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John Wagner

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John Wagner

Birth	:	2 Sep 1842 Messerich, Landkreis Bitburg-Prüm, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany
Death	:	16 Apr 1928 Creighton, Knox County, Nebraska, USA
Burial	:	Saint Ludgers Catholic Cemetery, Creighton, Knox County, USA
Coordinate	:	42.4757000, -97.9092000
Description	:	John Wagner Answers Final Summons Death occurred to John Wagner at the home of his son, Matt, in Creighton at 9:30 a.m. Monday morning, April 16. Death being attributable to the infirmities of age and complications. His illness was of several months duration but he became bedfast only about seven weeks ago. He was given the greatest solitude throughout his illness and was provided with skillful medical and nursing attention to alleviate suffering as much as possible. Mr. Wagner was one of the very earliest pioneer settlers in the community and established his residence on a homestead about two miles northwest of... Read More	John Wagner Answers Final Summons Death occurred to John Wagner at the home of his son, Matt, in Creighton at 9:30 a.m. Monday morning, April 16. Death being attributable to the infirmities of age and complications. His illness was of several months duration but he became bedfast only about seven weeks ago. He was given the greatest solitude throughout his illness and was provided with skillful medical and nursing attention to alleviate suffering as much as possible. Mr. Wagner was one of the very earliest pioneer settlers in the community and established his residence on a homestead about two miles northwest of Creighton, where he raised a big family and endured every encounter that came to those sturdy men and women, who remained through the hazardous pioneer period in the upbuilding of this community. Later in life he removed to Creighton, where he resided the remaining portion of his lifetime. Mr. Wagner was born near the town of Bittburg, in the village of Meserick, Rhine Province, Prussia, September 2, 1842 and died in Creighton, Nebr. at the age of 85 years, 7 months and 11 days. He was employed at farm labor the years he lived in Germany and naturally found farming a congenial occupation on reaching the new world. According to the custom of the old country, he served something over three years in the Prussian army from 186a3 to 1866 in the artillery service. He began his military career in Berlin and was honorable discharged there at the end of his enlistment. In 1866 in company with his brother, he emigrated to America, sailing from Antwerp to Liverpool and on April 15 on to Erin, landing in New York on the 9th of May. Proceeding directly to Chicago, John Wagner worked there ten days to secure funds for transportation to Monmouth, Ill. In July he went to Milwaukee and soon after to a farm three miles from Waukegan, Ill. About the first of September, he found employment on a railroad, then being constructed in Iowa and first set foot on Nebraska soil at Omaha sometime in November. Omaha was then a comparatively small town and the gateway to the west. In the spring Mr. Wagner secured employment as driver in the government service and was stationed at Cottonwood Springs, near the junction of the North and South Plattes. During the six months he worked here, he had many hard experiences. One day while working on the bridge across the North Platte River, his revolver fell into the river. In grabbing for it, he jerked his watch from his pocket and so far as is known, both are there in the river to this day. Lice, "chinches" and sand fleas were numerous in every camp. For safety from the Indians, men dug tunnels into the hills for sleeping quarters. In these they spread grass and rolled up in their blankets with their rifles and revolvers at their sides. One time in swimming the Platte, the current carried him a mile and a half downstream before he could make a landing on the other side. Returning to Omaha, Mr. Wagner secured work with Louis Crow, who established the first packing house in that city and remained in his employ for three years. For a short time Mr. Wagner and his brother worked in Plattsmouth and then returned in the spring of 1871 to Omaha, where they purchased oxen, a wagon and supplies for their trip to Knox County, which was recommended to them as being a desirable place to locate. Travel was slow, for they had no food and were compelled to stop after a few hours travel to allow the oxen to graze. In coming they followed up the Elkhorn to near where Osmond now stand and then turned to the northwest, over the watershed into the valley of Bazile Creek. At that time in Creighton there was but one sod shanty on the east side of the creek. George Quimby had laid out a townsite called Mansfield about a mile south of the present site of Bazile Mills. Here Mr. Wagner, with his brother, arrived on Good Friday, which fell in April that year, a few hours before the Bruce Colony, which had wandered out on the Elkhorn, crossed back in Niobrara and finally had reached their destination from the north instead of the south as they had first intended. Mr. Wagner located on a homestead claim one mile north and one west from Creighton and in the fall returned to Omaha, where he worked until spring. While here he married and in the spring started for his new home with his young wife. The railroad extended to West Point or Wisner and here Mr. Wagner engaged a settler living 8 miles from West Point to bring him to Creighton. Here he purchased a cow, some chickens and some wheat. There being no way to take the cow with him at the time, Mr. Wagner returned some months later, walking nearly all the way to West Point, a little over 60 miles, and on foot led the cow back home, purchasing a milk bucket at Norfolk on the way. There was a log house on Mr. Wagner's homestead, built by an early pioneer, who had become discouraged and abandoned his claim. Here the family lived some years, until a more commodious framed house could be erected. Here Mr. Wagner lived until October 1900, when he came to town, that his children might attend parochial school. Mr. Wagner was first married on October 25, 1872 to Miss Lydia Horst, a native of Germany, who came to America in 1867. Her people died in Germany and she came to the United States when 12 years of age with neighbors and lived first in Illinois, later in Iowa and finally in Omaha. Nine children wee born to bless this union. The eldest, Mrs. A.R. Johnson of Sioux City, Iowa; Mrs. Frank Abbenhause, Gregory, S.D.; Mrs. J.H. Abbenhause, Herrick, S.D.; M.J. Wagner, Creighton; Mrs. Wm. Young, Inman, Nebr.; Frank H. Wagner and Leonard J. Wagner, Omaha, Nebr. and Mrs. H.L. Albrecht, Creighton. Mary Thersia died at the age of 8 years. The wife and mother died August 19, 1890. On January 22, 1904, Mr. Wagner was married to Mrs. Franciska M. Haak, a native of Washington county, Wis. This marriage was blessed with one daughter, Mrs. Fred Wagner, Norfolk, Nebr. Other surviving relatives are two stepsons and one stepdaughter, Leo and Luke Haak and Mrs. Dan Scott of Atkinson, Nebr. Mr. Wagner endured many of the hardships of pioneer days. Money and work were so scarce at those times. On several occasions he walked to West Point some sixty miles away to labor in the harvest fields and then walked home with the proceeds and a few provisions to provide for the family. To save matches they were carefully split into four pieces and each piece being made to do the service of a whole match. Groceries for a year or two were hauled from Yankton fifty miles away. For coffee, queer substitutes were found. They used parched corn at Dry Creek, dried peas at West Point, wheat at Pierre and burnt bread at Bazile Mills. Mr Wagner was a man of splendid character and one whose word was his bond. His friends were numbered by his acquaintances, which were numerous. Funeral services were held Wednesday morning from St. Ludger church in Creighton, solemn requiem mass being celebrated by Father Stahl of Butte, Nebr. assisted by Fathers Brady of Plainview and Windolph, pastor of the church. Father Windolph gave an appealing exhortation to the virtues of Mrs. Wagner, who in his lifetime glowed with exuberance of simplicity, yet with honorableness and honesty in every instance. A very large concourse of friends attended the funeral, that they might thus pay homage and tribute to the memory of a true friend and instill in the big family of relatives, who survive that inexpressible friendship that endures. Interment was made in St. Ludger cemetery in the family plot with those who had preceded him in death. Uniting with the great number of friends of the family, The News expresses condolences to those who mourn the loss of a guiding parent. ...The Creighton News 19 April 1928

