Isaiah Wagner, one of the most respected and valued residents of Osceola Township, has made his home in Franklin County (IA) since 1867. This has covered the period of the county's greatest growth and progress and in the work of general development he has borne his full share as the years have gone by. He owns one hundred and twenty acres of land on section 9, Osceola Township, and operates also one hundred and eighty acres belonging to his wife. He was born in Ogle County, Illinois, December 11, 1839, and is a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Hoover) Wagner, natives of Maryland. The father engaged in farming during his entire active life and died in Ogle County. His wife passed away in Franklin County, this state. To their union were born eleven children: Jonathan, Joseph, Snaveley and Caroline, deceased; Sarah, the widow of John Donaldson, of Rockford, Illinois; Horatio, of Leaf River, Illinois; Ahymus and Rosella, deceased; Henry, of Alden, Iowa; Isaiah, of this review; and Elizabeth, the wife of Theodore Thomas, of Geneva.
Isaiah Wagner was reared in Ogle County, Illinois, acquiring his education in the public schools. On the 7th of September, 1861, he enlisted in Company H, Thirty-fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and served for three years in the Civil war. He received a severe wound during the battle of Shiloh, being shot through the thigh. Following his discharge he returned to Illinois and in 1867 came to Iowa, settling in Franklin County, where he has since resided. For a period of forty-seven years he has been closely connected with agricultural interests here and is today one of the prosperous and representative farmers of his locality. He owns the farm upon which he located in 1867 and operates this in conjunction with one hundred and eighty acres which belong to his wife. The place is well improved, being provided with substantial buildings and excellent machinery.
On the 25th of December, 1866, Mr. Wagner was united in marriage to Miss Sarah E. Jacobs, a daughter of Enos and Rachel (Barnes) Jacobs, natives of Maryland. The father died in Illinois and the mother in Franklin County, Iowa. In their family were eleven children:, Francis T., deceased; Angeline, the wife of H. Hibarger, of Wichita, Kansas; Josephus, of South Dakota; Sarah E., wife of the subject of this review; Margaret Ann, who married D. Geeting, of South Dakota; Mary Jane, the wife of H. Baker, of Washington; Barbara Ellen, who married M. Myers, of Beaman, Iowa; Foneticus, residing in Illinois; Emma, who died in childhood; Martha, formerly the widow of William Piper, but now the wife of Andrew Dame, of South Dakota; and John, deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Wagner nine children were born: Hattie May, the wife of J. B. Huff, of North Dakota; Enos, deceased; George E., of Faulkner, Iowa; Bessie, the wife of Guy French, of Faulkner; John H. and Hezekiah, residents of Faulkner; Franklin, of Wisconsin; Wava Grace, at home; and one child that died in infancy.
Mr. Wagner attends the Methodist Church, is connected fraternally with the Grand Army of the Republic and gives his political allegiance to the Republican party. At the age of seventy-four he is still active in the world's work and seems yet in his prime in spirit, and interests. He has ever been a busy man and his active and useful life has won him the confidence and good-will of his fellowman by reason of the honorable and straightforward policy which he has ever followed.
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