Colonial families of Philadelphia, Volume II, Part 87

Author: Jordan, John Woolf, 1840-1921, ed
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: New York : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 978

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WAGNER

Prof. Wagner to the corporation, on condition that the property shall forever be used for free instruction in natural science. He further provided for it in his last will and testament, his total benefaction being not less than half a million dollars, besides the results of years of scientific research and collection of specimens. Since Jan. 1, 1866, two courses of free lectures have been delivered each year, embracing most or all the branches of natural science. Six lectures have generally been given each week during the spring and fall sessions. Prof. William Wagner m. (first), Jan. 1, 1824, Caroline M., dau. of Dr. Benjamin Say; (second), March 29, 1841, Louisa, dau. of Archibald Binney, of Phila .; his only child d. inf .;

Anna Wagner, b. Aug. 17, 1797; d. Sept. 24, 1797:

SAMUEL WAGNER, eldest surviving son of John and Mary ( Ritz) Wagner, born, Philadelphia, March 6, 1792, was educated at the Classical Academy of Rev. Dr. James Abercrombie, Philadelphia, and, February 6, 1808, was indentured to Ste- phen Girard to learn the mercantile business. He acquired the confidence and esteem of the famous merchant, and, March 7, 1815, started on his first business voyage, an supercargo of Girard's vessel, the "Voltaire," Capt. Ezra Bowen, going first to the East Indies and China, thence to Amsterdam, from which port he sailed for Hamburg, April 25, 1816, arriving there May 5, and returning in the ship, "North Star," arriving at New York, November 8, 1816. In January, 1817, he again made an extensive voyage as supercargo of the "Rosseau," his younger brother, William, accompanying him as assistant supercargo. This voyage occupied nearly two years ; arriving in New York on his return, November 15, 1818. In March, 1821, he organized the business firm of Milnor, Wagner & Company, consisting of Will- iam Milnor, himself and his brother, Tobias. This partnership continued three years, when Mr. Milnor withdrew, and the firm of T. & S. Wagner continued in business with great success until 1831, when both partners retired from active business life. During the rest of his life, he devoted himself largely to matters of public interest, besides acting as trustee for many family trusts. He was especially interested in church work of every kind, being one of the founders of St. David's Church, Manayunk, and an active member of its vestry for many years, and serv- ing as vestryman at various times in Christ Church, St. Mark's, St. Timothy, Rox- borough, and St. Sauveur, Philadelphia. He was a founder of Bishop White Prayer Book Society, and served continuously in its board of managers until the end of his life. His probity, conservatism, sound judgment, and accurate knowl- edge of the best business methods, gave great value to his services in all positions of responsibility and trust. Stephen Girard gave evidence of his regard and confi- dence by appointing him in his will one of the trustees to settle the affairs of his bank,-a trust involving great responsibility and business skill. He was an original member of the Atheneum of Philadelphia, when it began its existence, in rooms over Matthew Carey's Book Store, at Fourth and Chestnut streets, and took great interest in the erection of its handsome building on Sixth street. It was his habit through life, when in the city, to pass a portion of almost every weekday in the enjoyment of the fine library and reading room of that old institution, and in the congenial society of the gentlemen of culture who gathered there in those days. He was married by his old preceptor, Rev. Dr. James Abercrombie, June 11, 1823, to Emilie Obrié, daughter of James S. Duval, at the beautiful country place of the bride's father, "Pomona Grove," Germantown. Their home in the city was a large, old-fashioned house, 252 (afterwards 912) Arch street, until 1863, when, owing to the inroads of business into that locality, they moved to 1819 Spruce street. A considerable portion of each year was passed at "Roxborough Cottage,"

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the charming old family country place on the Wissahickon, which was a scource of great pleasure and recreation to them, as it had been to those who had gone before them, and has been since, to those who have come after them. He pre- served his good health and active habits to a ripe old age, and died at his Spruce street residence, February 11, 1879.