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is John Wagner's memorial?
John Wagner's memorial is located at: Saint Ludgers Catholic Cemetery, Creighton, Knox County, USA.
When did John Wagner death?
John Wagner death on 16 Apr 1928 in Creighton, Knox County, Nebraska, USA
Where are the coordinates of the John Wagner's memorial?
Latitude: 42.4757000
Longitude: -97.9092000

Family Members:

Spouse

Lydia Horst Wagner

(1851 - 1890)

Franceska M. (Haak) “Frances” Schneider Wagner

(1854 - 1917)

Children

Helen K. Wagner Johnson

(1874 - 1946)

Margaret Wagner Abbenhaus

(1874 - 1952)

Mathias J Wagner

(1880 - 1950)

Anna Suzan Wagner Young

(1882 - 1955)

Frank H Wagner

(1884 - 1940)

Mary T. Wagner Albrecht

(1890 - 1952)

Adelia C. Wagner Wagner

(1895 - 1954)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Saint Ludgers Catholic Cemetery
Creighton, Knox County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4757000, -97.9092000

2. Rose Hill Cemetery
Creighton, Knox County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4756500, -97.9087500

3. Greenwood Cemetery
Creighton, Knox County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4747009, -97.9096985

4. Christ Lutheran Cemetery
Bazile Mills, Knox County, USA
Coordinate: 42.5106800, -97.9140100

5. Cedar Hill Cemetery
Bazile Mills, Knox County, USA
Coordinate: 42.5107994, -97.8972015

6. Winnetoon Cemetery
Winnetoon, Knox County, USA
Coordinate: 42.5097198, -97.9550018

7. Olcott Cemetery
Knox County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4668999, -98.0335999

8. Kemma Cemetery
Knox County, USA
Coordinate: 42.5438995, -97.8103027

9. Millerboro Cemetery
Antelope County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4216995, -98.0338974

10. Gnewuch Gravesite
Center, Knox County, USA
Coordinate: 42.5973000, -97.8267800

11. Saint Pauls Catholic Church Cemetery
Plainview, Pierce County, USA
Coordinate: 42.3678700, -97.7959700

12. Brunswick Cemetery
Brunswick, Antelope County, USA
Coordinate: 42.3424988, -97.9518967

13. Pleasant View Cemetery
Plainview, Pierce County, USA
Coordinate: 42.3665310, -97.7959700

14. Morrillville Cemetery
Bloomfield, Knox County, USA
Coordinate: 42.5725000, -97.7541000

15. Eden Valley Cemetery
Pierce County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4241982, -97.7177963

16. Riverside Cemetery
Verdigre, Knox County, USA
Coordinate: 42.6011009, -98.0286026

17. Plainview Memorial Park Cemetery
Plainview, Pierce County, USA
Coordinate: 42.3512160, -97.7877140

18. Danish Cemetery
Brunswick, Antelope County, USA
Coordinate: 42.3219800, -97.9125700

19. Saint Wenceslaus Cemetery
Verdigre, Knox County, USA
Coordinate: 42.6039009, -98.0428009

20. Morsett Cemetery
Royal, Antelope County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4349800, -98.1416300

21. Golgotha Lutheran Cemetery
Wausa, Knox County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4732600, -97.6609400

22. Hillcrest Cemetery
Verdigre, Knox County, USA
Coordinate: 42.6356010, -98.0378036

23. Zion Cemetery
Pierce County, USA
Coordinate: 42.3293991, -97.7371979

24. Pleasant Valley Cemetery
Verdigre, Knox County, USA
Coordinate: 42.5678900, -98.1491800