezvous, and how many were overtaken, stricken down and scalped." Let me now take up the sons and daughters of Peter Wagner (called Colonel in his later year) and Anna his wife: The first was Peter, 1782; he married Katie Loucks; his death occurred at Little Falls, at the house of Gen. Rosencrantz. Catharina, 1784, married Colonel Han Jose, or Joseph, Bell, who fought at Oriskany; she was the mother of Nancy, wife of Rosencrantz, who was the mother of my correspondent quoted above. Gen. Rosencrantz was an uncle of Mrs. Alfred J. Wagner, who when a girl, spent much time in his home. Joseph, 1785, had three sons who, Chauncey Wagner thinks, moved west. He married Leah Roller. Rev. Will. Hen. Waggoner of Rochester, whom I used to see at Fort Plain when I was a boy, was one of William's sons; a grandson was Peter Fox Wagner, who died in the city of Mexico three years ago. Magdalena 1788, married William Walrath; she was the grandmother of Hannibal Gray. William Walrath lived on the road between Fort Plain and Stone Arabia. Jerg Heinrich, 1790 owned a farm on Sand Hill; he married Betsy Walrath; and sons; moved to Syracuse; the boys got rich. The famous "Happy Cal" Wagner, for many years one of the foremost Negro minstrels, is from this Syracuse family; he resides in Chicago. Nicholaus, 1792, married Elizabeth Keller; he was the father of N. K. Wagner, Mrs. S. Vosburgh, and Mrs. Nathan Wagner, Johannes, 1794, married Polly Fox; I think he has descendants in St. Johnsville. Jacob is remembered as "Uncle Yawcup" by Mr. Rosencrants; he married Caroline Abeel; removed to Jefferson or St. Lawrence county. Major Abraham, 1797, married Maria Keller; he was the father of Mrs. Pegg; he resided in Rock Island, Ill., from 1853 till his death in 1883. Said the "Rock Islander": "The old gentleman was 86 years of age and had been in remarkably good health all his life. He will be remembered as one of the leading Democrats in this city for many years. He had many warm friends."
Colonel Johan Peter Wagner, 1751, the father of the foregoing, died Aug. 1, 1816, in his 67th year. Anna, his wife, died Oct. 16, 1840 aged 81 years, 8 months. Their remains, with those of the elder Wagner and his wife, were removed from Palatine to Fort Plain in 1881.
II. The second son of Colonel Wagner, 1722, was Johan Georg, born Jan. 17, 1752. He fought at Oriskany and was wounded in the forearm by a bullet sped from the party of Brant. A fellow soldier tore off a piece of his shirt and bound up Wagner's wound. The injury was serious and he received a pension through life. He married first Elizabeth Nellis, and for his second wife a widow Strayer. At eh close of the century he lived where Nathan W. Wagner now lives, on the Stone Arabia Road. In 1801 he bought a place near the river and built a tavern, which originally had clay walls. Except the walls and the kitchen, it has been practically unchanged for nearly 100 years, and has for many years been the home of a son and grandson, George and Chauncey Wagner respectively. I have not learned the date of his death. He had the following children: William, 1778; Elizabeth, 1781; Nancy, 1783; Peter, 1786 Katie, 1788; Polly, 1790; John George, 1793; Margaret, date not ascertained. William married Nancy Shults; he was the father of Nathan W. Wagner, Mrs. Aron Lasher, and nine others; he was grandfather of Wm. Clark Wagner, of Nelliston. Concerning Elizabeth I have no further record. Nancy, 1783, married Peter Lampman; Miss Julia Lampman was her daughter. Peter, 1786, married Polly Ehle. He was the ancestor of Miss Kate Wagner. Katie, 1788, married Charles Wagner, son of Joseph. Polly or Maria, 1796, married Denis Diefendorf; her daughters were Mrs. W. H. Williams, of Little Falls, and Mrs. Curtis, of North Bend, Ind. Johan Georg, or, as he was known in later life, George, 1793, is well remembered in the parish of the Standard. He married Margaret Strayer. He was the father of Levi, Chauncey, Oliver G., Mrs. Wm. Averill, and Mrs. Dodge. I am indebted to Chauncey Wagner for much information. Margaret married Henry Loucks.
III. Elizabeth, the first daughter of Col. Wagner, 1722, was born Dec. 9, 1753. She married Andrew Nellis. Maria married William Nellis. Elizabeth was the mother of Joseph and Elijah Nellis and others. The descendants are at St. Johnsville, Ephratah, etc.
