The Wagner Family of Bradford, Pennsylvania

This name is also found as Waggoner and Wagoner even in the same family. The branch herein recorded descends from the German emigrant, John Wagoner, who first settled in Connecticut, where he married, later going to Central New York, and ending his days in Schenectady. He was a soldier of the war of 1812, serving at the battle of Sackett’s Harbor and on the Niagara frontier. He was a farmer and lived on land leased from the Van Rensselaer estate. He was one of their tenants during the anti-rent war in New York state, and was a witness if not a participant in some of the armed conflicts incident to that period. He was an active member of the German Methodist church, and a man of strong character. At one period of his life he lived and farmed in Allegany county, New York. He had four sons and two daughters. The second generation spelled the name Waggoner.

(II) John Henry Waggoner

John Henry Waggoner, son of John Wagoner, was born either in Caroline or Dryden, Tompkins county, New York, in 1800, and died in 1857. He followed farming all his active life, which was spent in western New York. When a boy he worked on a Van Rensselaer farm, and witnessed the Case land riot. He was a Whig in politics, and a Methodist class leader. He married (first) Mary Grout; (second) Elizabeth Unsauzant; (third) Eleanor Sears, born on the Genesee river, at Oramel, New York, in 1810, died 1896, daughter of Nehemiah Sears, born in 1755, came with Colonel Gail Brooks Cole to Oramel when a young man, married a widow Hoffman, of Connecticut, and settled on a farm, where he died in 1852.

Children of John Henry Waggoner by first wife

1. Henry, deceased.
2. Hannah, deceased.

Children by second wife

1. John James, deceased.
2. Sarah Jane, deceased.
3. Martha Elizabeth, deceased.

Children by third wife

1. Frank, born October 14, 1840, died in Minnesota, January, 1907, married Alice Repenbark.
2. Charles, born March 6, 1842, died 1908, married Lucinda Dake, deceased, leaving children:
   1. John Henry, now of Buffalo, New York.
   2. Miles, now of Oramel, New York.
3. Martin Ward, of further mention.
4. Clark W., born September, 1845, died 1853.
5. George E., born September 10, 1846, died August 20, 1909, married Martha Smith, and left children:
   1. Lena, now of Wellsville, New York.
   2. Clark, of Chicago, Illinois.

(III) Martin Ward Wagner

Martin Ward Wagner (as he spelled the name), son of John Henry and Eleanor (Sears) Waggoner, was born in Oramel, Allegany county, New York, November 28, 1843. He attended the public schools, and early in life learned the trade of carriage-maker, which he followed until 1860. He was then seventeen years of age and started out to fight life’s battle with little equipment beyond his trade and a sturdy, well-developed body. In 1861 he was at Oil City, Pennsylvania, engaged in oil production. In 1866 he was at Bradford, Pennsylvania, and for a number of years was engaged in farming at Custer City, McKean county, Pennsylvania. Later he settled in Bradford, Pennsylvania, where in 1876 he built the Wagner Opera House, a house of entertainment that he personally managed until 1903. In 1879 he so enlarged, beautified and improved the opera house that it was considered one of the best houses for dramatic and operatic purposes in the state. During these years he became associated with Moses Reis, forming the partnership of Wagner & Reis. They gradually extended their operations until they had a circuit of playhouses in western and central Pennsylvania and western New York. They were a successful theatrical firm, and continued together until 1903, when Mr. Wagner disposed of the greater part of his interest in the firm, retaining only the theater at Olean, New York, which he still owns. Since 1903 he has been engaged in farming, and a real estate business assisted by his sons Fred and Charles A. In 1882 Mr. Wagner purchased the Moses farm at Limestone, New York, on which in 1875 the first oil well was drilled in the Tuna Valley by William Barnsdall, father of T. N. Barnsdall, of Pittsburgh, and yet known as the “Moses well.” During these years Mr. Wagner has had other and varied interests, being a man of great energy, initiative and clear foresight. He is a Republican, and as the candidate of that party has twice been elected to represent his ward in the Bradford city council. He is very prominent in various fraternal circles, a member of Bradford Lodge, No. 334, Free and Accepted Masons; Trinity Commandery, Knights Templar; Ismailia Temple, Buffalo, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine; past exalted ruler of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; past master, charter member and first secretary of Bradford Knights of Pythias; first master of Grange, No. 1182, New York State Patrons of Husbandry, an office he still holds. His clubs are the Merchants’ and Country of Bradford, having been a governor and chairman of the house committee of the latter.

Mr. Wagner married, April 28, 1869, Mary Dette Frank, born in Busti, Chautauqua county, New York, January 3, 1850. She is a member of the Universalist church of Bradford, the Woman’s Literary Club and the Country Club.

Children of Martin Ward and Mary Dette Wagner

1. Frank Martin, born in Bradford, September 28, 1871, died August 21, 1908; married Lillian Johnson; no children.
2. Maud Eleanor, born in Bradford, October 18, 1874, died 1875.
3. Fred Ward, born in Bradford, December 7, 1876; graduated from Bucknell Academy, 1893, and Bucknell College, 1897; is associated in business with his father; married, November 4, 1910, Effie Eaton, born November 14, 1876.
   1. Effie Eaton, born December 7, 1911.
4. Charles Augustus, born in Bradford, January 17, 1880; associated in business with his father; married, April 6, 1902, Gertrude Margaret Lindsay; no children.
5. Mary Isabel, born in Bradford, October 18, 1882, died February 21, 1884.
6. Harry W., born in Bradford, August 29, 1882, died January 25, 1883.