Issue of Samuel aud Emilie Obrie (Duval) Wagner :

JOHN WAGNER, h. April 13, 1824: d. Dec. 22, 1902; m., April 19, 1860, Sarah A. Wood; of whom presently ;

Catharine Melinda Wagner, b. July 14, 1826; m., April 28, 1853, Daniel Rodney King, son of James and Mary (Rodney) King (b. Jan. 19, 1818, d. Jan. 13, 1880). He was noted for his knowledge and skill in horticulture, as well as for his enthusiasm and liberality in the encouragement of that interesting science in and about Phila. He served many years as president of Pennsylvania Horti- cultural Society, and his glass houses at his beautiful country place, "Denbigh," on the hills of the Wissahickon, were among the most famous of their day. He was also active in church work, both in St. Luke's Church, Germantown, when his uncle, Rev. John Rodney, was rector, and later in St. Timothy's Church, Roxborough, of which he was a founder. They had issue :

Emily Wagner King, b. July 30, 1854;

Mary Rodney King, b. Feb. 19, 1857; m., April 15, 1880, Samuel Vaughan Merrick:

Catherine Duval King, b. April 18, 1861 ; m. Thomas Arthur Meryweather, who d. March 8, 1897. Issue, one son-Thomas Arthur Meryweather, Jr. James Seraphin Duval Wagner, b., Phila., Sept. 21, 1828; d. Dec. 24, 1867; was educated at Classical School, conducted by Henry D. Gregory, afterwards presi- dent of Girard College, and received a thorough business training with the well- known business firm of S. & W. Welsh, and was, during the greater part of his business career, engaged in business with his elder brother, John; during the Civil War, he was actively indentified with the operations of the United States Sanitary Commission;

Tobias Wagner, Jr., b. March 9, 1831 ; d. Dec. 14, 1834;

Mary Sophia Wagner, b. May 2, 1834; d. Ang. 31, 1897; m., Oct. 23, 1855, John Vanghan Merrick, eminent scientist, engineer and philanthropist, son of Samuel Vaughan Merrick, eminent engineer and manufacturer of machinery, etc., who was first president of Pennsylvania Railroad. John Vaughan Merrick, b., Phila., Ang. 30, 1828, was graduated from Central High School, 1843; became inember firm of Merrick & Sons, builders of machinery and marine engines, and had charge of the designing of marine and other machinery used in a number of Government vessels during Civil War; became head of firm 1860, retiring 1870, in 1862 was appointed member of board of experts of naval machinery, under U. S. N. Dept., was an organizer of Zoological Society, and chairman of com- mittee that laid out the grounds in 1872, and served as manager and vice-presi- dent of the society to his death; in 1883 was appointed member of board of experts on water supply for Phila .; was two years president of Franklin Insti- tute, of which his father was a founder; was elected trustee of Univ. of Pa., 1870, and served as chairman of trustee's committee on college many years : directing and supervising erection of practically all the university's modern buildings. Mr. Merrick was nearly twenty-five years one of the four lay deputies to the triennial convention of the Episcopal church, was a founder of the Free and Open Church Association, and with his wife, a founder of St. Timothy's Hospital, in Roxborough, Phila., near his home; was president of St. Timothy's Workingmen's Club and Institution, and rector's warden of St. Timothy's Church; on account of his works in the realms of science the uni- versity conferred upon him the honorary degree of Doctor of Science, Feb. 22. 1906. He retired from active business, 1870, and thereafter devoted his energies to public affairs, scientific research, and philanthrophy of the broadest kind. D. March 28, 1906, at his home, "Houghton," on Ridge ave., near Roxborough, where he had resided fifty years.

J. Vaughan and Mary Sophia (Wagner) Merrick had issue :

Emilie Duval Merrick, b. July 6, 1856; m. George A. Bestwick, Nov. 7, 1878; Mary Vaughan Merrick, b. March 13, 1859; m., June 20, 1888, David Evans Williams ;

John Vaughan Merrick, Jr., b. July 4, 1864; member of faculty of Episcopal Academy; m. Annie Brown Harter, June 13, 1893:

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James Hartley Merrick, b. Sept. 6, 1869; secretary of board of trustees of Univ. of Pa .; m. Edith Lovering, Oct. 27, 1897.