IV. The next daughter of Col. Wagner, 1722, is Maria Margarita, who was born Jan 26, 1755. Many years ago Peter J. Wagner told me that one daughter of the colonel married a Klock. I could learn nothing more of this union. In 1896 J. R. Webster, of Omaha, whose wife is descended from Margaret Wagner Klock, saw a paper in Albany which indirectly led to a correspondence with me, and he requested to me to write to Harvey Miller of Minden, whose wife is a granddaughter of Mrs. Klock. I mention this because it is curious. Mrs. Klock has many descendants. I assume the identity of Margaret and Maria Margarita. The home of the Klocks was about 2 1/2 miles west of Little Falls on the turnpike.
V. Daughter of Col. Wagner, name and history unknown.
VI. Another daughter, ditto. I will suppose them born about 1757 and 1758. The record implies that one of these outlived her parents, who died in 1812 and 1813. The other may also have matured and left descendants; we only know that she died before her parents.
I
have still Joseph, John, Maria, Anna, Catharine, and William to remark on.
W.P. Webster
Riverside, Cal.
Chapter IV.
VII. The fourth son of Col. Wagner, 1722, was, I think, Johan Jost, or Joseph, who was born March 6, 1759, during the latter part of the French war. He was my great-grandfather. I have three of his signatures -- one written Joseph Waggoner in 1828, and two written Joseph Wagner in 1838 and 1841. The original orthography, Wagner, became corrupted in early times, and was afterward restored, by most of the family, under the influence of Peter J. Wagner. This will be of interest to some who have supposed that Waggoner and Wagner represent two distinct families. In the old records several other spellings occur; the settlers were of course generally illiterate.
In the Revolution he was one of Herkimer's men. In July, '77 he was with the General at the conference with Brant at Unadilla, and, with three others was under orders to shoot the chief on the first indication of treachery. See Campbell's Annals of Tryon County, p. 65; Stone's Life or Brant, I., 120-6; Lossing's Field-Book, I., 237-9; Frontiersmen of New York, II., 15-20. Wagner's experiences at the battle of Johnstown (with no depreciation, I fancy) are given in the Frontiersmen, as the hero related them to Mr. Simms (II. 547).
He married Catharine, a daughter of Johannes and Maria Knautz Abeel. To write of the Indian trader, her father, would require too long a digression. Wagner settled on the Garoga Creek, (land derived from his father, I suppose), two miles above the Palatine Church. There he cut a clearing and built a house and a gristmill. There all his children, except the last one, were born. They were: Catarina, 1785; Maria, 1786; Elizabet, 1788; Carl, 1790; Johan Jost, 1791; Johan, 1793; Peter, 1795; Maria, 1797; Lucinda, about 1805. The settlement which grew up at the mill became know as Wagner's Hollow.
In 1805 he purchased a farm on the south side of the Mohawk. Of this, Mrs. Morgan Snyder said: "it was bounded by the river on the east, by the Otsquago creek on the south, by the present West street (near the Institute) on the west, and by the present Mohawk and River streets on the north. A road extended along the bank of the creek, with a row of cherry trees all the way up the farm. The land was covered with corn. The Crouse farm lay next on the north. Willett street was a part of the King's highway, and he built a large house (it still stands, somewhat changed, near Andrew Dunn's residence, toward the aqueduct) and there kept tavern for years." The purchase was many years before the canal was constructed. In politics a Whig, Mr. Wagner sat in the assembly in 1806 or '7. Of his wife Mrs. Snyder said: "Grandmother Wagner was a worker. In the mill at Wagner's Hollow she would put a sack of grist on her shoulders. She was a great help to her husband in and about the mill. When living on Willett Street, she would arise at midnight and go to the barn, some rods off, to see if the stock was all right. Once an Albany man called and told grandfather of a bargain that could be made, and grandmother put him off at midnight for Albany, and her thereby made money. That is one example. After her death, he told me he would not have been worth what he was but for her." In 18-- he moved into the Isaac Paris house on the hill, called "The Castle" (built about 1787), which was a part of his purchase in 1805; it is now the residence of Mrs. Bleecker. Here he had a wholesale and retail store. He was appointed one of three commissioners to straighten the King's highway from Schenectady to Utica, and it ran along the hills on the south side of the Mohawk, and by the "Castle" on the west front. In this house his wife died, March 30, 1829, 65 years old. Mr. Wagner afterwards married Mrs. Bleecker, mother of William Bleecker. He died Aug. 15, 1845, aged 89 years 5 months. The remains of Joseph and Catharine Wagner lie in the little cemetery to the south of the Institute, at the side of the road leading over the hill to Hallesville.
