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William Milton Wagner

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Birth	:	11 Oct 1906
Death	:	27 Aug 1942 Beaverton, Gladwin County, Michigan, USA
Burial	:	Springport Cemetery, Harrisville, Alcona County, USA
Coordinate	:	44.6255989, -83.3118973
Description	:	THE OLD ADAGE, about lightning not striking twice in the same place doesn't apply to the Wagner brothers' farm. The lightning bolt which killed William Wagner Saturday afternoon was the third to strike the steel roof of the barn since it was erected in 1921. On the other two occasions no serious damage was done. Gladwin County Record dated 8-26/1942 Column – 1 Page – 1. WAGNER BROS. BARN BURNS FIRE WHICH destroyed this barn in Tobacco township Saturday afternoon was caused by a lightning bolt which killed William Wagner as he stood in the doorway. Gladwin County Record dated 8-26/1942 Column... Read More	THE OLD ADAGE, about lightning not striking twice in the same place doesn't apply to the Wagner brothers' farm. The lightning bolt which killed William Wagner Saturday afternoon was the third to strike the steel roof of the barn since it was erected in 1921. On the other two occasions no serious damage was done. Gladwin County Record dated 8-26/1942 Column – 1 Page – 1. WAGNER BROS. BARN BURNS FIRE WHICH destroyed this barn in Tobacco township Saturday afternoon was caused by a lightning bolt which killed William Wagner as he stood in the doorway. Gladwin County Record dated 8-26/1942 Column – 6 Page – 1. Fire Destroys Livestock and Barn in Tobacco Township A Bolt of lightning ended the life of William Ms Wagner, 36, of Tobacco township, Saturday in a severe, thunderstorm that covered most of Gladwin county. The lightning also started a barn fee on: the Wagner Brother's farm, that resulted in the cremation, of a $1,000 Grand Champion shorthorn, bull, nine other purebred shorthorns and a horse. More than 75 tons of hay, haying equipment and a farm wagon were also destroyed in- the- blaze. Two purebred calves managed to escape from the burning building. The Wagner Brothers are among the oldest Shorthorn breeders' in Gladwin county and" their breeding stock commanded premium prices throughout the State. They had refused $1,000 for the herd sire that was cremated in Saturday's fire and had exhibited him at the International Livestock Exposition in Chicago and at several State- Fairs. One of the young Shorthorn bulls that died in the fire had been consigned to the Lapeer Beef Sale scheduled for this October. The 9 young animals that perished in the fire ranged in age from 2½ to 15 months and' were offspring of Wagner's famous herd sire, Raviha Master. Barn Bursts Into Flames A sister-in-law of William Wagner, Mrs. Julia Wagner, told Sheriff Ray Cowell, of Gladwin county, who investigated, that she had been talking to her brother-in-law only a few seconds before his death. She said he had been putting hay into the barn during the day but a heavy rain started shortly before the tragedy and he had taken a team of horses to the barn to unhitch them. When he finished he stood in the doorway of the barn and she stood on the porch of the home and they talked for several minutes. Mrs. Wagner then turned and had just passed through the doorway of the home when she heard tremendous clap of thunder, followed by a noise that sounded like an explosion. She ran outside in time to see a great cloud of smoke come from the barn and the entire structure burst into flames. Attempts to Free Livestock She raced to the burning building and saw the body of her brother-in-law lying on the floor of the barn about four feet inside the doorway where he had been hurled by the force of the bolt. Because the body was near the door she first attempted to free the livestock from their stalls. One of the horses followed her without difficulty but the second pulled free and dashed back into the then fiercely burning building where he died. A neighbor, Harold Eddy, attracted by the flames, arrived as she was leading the animal outside and together they carried Mr Wagner's body to safety. Sheriff Cowell and Coroner Harry Rogers said Mr Wagner had been killed instantly by the bolt which evidently struck the barn above the door and traveled down to the ground by passing through his body on its way. The body was; badly burned about the head, faee, and legs and some of the hair had been singed off. His right shoe was ripped practically off the foot and the leather in both shoes was badly burned. Large Crowd Gathers A crowd of more than 150 persons, from Beaverton and the surrounding countryside, gathered at the Wagner farm within a short time after the lightning bolt struck at 2:30 p.m. The barn burned burned so quickly, however, that it was but a heap of smoking ruins by the time sufficient fire-fighting help arrived. A large straw stack outside the ruined building burned far into the night as the flames ate their way through it. Perry Cowell, a neighbor, was one of the first to arrive at the scene of the fire. He reported that it was physically impossible to enter the barn because of the intense heat. The bellowing of the suffering animals was terrible to hear, but the blinding smoke prevented Sheriff Ray Cowell from shooting the animals in their stalls. Neighbors Help Out Friends and neighbors'- gathered at the Wagner place Monday to help with farm chores and work in the hay field. A group of 35 neighbor men folks assisted in housing 30 acres of second cutting alfalfa. Ernest Nunn, Beaverton township farmer, drove 7 miles to assist his unfortunate neighbors in their hour of sorrow. The barn destroyed by the fire was one of the finest in the county. It was a frame structure with a metal roof and was about 40 feet wide and 80 feet long. Building and livestock losses in the fire were etsimated at upwards of $15,000. The Wagners had only $3,500 in insurance—$2,000 on the barn and $1,500 on the livestock. The barn was built in 1921. Funeral Held Tuesday Funeral services for Mr Wagner were held Tuesday at 2 p.m. at the Dale Methodist Church and burial was in the Dale cemetery. Mr. Wagner was born in Tobacco township on October 11,. (continued on page 8) Wagner Fire (Continued from Page 1) 1906. He was the son of Moses Wagner and Jane (Freeman) Wagner. He spent his entire life in Tobacco township and assisted his brothers in the establishment of their successful herd of Beef Shorthorn cattle. He had never married. Surviving are four brothers, George and Jesse, of Tobacco township, and Fred and Stanley, of Lapeer; two sisters, Mrs Joe Long, of Beaverton township, and Mrs Eva Truax, of Lapeer; fouruncles, Eugene, Gar and George Freeman, of Tobacco township, and Levi Freeman, of Hurlburt; as well as many other relatives and friends. Gladwin County Record dated 8-26/1942 Column – 3 Page – 8.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is William Milton Wagner's memorial?
William Milton Wagner's memorial is located at: Springport Cemetery, Harrisville, Alcona County, USA.
When did William Milton Wagner death?
William Milton Wagner death on 27 Aug 1942 in Beaverton, Gladwin County, Michigan, USA
Where are the coordinates of the William Milton Wagner's memorial?
Latitude: 44.6255989
Longitude: -83.3118973