Samuel Wagner, b. Oct. 13, 1836; d. April 9, 1837;

Augustus Duval Wagner, b. Feb. 2, 1839; educated at Episcopal Academy and Classical School of Henry D. Gregory. At the age of nineteen he began his business career with a firm of wholesale grocers, but, Aug., 1862, he entered upon the service of his country in Civil War, enlisting in the famous "Ander- son Troop," afterwards enlarged into the "Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry." The active and creditable services of that command form an important part of the record of the war, and its history has been compiled by its veterans and printed by its gallant commander, Gen. William J. Palmer. Unhappily the severe strain of this very active service completely broke down Mr. Wagner's health, and he was brought home for hospital treatment. Failing to recover, he was honorably discharged for disability, Oct. 31, 1863. Though completely broken in health, he again entered into business as partner in a firm of whole- sale grocers, but was soon obliged to give it up, and remained in greatly im- paired health during the rest of his life. D., unm., March 13, 1896; Emilie Duval Wagner, b. March 9, 1841; d., unm., Jan. 24, 1907;

Samuel Wagner, b. Dec. 28, 1842; he was educated in preparatory branches at Episcopal Academy, then directed by the distinguished scholar, Dr. George Emlen Hare, as head master, and in 1857 entered Univ. of Pa., from which he graduated, 1861, with degree of Bachelor of Arts. Three years later he received degree of Master of Arts. 1861-63 he was on the staff of masters of the Epis- copal Academy, as instructor of mathematics, interrupting his work at this school to take the field in defence of the state in the emergencies of 1862-63, as a private in Company D, First Regiment of Pennsylvania Militia. In 1863-64 he was a student in Law Dept. of Univ. of Pa., and in 1866 was admitted to Philadelphia Bar. His admission to the Bar of Supreme Court of Pa. followed, 1869, and to Supreme Court of United States, 1881. After enjoying a very suc- cessful career in his profession for forty years, he has retired from active prac- tice, and devotes himself largely to those affairs of public interest, which still have claims upon his attention. During his whole professional life, he has sought to keep himself in touch with public life and to aid, as far as lay in his power, the important public movements of the day, especially those looking to the welfare of his native city and state. In 1870 he took part in the organiza- tion of St. Mark's Workingmen's Club and Institute, to provide instruction for workingmen, which led to the establishment of a system of public night schools by the Philadelphia Board of Education. In 1876 he assisted in foundation of Pennsylvania Museum and School of Industrial Art, and continued actively in its management until both museum and school were well established and in successful operation. He was a founder of the Social-Art-Club, which for several years assisted in the promotion of industrial art. He also took an active part in the reorganization of the Zoological Society, studying the subject during a visit to Europe in 1872, aiding in securing a portion of Fairmount Park for the Zoological Garden, and serving as counsel for the society for many years. In 1881 he was an organizer of the Pennsylvania Civil Service Reform Associa- tion, and served some time as chairman of its committee on publication. 1881-83 he was chief of the editorial staff of Penn Monthly, a journal devoted to thoughtful consideration of the important questions of the day, and aiming at high standards in science, art and literature. Also for several years he was an active member of American Bar Association, serving on its committee on com- mercial law, and taking an active part in the movement for the enactment of a national bankrupt law. In 1885 he became president of Wagner Free Institute of Science, in succession to his uncle, William Wagner, its founder, and has since continued to hold that office during the period of the growth and develop- ment of that institution. In 1885 he was elected to membership in American Philosophical Society, and for several years served as a councilor, and as a member of its committee on publication. He was an organizer of the Free Li- brary of Phila., and has since continued to serve as a member of its board of trustees. He was also one of the founders of the Philobiblon Club, the Penn Club, and the University Club. He was an organizer, in 1891, of the American Society for the Extension of University Teaching, and served some time as chairman of its executive committee. He has always taken an active part in church work. He was a founder of the Free Church Association, has been many years a manager of Bishop White Prayer Book Society and of Advance- ment Society, was for many years vestryman of St. Mark's Church and of St. Timothy's Church, Roxborough. Mr. Wagner m., Sept. 5. 1893, Anne Leonard, dau. of Edward Seymour Harlan, and granddaughter of Dr. Richard Harlan, distinguished scientist. They reside at "Greenbank Farm," in the beautiful hills of Chester co., a few miles from West Chester, Pa. They have issue:

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Emilie Obrié Wagner, b. July 8, 1894; Samuel Wagner, Jr., b. Sept. 1, 1895.