The first daughter was Catharine, born Feb. 21, 1785. She married Joshua Webster, M. D. He had studied medicine in Ulster county (though born in Maine), and in 1798 he settled near Colonel Wagner in Palatine. He married Catharine (Joseph's daughter) Aug. 23, 1801, and about the time he father-in-law built the house near the present aqueduct, he built the house on Willett street occupied of late years by Mr. Hix. He practiced 50 years, having an extensive ride. He was influential in the founding of the village. Fort Plain was then on Sand Hill. When the canal went through, my grandfather placed a large sign,"Fort Plain", on the canal bridge, and the little settlement appropriated the name. Dr. Webster was the first president of the Fort Plain bank; was a member of the Masonic lodge at Johnstown and was prominent in business enterprises, in the support of the church, etc., and was owner of various properties. He was vigourous and brusk and sometimes a user of strong language; he was a man of high integrity and a kind heart. I well remember my grandmother, a lovely woman, but very old as far back as my memory of her goes. She died Dec., 13, 1867. Dr. and Mrs. Webster were the parents of 12 children. The daughters married Dr. Ansel Lull, Holmes Hutchinson, Morgan Snyder, M. D. Herman D. Ward, David W. Erwin, and Franklin A. Hudson. The sons whom the Standard's readers have known were Peter Ganzevoort Webster and my father Charles Wagner Webster.
Joseph's second daughter was Maria born June 26, 1786. I think she died young. Elizabeth, born Feb. 11, 1788, married George I. Snell, of Amsterdam, they had several sons, including Dr. Jacob and Dr. Jeremiah. Mrs. Charles DeWolfe is a granddaughter. Charles born Jan. 8, 1790, married Catharine Wagner daughter of George moved to Aurora, Ill., in the early forties, if not before. He had four sons and two daughters, one of whom, Amanda, visited Fort Plain in the early seventies. Joseph, born Sept. 22, 1791, married Minerva Riggs; he lived in the house that had been occupied by his father (near the present aqueduct), and his children, all know to old Fort Plainers, were: Mary, Mrs. Orestes O. Austin; Catharine, Mrs. George W. Johnson; Emeline, Mrs. DeLauncey D. Starin; Louisa, Mrs. Wm. H. H. Havens; Jane, Mrs. James H. Congdon; ex-Sheriff Alfred J. J. Ransford; and Dewitt R. of Minneapolis. John I., born Nov. 6, 1793, married Miss Gardener; moved to Aurora, Ill., In 1838. His descendants bear the names of Pfrangel, Colby, Messenger, and Vaughn. He had one son, Alonzo. Peter, J., born Aug. 14, 1795; married Lydia Oathout, who resided on what was afterward the Pollock place; and for his second wife a cousin of the first, Margaret Oathout, of Schenectady. Peter J. graduated from Union College, and then studied and practiced law. In 1837 he was elected to congress, defeating David G. Sacia, of Canajoharie. Mrs. Wagner died in the seventies. Mr. Wagner lived to be over 90. His children were Edgar O.; Gezena, Mrs. George Wood; Caroline Virginia, Mrs. M. J. Neahr, of Chicago; and C. Cuyler, my school fellow and play fellow in childhood. Maria, born May 13, 1797, married Rev. Dr. George Lintner a prominent Lutheran divine. By a former marriage he was the father of the late State entomologist, Jr. A. Lintner, and grandfather of Hon. Elliot Danforth, Maria Lintner left no descendants. Lucinda, born perhaps 1805 in the Willett street house, died at the age of eight.
VIII. Another son of Col. Wagner, 1722, was Johan, the dates of whose birth and death I have not been able to learn. I have an impression that john was younger than Joseph, but whence the impression was derived I can not now tell. He married Elizabet--? prior to 1780. He had five children, namely, Susanna, 1780; John 1784; Elizabeth, 1786, Mrs. Henry Shults; Peter Philip, 1785; Azariah, 1805. John was the father of James Wagner and Hon. Webster Wagner; Peter Philip was the father of Edward, Nathan, Azaria, Mrs. Henry I. Phillips and Mrs. Alex Shults -- the mother of Dewitt C. Shults.
