E. S. Wagner, one of the men who have assisted in making Oneco one of the best townships of Stephenson County, is a native of Northumberland County, Pa., where he was born on the 14th of February, 1833. He is the son of Jacob Wagner, who was born in 1799, and died in 1867. The grandfather's name was also Jacob; he was born in Berks County, Pa., and was married in Northumberland, and died May 27, 1833, at the age of seventy-five. The latter years of his life were spent in Northumberland County. The grandmother was Miss Eva Ranchler, who died May 7, 1813, aged fifty-two years.

The father of the subject of this sketch was by trade a carpenter. He learned his trade in Northumberland County, where he was born, and at the age of eighteen or twenty he went to work for himself, visiting different towns throughout that section of Pennsylvania. At the age of thirty-three, in Northumberland County, he married Miss Sarah Seiler. After his marriage he farmed a property he had bought, consisting of thirty acres, and worked at his trade at such times as the farm did not claim his attention. He accumulated land as his means increased. In the year 1846 he went overland, to Pittsburgh, Pa., and from there by boat on the Ohio and Mississippi, to Savanna, Ill., and from that point overland to Ogle County, where he remained several weeks. From there he removed to Oneco Township, Stephenson County, where he had purchased a farm of 320 acres, 100 of which were under improvement, and on which stood two log cabins. The farm cost him $1,000, and was situated half a mile south of the present home of E. S. Wagner. He lived there until his death, and during his residence was School Director and filled several other local offices. His wife was the daughter of Mr. Seiler, a native of Pennsylvania, as were all of her people. Her father was a miller by trade. There were born to them twelve children, of whom Mrs. Wagner was the second child. Eight of the children are living in this county and other parts of the West. Five of them were born in Stephenson County.

E. S. Wagner lived with his parents until he was twenty-five years old, and worked on the farm during the summer, and attended the district schools during the winter months. At the age of twenty-five he rented a portion of his father's farm for three years, then purchased a part of the old homestead for which he worked four years, and which he subsequently sold back to his father, purchasing his present home, which consists of eighty acres in Oneco Township, and twenty-four acres over the line in Wisconsin. He paid for this land $30 per acre. In 1880 he bought eighty additional acres, paying therefore $45 per acre. He has resided on this land continuously since. He is now serving as Assessor for the third term. He has been School Director and President of a farmers' cheese factory.

Mr. Wagner was married, in 1858, to Miss Mary C. Hassinger, born in 1842, and daughter of George Hassinger, of Pennsylvania. Their children are Addie M., born June 8, 1863; Samuel G., March 7, 1864; Ira J., Nov. 2, 1866. Willard is married and is living on the home farm; George S. is a merchant, and conducts a clothing store and express office at Monroe, Wis.; Samuel is a druggist in Beloit, Kan., and Ira is at home.

The brothers and sisters of Mr. Wagner are Selinda J., born July 13, 1831; Carolina, Oct. 14, 1834; Harriet, Oct. 24, 1836; Franklin, born Nov. 19, 1838, and died March 30, 1840; Amanda, born Jan. 10, 1841, and died Oct. 23, 1861; Emanuel, born March 5, 1843, and died Aug. 5, 1851; Sarah Ann, born Feb. 16, 1845; Mary Ellen, born Aug. 3, 1847, and died Aug. 13, 1851; George, born May 24, 1849; Amelia C., March 21, 1851; Daniel S., April 8, 1853. Mr. Wagner's father died March 30,1867, and his mother Feb. 2, 1883.

Mr. Wagner is an Elder in the Lutheran Church, and for several years has been the Sunday-school Superintendent. He has lived a Christian life as nearly as it is possible, and enjoys the esteem and respect of all.

Contributed by Carol Parrish from Portrait and Biographical Album of Stephenson County, Ill. (1888), p. 196