Henry Dumont Wagner, b. Aug. 21, 1846; d. Aug. 10, 1901 ; entered Univ. of Pa., class of 1866; member of Delta Phi Fraternity; served an apprenticeship in Southwark foundry of Merrick & Sons, remained for a time with that firm as draughtsman, and entered upon practice as mechanical engineer, devoting him- self chiefly to gas engineering. He took active part, in early life, in public works for improvement of the working classes, and for advancement of art as applied to the industries, teaching classes of young men mechanical training in night schools in the southwestern part of the city, and served very actively and effi- ciently as secretary and chief executive officer of the Pennsylvania Museum and School of Industrial Art in the early and formative period of its history. Dur- ing the Centennial Exhibition of 1876, he acted as assistant to John Sartain in the department of art.

JOHN WAGNER, eldest son of Samuel and Emily Obrié (Duval) Wagner, born in Philadelphia April 13, 1824, was educated at Germantown Academy, and re- ceived his business training in the office of Messrs. S. & W. Welsh. In 1847 he engaged in business for himself which continued until his death, the present firm of John Wagner & Sons being organized January 1, 1892. He was elected a mem- ber of First Troop, Philadelphia City Cavalry, October 3, 1854, and was placed on the non-active roll of that organization December 4, 1862. He became an ap- prentice of the "State in Schuylkill," 1859, was elected a citizen of the "State," March 29, 1860; elected its Treasurer, October 3, 1871, and served in that office until elected Governor, March 23, 1881, being fourteenth Governor of the "State," and was annually re-elected to that office until he declined re-election, April 30, 1896.

John Wagner was one of the Committee of the "State in Schuylkill," who stock- ed the Upper Schuylkill with black bass in 1869, also one of the committee to select and purchased the new site for the "Castle" of the "State" on the Delaware, 1885, and one of the Committee appointed to publish a history of the "State," 1888.

Mr. Wagner was active in the establishment of the Zoological Society of Phila- delphia ; one of its original board of Managers, and chairman of the committee for purchase and care of animals. He was a member of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, the Union League, Philadelphia Club, etc.

John Wagner married, April 19, 1860, Sarah Ann, daughter of Joseph Pilmore and Mary (Worrell) Wood, and lived at the old family seat on School House lane, Germantown, where he died, December 22, 1902.

Issue of John and Sarah Ann (Wood) Wagner:

Samuel Tobias Wagner, born, Phila., Aug. 30, 1861, received his early education at Ger- mantown Academy and Academy of the Protestant Episcopal Church, and entering. 1877, the Univ. of Pa., Dept. of Arts, class of 1881, was transferred to the Towne Scientific School of the same institution, 1878. He received the degree of Bachelor of Science 1881, having been awarded the Senior Civil Engineer Prize; received degree of Civil Engineer, 1884. He was draughtsman for the Phoenix Iron Co. of Phoenixville. Pa., 1881-82; inspector for same company, 1883; assistant master mechanic for same company, 1884, and became superintendent of their shops, 1885. He was in the service of the city of Phila., Bureau of Surveys, as assistant engineer in charge of Pennsyl- vania ave. subway and tunnel, 1894-1900; assistant engineer in charge of improvement and filtration of water supply, 1900-02; and since that date has been in the service of the Philadelphia & Reading R. R. Co., as assistant engineer, in charge of the abolish- ment of grade-crossings. He is a trustee of Wagner Free Institute of Science, and has been professor of engineering for that institution since 1892. He is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers; of the American Society for Testing Ma- terials, etc. He has published a work entitled "Inspectors and Bridge Works," and numerous articles on kindred subjects. Samuel Tobias Wagner m., Nov. 13, 1888,

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Mary Clara Reeves, dau. of Alfred P. and Mary J. (Reeves) Scull, of Phoenixville, and resides on a portion of the old homestead on School House lane, Germantown. They have issue :

Mary Wagner, b. Dec. 26, 1889;

John Wagner, 3rd, b. June 6, 1892;

William Worrell Wagner, Jr., b. Oct. 9, 1895:

Thomas Rowan Wagner, b. Nov. 17, 1897.