IX. Col. Wagner's daughter Maria born---? married William Nellis. She was the mother of Jacob W., Garret, Peter W., and several daughters. Peter W., 1790, was the father of Martin L.; Garret was the father of Rufus. William Nellis and wife lived and died on the place now owned and occupied by their grandson, Martin. The farm was a part of the River Patent. The old lady died in 1843. Martin remembers her well as a short woman whom the neighbors called "Mah-ree-a." Her granddaughter, Mrs. David Walrath, of Oneida, bears her name. I can not learn that she had a double name but she was probably baptised Maria Magdalena after her aunt, Mrs. Johan Fehling. In the old records William Nellis and Magdalena or Lena appear as the parents of Anna and Elisah. Now, the other William Nellis had a son Elijah and this one (Maria's husband), a daughter Nancy. It is possible that Maria was called Lena in her early life. Magdalen was a family name in the next generation). If she was about 80 when she died, she was born about 1763.
X. Col. Wagner's daughter Anna or Nancy was born, according to John M. Lipe, July 16, 1766. She was married Oct 15, 1786 to Johan Caspter Leib (Lipe). She was the mother of John C. Lipe the father of Nathan, Oliver, Reuben, Rufus, James, Joel, Joshua and Nancy (Mrs. C. L. Charlesworth). Most of these were well known to the older residents of Fort Plain. Casper Lipe, sr., lived where John M. Lives now, but the house stood nearer the river. John C. Jr., had a store in the red house east of Chauncey Wagner's. Mrs. Casper Lieb died April 12, 1820.
XI. Catharine, daughter of Colonel Wagner, was born probably prior to 1770. She married William Saltsman. She was the mother of ten children. Two of her sons, Joseph, 1805, and John W., postmaster at Palatine Bridge, I well remember. Her daughter Katie, 1795, married Peter I. Saltzman and lived on the road between Stone Arabia and Ephratah. Katie's daughter Amelia married Augustus L. Rumpff, of St. Johnsville, who most kindly drove to Stone Arabia with me for a reexamination of the church records. Mr. Rumpff says that Mrs. William Saltzman died about 1853.
XII. Probably the youngest child of Colonel Wagner, 1722, was William, born Sept. 22, 1770. That is all I know about him.
The
investigation which has resulted in these four articles was chiefly done as
a pastime when I lived at Fort Plain. Had I cared to engage in much correspondence,
I might have elicited additional facts. The accidental discovery of the descendants
of Margaret Wagner, Mrs. Klock, through an inquiry of an Omaha man, suggests
that some one may know something about the two of the sisters of whose names
I have no record.
W. P. Webster
Chapter V
Editor's note -- The preceding four letters were written as stated in the synopsis by W. P. Webster and published in the Fort Plain Standard in 1900. Three years later Mr. Webster died. His death was noted editorially by the late George Dunham of the Utica Press and is reproduced here in testimony of the worth of the man who had done his share towards preserving the annals of the Wagner family. We also present an article by Blanche W. Rich of Marion, N. Y., a sister of Mr. Webster who has kindly compiled the Wagner line to which she belongs and carried out the work begun by her brother. At the conclusion of the series by Blanche W. Rich we will begin a Wagner series compiled by Mrs. Hortense Green of Brooklyn. These will follow immediately.)
The Death of W. P. Webster
The death of W. P. Webster, which occurred in Southern California Monday evening, August 3, 1903 removed a man of whom naught can be set down save in praise. A modes man who, as the world counts such things never attained to great success, he led a life of singular sweetness and strength from which emanated Christian influences and which in many ways was remarkable as a model. Possessed of better ability than he himself believed, he was content with what some might call but small attainments and yet he drew around him a circle of friends and well wishers which many a richer and more powerful man might envy. Some years ago he came to Utica and his employment here was that of bookkeeper in the Second National Bank. He associated himself with Westminster Church, where his helpfulness was appreciated and soon it came to be recognized that in all the city there were few if any better Bible students. He interested himself in every good word and work. The Rescue Mission, the Y. M. C. A. and like Christian enterprises suffered a heavy loss when failing health compelled him to go away from Utica. Since January 1898, he lived in Southern California where he speedily established for himself a reputation like that he enjoyed here.