Family Members:

Parent

Moses Wagner

(1853 - 1929)

Jane Ann Freeman Wagner

(1869 - 1935)

Siblings

Fred Bliss Wagner

(1885 - 1976)

George Christopher Wagner

(1887 - 1977)

June Belle Wagner Long

(1889 - 1976)

Justus Eugene “Jess” Wagner

(1894 - 1984)

Nona Ella Wagner Bard

(1911 - 1992)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Springport Cemetery
Harrisville, Alcona County, USA
Coordinate: 44.6255989, -83.3118973

2. Saint Anne Cemetery
Harrisville, Alcona County, USA
Coordinate: 44.6450005, -83.3028030

3. Westlawn Cemetery
Harrisville, Alcona County, USA
Coordinate: 44.6556015, -83.3122025

4. Killmaster Family Cemetery
Harrisville, Alcona County, USA
Coordinate: 44.6641707, -83.3091323

5. Saint Raphael Catholic Cemetery
Mikado, Alcona County, USA
Coordinate: 44.5913880, -83.4047220

6. Mikado Township Cemetery
Mikado, Alcona County, USA
Coordinate: 44.5911090, -83.4080310

7. Twin Lakes Cemetery
Lincoln, Alcona County, USA
Coordinate: 44.6809311, -83.4244308

8. Mount Joy Cemetery
Alcona, Alcona County, USA
Coordinate: 44.7543983, -83.3122025

9. Baker Family Cemetery
Mikado, Alcona County, USA
Coordinate: 44.6121810, -83.5311080

10. Chippewa Indian Cemetery
Oscoda, Iosco County, USA
Coordinate: 44.4972000, -83.4400024

11. Veterans Memorial Park
Oscoda, Iosco County, USA
Coordinate: 44.4492540, -83.3484440

12. Calvary Cemetery
Black River, Alcona County, USA
Coordinate: 44.8161011, -83.3289032

13. Maple Ridge Cemetery
Barton City, Alcona County, USA
Coordinate: 44.6819000, -83.5738983

14. Sacred Heart Cemetery
Oscoda, Iosco County, USA
Coordinate: 44.4220009, -83.3479996

15. Pinecrest Cemetery
Oscoda, Iosco County, USA
Coordinate: 44.4199982, -83.3479996

16. Au Sable Township Cemetery
Au Sable, Iosco County, USA
Coordinate: 44.4094440, -83.3369440

17. Trinity Lutheran Cemetery
Barton City, Alcona County, USA
Coordinate: 44.6847222, -83.6102778

18. Pleasant View Cemetery
Spruce, Alcona County, USA
Coordinate: 44.8363889, -83.4644440

19. Corser Family Burial Plot
Wilber, Iosco County, USA
Coordinate: 44.3809300, -83.4815000

20. Wilber Cemetery
Wilber Township, Iosco County, USA
Coordinate: 44.3703003, -83.5175018

21. Glennie Cemetery
Glennie, Alcona County, USA
Coordinate: 44.5433006, -83.7185974

22. Saint Catherine Church Cemetery
Sanborn Township, Alpena County, USA
Coordinate: 44.9047220, -83.4894440

23. Sanborn Township Cemetery
Ossineke, Alpena County, USA
Coordinate: 44.9211006, -83.4338989

24. German Cemetery
Sanborn Township, Alpena County, USA
Coordinate: 44.9174995, -83.4831009