John Wagner, Jr., b. August 23, 1863; was educated at the Academy of the Protestant Episcopal Church and the Germantown Academy, graduating from the latter institu- tion, 1880. In Dec., of the same year, he entered the office of Reeves, Parvin & Co., and, Dec., 1882, entered the office of his father, John Wagner, and, Jan. 1, 1889, be- came associated in business with him, though the firm name was not changed to John Wagner & Sons, until Jan. 1, 1892, when his younger brother, William Worrell Wag- ner, also became a member of the firm. John Wagner, Jr., was elected a member of the First Troop, Philadelphia City Cavalry, March 4, 1889; was appointed Corporal, Nov. 7, 1894; Sergeant, March 9, 1896; was elected Cornet, Jan. 8, 1900, which posi- tion he resigned Sept. 3, 1901, and was elected to the honorary roll of the troop. He enlisted as Sergeant in the First Troop, Philadelphia Cavalry, when that troop volun- teered for service in the Spanish-American War, May 7, 1898, and served until Nov. 21, 1898; was with the troop in Porto Rico. Is a member of Historical Society of Pa., and of the Rabbit, Philadelphia and Rittenhouse clubs of Philadelphia. He resides on the old family country seat on School House lane, Germantown;

Harry Wagner, b. Sept. 22, 1865; d. Aug. 8, 1873;

William Worrell Wagner, b. March 26, 1867, was educated at the Academy of the Prot- estant Episcopal Church, and at Germantown Academy, graduating at the latter insti- tution in 1884. He entered the office of his father, John Wagner, 1888, and became a member of the firm of John Wagner & Sons, at its formation, in Jan. 1, 1892. He was elected an apprentice of the "State in Schuylkill," 1892, and became a citizen of the state, Oct. 4, 1892. Was chairman of the boat committee of that organization from April 30, 1896 to March, 1907; was elected Secretary of State, Oct., 1900; Coroner, 1907, and Sheriff, 1908. Mr. Wagner is also a member of the Academy of Natural Sciences, and of the Union League, Philadelphia, Art Club, and other social organiza- tions ;

Josepn Wood Wagner, b. April 7, 1872, studied at Germantown Academy; entered the Towne Scientific School of the Univ. of Pa., 1888, class of 1892, and graduated with degree of Bachelor of Science. After his graduation he followed the profession of a civil engineer until 1898, making a specialty of bridge work, being connected with the Phoenix Bridge Co., and later with the Bureau of Surveys of the city of Phila., re- signed his position there, 1898, to enter employ of firm of John Wagner & Sons, of which he became a member, Oct. 1, 1900. He is a member of the Philadelphia, Uni- versity and other clubs of Phila. Joseph Wood Wagner m., Feb. 7, 1902, Grace, dau. of Rev. Dr. William Waith, by his wife, Henrietta McConnell. They have issue :

Tobias Wagner, b., Phila., Oct. 31, 1904.

Joseph Wood Wagner, Jr., b., Phila .. Dec. 20, 1908.

Sarah Wood Wagner, b. Feb. 6. 1876.

RICHARDS FAMILY.

OWEN RICHARDS, founder of the family of that surname in Pennsylvania, was a native of Merionethshire, Wales, who, with his wife and children, came to Penn- sylvania, prior to 1718, and, on December 22, of that year, purchased a tract of 300 acres of land, in what is now Berks county, near the present village of Weavertown, Amity township. His wife, mother of all of his children, of whom we have any record, died, and he married (second), 1727, Elizabeth Baker, who survived him, and died 1753, aged eighty years. In 1729, he conveyed one-half of his plantation to his eldest son, James Richards. The date of his death has not been ascertained, but it was subsequent to 1734. His second wife was buried in the graveyard of the Episcopal Church, at Douglassville, Amity township, Berks county, where, doubtless, his remains also rest.