The lesson of Mr. Webster's life is that gentleness, goodness and real Christianity win honor and respect for their possessor and give him influence. He was a humble man in every sense of the word and yet there are not many who have wielded a wider or a better influence. He had that sort and style of religion which promotes sweetness of disposition and nobility of character. What he could do he was always willing to do and he did it as well, as cheerfully. He won the reverent respect of all who knew him and the number of friends was legion. If he was not rich in pocket, he was wondrous rich in other things more valuable than gold. The news of his death will make more mourners than that of many another man the record of whose material accomplishments is longer and larger. He did good all his life and he did it in that kindly unostentatious way which is most admirable. He can properly be described as a lovable man and withal a man who did the duties, who bore the responsibilities which came to him, in a manner highly creditable. He had a literacy ability which those who for some years have read his exposition of the Sunday School lesson in this paper have thoroughly appreciated. He was not only a student in religious matters, but a broad minded thinker. He lived a very useful life and there are scores who count themselves blessed for having come within the circle of his influence. When failing health compelled him to leave the region he loved the best and the friends who were dearest to him, he looked into the face of the future philosophically and with fortitude. Unquestionably the change prolonged his life, but it was not made quick enough to effect a cure. He was as brave as any soldier and if ever a man was ready to go, Mr. Webster was. His was a splendid exhibition of how a Christian should die. He has gone to his reward and certainly it will be a rich one.
___________________________
For
those who are interested in the history of the Wagner family and who have
been reading the series of article written some years ago by my brother William
P. Webster, I am continuing in a direct line, the genealogy of the Wagner
family, through Catharine Wagner, daughter of Joseph Wagner who married Dr.
Joshua Webster. Other lines may be taken up by those directly interested.
I have a family tree, carefully made by my brother and any desired information
in my possession on the Wagner family in its many branches, I would gladly
furnish.
Blanche Webster Rich.
Mrs.
Charles M. Rich,
Marion, NY
One of Joseph Wagner's children was Catarina (or Catharine) born February 21, 1785. She married Dr. Joshua Webster August 23, 1801. Of twelve children mentioned in Mr. Webster's history, my father, Charles Wagner Webster, was born Oct. 21, 1817. He practiced law in St. Johnsville and Canajoharie and soon afterward engaged in the drug business in Fort Plain. Subsequently he assumed the editorship of the Mohawk Valley Register, being associated with Wellington C. Wendell and Angell Mathewson. I quote from his obituary published in the Utica Herald: "As a writer of pure and elegant English he had few equals. Several of his articles, notably on political topics, were copied with comments in New York and Washington journals."
He served as post master during the administration of Lincoln, Johnson and Grant, covering a period of thirteen years.
Charles Wagner Webster married Julia Pettet June 19, 1850. Of this union six children were born, all in Fort Plain.
William Pellet, Samuel Barnes, Charles Hutchinson, Catharine Abbie, Blanche Justine and Julia Pellet. Only two are still living, Samuel and Blanche.
As my brother was the historian of the Wagner family, I feel it fitting that a short outline of his life should be given in this connection. William R. (typists note, perhaps should be William P.) Webster was born March 13, 1851. His early life was spent in Fort Plain when he received his education in private schools and in the old Fort Plain Seminary. He entered the Fort Plain National Bank at the age of eighteen and in 1879 resigned to take up Y. M. C. A. work in which he was engaged for a few years in New Bedford, Mass.; Biddleford, Me.; Plainfield, N. J.; and New York City.
While in Fort Plain he was president of the Y. M. C. A. for several years and was active in temperance work. He made a good many speeches and often reported for the fort Plain Register. His best work was a memory report, nine columns long, of Mrs. Livermore's lecture on Wendell Phillips.
In March, 1887 he entered the Oneida County Bank at Utica as bookkeeper, remaining there until 1891, when he entered the Second National Bank as the bookkeeper, a position he held until 1898, when failing health compelled him to go to California, where he located in Riverside. Mr. Webster was Republican in politics. He was a member of the Oneida County Historical Society. He was a member of the Reformed Church at Fort Plain and upon coming to Utican became a member of Westminster church. He was an elder in the church at Fort Plain and was an elder in Westminster several years previous to going to California. He was also treasurer of the session. He had taught Sunday School or Bible classes continuously since he was twenty-one years of age. The Bible especially the life of Christ, had interested him deeply and his favorite authors were Beecher, Abbot, Farrar and the like. Mr. Webster had a large Bible class in Westminster church, which was very successful in many ways.
A pastime of his was sketching and he had done a great deal of this from animal life at the large menageries. Some sketches are still in my possession of amusing situations which his ready pencil portrayed, for the amusement of a party of merry makers. One of his hobbies was autographs and he had an interesting and valuable collection.
