PETER WAGNER, farmer, section 16, Wabash Township, was born in Belgium June 29, 1816. In 1833 he came to America with an uncle in order to escape military duty, and located in Seneca County, Ohio, where he worked for this uncle, Michael Wagner, five years, receiving $100 for his services. He then went to Logansport, this State, and worked on the Wabash and Erie canal three years, and during that time earned money enough to pay for eighty acres of land, which he began at once to improve. He built a round-log cabin, 12 x 13 feet, one story in height, with one window containing nine lights of glass. All the carpenter work about the house cost only $1.75. He was married in 1840 to Miss Barbara Etchgen, and soon after his marriage moved into his log cabin. His wife had a bedstead that cost $3.50. He took what money he had on hand, about $5, and went to a store and bough an iron teakettle and other kitchen furniture, and also two pounds of coffee. From this small beginning he has obtained sufficient means for his declining years and to give his children a good start in life. Mrs. Wagner was born in Belgium in 1819, and came to America in 1834 with her parents, one brother and two sisters. The family located in big Spring Township, Seneca County, Ohio. Her parents, Frank and Theresa (Busbee) Etchgen, died in Tiffin, Ohio. Mrs. Wagner died in January, 1855, leaving seven children -Nicholas, Theresa, John, Frank, Peter and Charles. All are now living and all are married. In the fall of 1865 Mr. Wagner was married to Miss Margaret Lucius, who was born in Belgium in 1818 and came to America in 1855 with her parents and seven other children, the family locating in Seneca County, Ohio. Her parents, Joseph and Catherine Lucius, were of French descent. Mr. and Mrs. Wagner have three children -Joseph and Louis and Mary. Henry died in 1871, aged fourteen years. Mr. Wagner held the office of trustee in Seneca County ten years, and was assessor four years. He has been township trustee in this county eight years. He and his family are all members of the Christian church, and in politics he is a Democrat.


File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by
Gina Reasoner
GReasoner@prodigy.net
December 22, 1999

Biographical and Historical Record of
Jay and Blackford Counties, Indiana
The Lewis Publishing Company, 1887