Owen Richards had, by his first wife, at least four children, viz. :

James Richards, to whom he conveyed part of his plantation, 1729, but of whose descend- ants we have no record, and it is thought that he left no issue:

WILLIAM RICHARDS, of whom presently;

John Richards, of whom we have no further record;

Elizabeth Richards, of whom we have no record.

WILLIAM RICHARDS, second son of Owen, born in Wales, was already arrived at man's estate when he accompanied his parents to Pennsylvania. He married Elizabeth , and settled in Oley township, where he died January, 1752, as shown by the inventory of his personal estate, amounting to £207, 7s. Iod. ; George Boone, Jr., uncle of Daniel Boone, the famous Kentucky pioneer, being one of the appraisers. By his will, his wife was given use of the property during life, or widowhood, and his son, William, was to live with her for one year, and then be put "to such trade as he likes." The other six children, but three of whom-Mary. Owen, and James-were of age, were also provided for in the will.

Issue of William and Elizabeth Richards:

Mary Richards, m. John Ball, and was mother of Joseph Ball, the eminent and wealthy ironmaster and merchant of Phila., whose large estate was distributed to collateral relatives. This Joseph Ball was an organizer of Insurance Company of North Amer- ica, and was its president, 1708-90. He purchased the iron furnaces at Batsto. N. J., and developed them prior to the Revolution:

James Richards, b. about 1722: d. 1804; resided some years in Amity twp., Philadelphia (now Berks) co., later in Colebrookedale twp., Berks co., owning a tract of 150 acres of land at the headwaters of Ironstone Creek, two miles from Boyertown, on which he resided at the time of his decease; was a Sergeant in Fourth Battalion, Con- tinental Line, May 10. 1777, and saw active service in Revolutionary War, often re- counted by him in his old age; m. Mary - and had issue : William Richards, Frederick Richards, Elizabeth Richards. James Richards, Owen Richards, Mary Rich- ards, Hannah Richards, John Richards ;

Ruth Richards, m. Daniel Kunsman:

Owen Richards. b. about 1730; was a farmer in Amity twp., 1756: and in Union twp., Berks co., 1766-73:

WILLIAM RICHARDS, b. Sept. 12, 1738; of whom presently ;

Margaret Richards, m. Cornelius, son of Cornelius and Margaret ( Kuster) Dewees, and had six children: resided in Berks co .;

Sarah Richards. m. James Hastings, of Va.

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RICHARDS

WILLIAM RICHARDS, a younger son of William and Elizabeth Richards, was born in the township of Oley, then Philadelphia, now Berks county, September 12, 1738, and was, therefore, in his fourteenth year at the death of his father, early in 1752. The will of his father directed that he should reside for one year with his mother, on the homestead, and then "be put to a trade such as he likes." Liv- ing in the neighborhood of the famous iron industries of Berks county, then com- ing into prominence, he chose the vocation of an ironfounder, and was sent to Coventry Forge, in Chester county, Pennsylvania, established by Samuel Nutt, with his father-in-law, Thomas Rutter, an original ironmaster of that section, and then in charge of John Patrick. He was subsequently employed as foundry- man at Warwick Furnace, Lancaster county, though he continued to reside with his family in Chester county. On June 6, 1775, he was commissioned, by Penn- sylvania Assembly, Standard Bearer for the Second Battalion, Chester County Associators, and was in actual military service during a great part of the Revolu- tionary War. There is, in possession of his descendants, an original memorandum, of "Articles sent to William Richards when he went to Camp, August 13, 1776."

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Colonial families of Philadelphia, Volume II, Part 87

Author: Jordan, John Woolf, 1840-1921, ed Publication date: 1911 Publisher: New York : Lewis Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 978

Author: Jordan, John Woolf, 1840-1921, ed
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: New York : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 978