Mr.
Webster wrote for several years the weekly Sunday School lesson for the Utica
Daily Press and the careful, conscientious and excellent way in which he did
the work commended itself to the thousands who read his weekly contributions.
Blanch W. Rich.
Chapter VI.
By Hortense Wagner Greene.
The
Wagner family emigrated to American in 1710. They are supposed to have landed
at what is now Governor's Island, in June of that year. They first settled
at New Paltz, Ulster County. Afterward they went to Schoharie and then to
Palatine in 1723. In the year 1750 Johan Peter Waggoner built his first stone
house, now standing. This was used as a fort and was stockaded. Here his only
son, Johan Peter was married to Barbara Elizabeth Doxtader in the year 1750,
and lived to be over 91 years of age, leaving 12 children, 78 grandchildren,
and 74 great-grandchildren. The following receipt is still preserved:
Palatine, 29 May 1813
"Received of Colonel Peter Waggoner nine dollars in full for six gallons
of rum for the berring of old Colonel Peter Waggoner.
J. Wheeler."
"The
Mr. Colonel Johan Peter Wagoner was born 8th of January, 1722. The godfathers
were Peter Knieskerken, Gottfried Fiedler, Maria Lies Knieskerken, (Free).
Stone Arabia, March 2, 1811
Peter Wilhelm, Domeier."
The first Peter Waggoner had eight children. The second Peter, who was Lieutenant Colonel, had 12 children. The third Peter, who married Anna Bell, daughter of Capt. George Henry Bell and Catharine Herkimer, was a 2nd Lieutenant and was in the Battle of Oriskany, with his father. These last two Peters were buried in the family burying ground. A part of this land was taken for public purposes, so the Oneida Historical Society buried these two men in the Fort Plain cemetery. Where the first Peter was buried I have never been able to find out.
I want to express my appreciation to all those who have been so good as to answer my letters and send me dates. No doubt there are lots of errors but it was my purpose to have this published so as to have these errors corrected. I would like to have a correct account of my family. As I am related to so many of the Mohawk Valley families, thru my father, Arnold Wagner, I feel I belong there. My grandfather's brother, Hon. Webster Wagner, is better known to the Valley people and thru him I thought I could trace my ancestors, especially John Wagner, who married an Elizabeth somebody -- Frothingham says Allen and his second wife Miss Bleeker who knows?
Johan Peter Waggoner, born Oct. 4, 1687 in Dockenhausen, Province of Hesse Darmstadt, Germany. Maria Margaretha Loux, born 1686 in Ohren Itseteiner Land, Germany. Record in Stone Arabia Lutheran church and translated by Rev. J. C. Phased from the German for me. Both died after 1750.
Children: (1) Anna Margaretha, born April 15, 1712, New Paltz, NY, married Heinrick Dillenback on Mar. 19, 1735. Heinrick was the son of Marden Dillenback, born about 1713-4. Will dated, Feb. 11, 1764, probated June 13, 1795. His mother was Anna Elizabeth Casselman. Their children were: Anna Margaretha, born Jan. 1736, died June 13, 1812; Antus (Andreas) born Dec. 29, 1739; Anna Maria, born Dec. 7, 1738, baptized 1740; Elizabeth, born Apr. 4, 1740; Heinrick J. born Mar. 29, 1741; Catarina, born Dec. 26, 1743; Johannes, born Jan. 31, 1747; Magdalena, born Oct 5, 1749; Barbara Elizabeth, born June 22, 1752.
(2) Maria Catarina, born Aug. 18, 1;713, married George Rosner 1751. Their children were: Jacobus, born Mar. 28, 1752; Johan George, born Apr. 17, 1755.
(3) Utilia, born Aug. 16, 1716, married Isaac Reith 1752. Their children were: Johannes, born June 2, 1753; Jacob, born July 29, 1755.
(4) Catarina Elizabeth, born Sept. 10, 1718, died 1812, married George Hockenchild, Apr. 1, 1741.
(5) Maria Magdalena, born Jan. 4, 1720, married John Fehling (Failing).
(6) Johan Peter, Jr., born Jan. 8, 1722 (Lt. Col.), died May 23, 1813, Palatine, NY age 91 years, 4 mox., 15 days, married Barbara Elizabeth Doxtader on Feb. 1750, born 1724, died July 1, 1812 age 88 years at Palatine. She was the daughter of Marcus Doxstader. Their children were: