Wagner Family Stories and Notes
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Notes for William Lee Wagner
During World War II First Sgt. Bill Wagner was shipped to the War Zone in the Philippines where he was involved in heavy fighting. He was captured by the Japanese on the Bataan Peninsula and was forced in the Bataan Death March. He died from Colitis February 18, 1945 in the Fukuok prisoner of war camp in Japan. His remains are in the British Commonwealth Cemetery in Yokohama, Japan.
Notes for Jacob Wagner
Jacob Wagner was born in the Palatinate area of Germany in the year 1717.
He, like so many others, left his homeland to come to this new land, America.
He settled first in Lebanon, Lancaster Co., PA, before coming to Rowan Co.,
NC. I am not sure when Jacob arrived in Rowan Co., however, he had received
two land grants from the Granville Dist. by 1760, each for 360 acres. Jacob
and his wife Susannah were the parents of at least six children: Daniel (I),
Jacob Jr., Joseph, David, Magdalene, and Mary.
Jacob's oldest son Daniel (I) married Elizabeth Harmon in Rowan Co., on
18 Mar 1767. She was the oldest child of George and Margaret Harmon. George
wrote his consent for this marriage in German. George Harmon was born in
Mittelfranken, Wuerttemburg, Germany, in 1710. His parents were Johan Michael
and Kundigunda Regis Hermann. George came to America with four brothers and
settled in Pennsylvania for a short time. George married his wife in Maryland
before coming to North Carolina. It is believed they settled in that part of
Rowan Co. that was Guilford Co. in 1770 and Randolph Co. in 1779. George
mentioned his son-in-law Daniel Wagner in his will. He died in Randolph Co.
in 1787.
Old Jacob Wagner died on 1 Nov 1799, and is buried in the Bethany Reform
Church Cemetery, Davidson Co., NC. He left Daniel 800 acres of land located
on Abbots Creek. It has been recorded that Daniel and his brother-in-law,
Cutliff Harmon, were friends and hunting companions of Daniel Boone. Daniel
took a second wife, Elizabeth Kane, daughter of Peter Kane. Peter Kane
mentions his son-in-law Daniel Wagner in his will.
Daniel's son Mathias married Susan Miller. It is thought that Andrew, the
second son, married Susannah Grimes. The third child, Catherine, married
Valentine Harmon; Mary Amelia married Peter Clodfelter; Rosannah married
John DeLapp Sr.; Sarah married John Baker; Elizabeth married Abraham
Bucks; Susannah married George Sithloff; and Barbara married first a
Mr. Heasley and second a Mr. Potter.
The only child born to Daniel's second wife was Daniel (II), born 2 Jul 1792.
Daniel (II) married Christina Eller. Daniel (I) was in the NC Militia during the
Revolutionary War.
The oldest child of Andrew Wagner [& probably Susannah Grimes] was
Daniel Waggoner. He married Martha Kincannon in Washington Co., VA.
She was the daughter of Dr. Francis Kincannon II and his wife, Martha
Snodgrass, daughter of David and Margaret Snodgrass of Abington,
Washington Co., VA.
It is not known whether Andrew Wagner and his family were living in
Washington Co. at the time of his son Daniel's marriage or not; however, on
the 1830 census of Hardin Co., TN, it shows the families of Andrew [Wagner],
Daniel [Wagner], and Francis Kincannon II living in the town of Savannah.
Daniel and Martha [Kincannon] Waggoner were the parents of seven
children. Susan, the oldest child, married J. J. Williams, and died the
following year giving birth to a daughter they named Susan. Daniel Waggoner's
daughter Martha married her dead sister's husband, J. J. Williams.
Daniel's third child was Elizabeth "Betsy," who married Alexander Nevill;
[his daughter] Margaret Ann "Peggy" married Zachariah Lilly, [his son] Mathias
married Mary Graham, [his daughter] Nancy Keturah married James M. L. Porter,
and [his son] Francis G. K. married Mrs. Sarah Adeline Evins. The grandchild,
Susan Williams, married Dr. J. M. Motley and died during childbirth. The name
Susan was never used in the family again.
Daniel Waggoner died of typhoid fever in 1835. Martha lived with her
daughter Nancy Keturah Porter until she [Martha] died.
Her son-in-law, Alexander Nevill, was sheriff of Hardin Co. Then, but
when his term of office was over, Alexander and Betsy became interested in
exploring the new territory called Texas. Their first land grant was dated in
1841 in Red River Co., TX. Alexander continued to be interested in city,
county, and state politics. He was appointed as one of five Commissioners to
establish the center of the new-formed Titus Co., and to select a townsite to
be called Mount Pleasant. He was J. P. for many years, and was Chief Justice
at the time of death of his son, Napoleon Bonaparte Nevill. The land
surrounding these two graves was given to the church, and is known as Nevill's
Chapel and Restland, located in Nevill's Community just Northeast of Mt.
Pleasant, Titus Co., TX.
Betsy and Alexander Nevill were the proud parents of eleven children:
Thomas Lafayette; Napoleon Bonaparte; Margaret Ann; Mary Elizabeth; Andrew
Jackson; Martha Parlee; William Francis; Sarah Patience; Julia Isabelle; Nancy
Susanne; and Mathias Alexander, who was born one month before his
father's death.
Betsy was left with ten children, ranging in age from 17 to 1 month. Her
parents were no longer living; therefore, she called upon her strong pioneer
strength of character to raise her children alone.
Betsy had two sons, T. LaFayette Nevill and Andrew Jackson Nevill, to
serve in the Civil War. They were among the lucky soldiers who returned home,
even though Andrew Jackson lost a limb. Betsy had a grandson, William Alpert
Nevill, son of Thomas LaFayette, to serve in the Spanish American War; and a
great-grandson, James Buchanan Reed, Jr., was the first World War II casualty
from Mount Pleasant, Titus Co., TX.
William Francis Nevill was not quite old enough to serve in the Civil
War, but he was old enough to help his mother and older sisters with the
younger children and the farm chores. He married Luvina Arilla Josephine
Durham in 18972. They moved to Wolfe City, Hunt Co., TX, where they gave
their five children a good home environment and formal education. Their
children were Thomas William, who married Clara Cordelia Horn; Laura Bell;
Arthur; Nannette Booker; and Everett.
When Nanette's first husband died, she moved back home to help with her
aging parents. William Francis Nevill celebrated his 80th birthday on 25 Jan
1925. Nannette took him to town to have his picture made and had invited all
of his family and friends to come by the home place to share in the
celebration. Besides the guests he received 51 cards and letters. Nannette
took the time to record for future generations all the beautiful verses on the
cards and the warm wishes from relatives and friends. I believe my
grandfather, Thomas William Neville, expressed a most loving sentiment that
all parents would like to hear from their own children! I quote:
"It is with the greatest pleasure that I congratulate you on this your
eightieth birthday. Those eighty years represent the biggest part of a life
well spent. In the 51 years that I have lived, there is no word or deed of
yours that bears reproach, and no memory that is not pleasant. It is my hope
that when I have reached the eightieth mile post, that my children can think
of me and be as proud of me as yours are of you today."
(by Raynell Nevill Wilson)