The Frank Lines

There were two distinct families bearing the name Frank, both coming from Germany and both came to Frankfort, New York, from Pennsylvania, just before the revolution. There is no evidence that they were related prior to intermarriage. Henry Frank and his brother Christopher emigrated from Germany to America before the “Old French War.” They landed at Philadelphia and remained in the state of Pennsylvania for a number of years, then settled on the Mohawk river at Frankfort, Herkimer county, New York. Henry Frank’s sons, Henry, Laurence and Jacob, were killed in the revolutionary war. His daughters were Eva and Mary, twins, and Margaret. Eva married John Frank, son of Stephen, who was the head of the second Frank family indicated above. During the French war the wife and children of Henry Frank were captured by Indians, taken to near Montreal, but the twin sisters at least were returned, perhaps all.

Second family: Stephen Frank emigrated from Germany to America about 1750. The place of his first settlement is not known, but is believed to have been Pennsylvania. He settled at Frankfort, Herkimer county, New York, before the revolution.

(II) John Frank

John, son of Stephen Frank, was born in Germany about 1763, and settled with his father at Frankfort, New York, where he died November 5, 1853. He, with Laurence, Eva and Mary Frank, children of Henry Frank, of previous mention, were captured in the “Old French War” by the French and Indians on the Mohawk, and taken prisoners to Canada, where they were kept several years among the Indians before they were ransomed. John Frank was again taken prisoner in the revolutionary war. At Oneida Lake the first night after his capture he escaped and by the aid of friendly Indians among the Oneidas reached in safety his home at German Flats on the Mohawk. In 1817 John Frank with Stephen, his son, and his family and his wife’s maiden sister moved down the Ohio river, and stopped at Gallipolis, Ohio, where John (1) Frank died. The others proceeded to Columbus, Indiana, where the maiden aunt died. Stephen Frank with two of his sons went with a flat-bottomed boat loaded with produce to New Orleans, and on his return died on the Mississippi and was buried on the shore. His brother, John (2) Frank, went to Indiana and brought his mother back, who died at his house many years after at an advanced age. Mary Frank, the maiden sister, on her return from captivity among the Indians, had forgotten her mother tongue and was taken from the Indians much against her will. Thus it will be seen the Franks suffered greatly from the Indians during their life on the Mohawk.

John Frank married Eva, twin sister of Mary Frank of previous mention, and with her shared the Indian captivities. They were both daughters of Henry Frank, of previous mention. Three of her brothers were killed in the revolutionary war, and if suffering for one’s country be patriotism, then was she the greatest of patriots. She accompanied her husband down the Ohio until death took him, then went with her son Stephen (2) to Indiana, later returning to Herkimer county with her son John (2).

Children of John and Eva Frank

1. Stephen (2), married Margaret, daughter of Laurence (1) Frank.
   1. Nicholas.
   2. Matthew.
   3. Polly.
   4. Stephen D.
   5. Hiram Ava.
   6. Solomon.
   7. Elizabeth.
   8. Jacob, twin.
   9. Joseph, twin.
2. Nicholas, of further mention.
3. John (2), married Elizabeth Diefendorf, of German Flats, New York.
   1. Abraham.
   2. John D., died young.
   3. Margaret.
   4. Harriet.
   5. Perry.
   6. Christina.
   7. Elizabeth.

All the children of John (2) were living at Frank’s settlement in 1859.

(III) Nicholas Frank

Nicholas, second son of John (1) Frank, was born at Frankfort, Herkimer county, New York, died in the town of Busti, Chautauqua county, New York. Members of the Frank family settled in Busti, John (2) leaving a statement in his own handwriting that he came there February 1, 1812, that his brother Nicholas came in 1810, and that his brother Stephen left Busti in 1807 and died at Fort Pekin, Tennessee, on the Mississippi river, on his return from New Orleans. Nicholas was a farmer of Busti for the remainder of his life. He married Thankful Landon.

Children of Nicholas and Thankful Frank

1. William, of further mention.
2. Andrew.
3. Stephen.
4. David.
5. Mary.

(IV) William Frank

William, son of Nicholas Frank, born in Herkimer county, settled in Busti, Chautauqua county, New York, where he died. He was a farmer of Busti, and formed a part of the influential colony of that name. He married (first) Ursula Bushnell.

Children of William and Ursula Frank

1. Darius, of further mention.
2. Emma Dette, married Sylvester Abbott.
3. Nicholas, died aged seventeen years.

He married (second) Christiana Diefendorf.

Child of William and Christiana Frank

1. John D.

(V) Darius Frank

Darius, son of William Frank, was born in the town of Busti, Chautauqua county, New York, June 1, 1824, died in Bradford, Pennsylvania, 1879. He married Arvilla Maria Watkins, born at Locke, Cayuga county, New York, December 14, 1825, died at Bradford, Pennsylvania, April 27, 1899.

Children of Darius and Arvilla Maria Frank

1. Derenzel Jefferson, born April 5, 1845, at Busti, New York, died February 18, 1867, married Abbie Hanson and left a daughter Gertrude, born at Bradford, March 11, 1866.
2. Mary Dette, married Martin Ward Wagner (see Wagner III).

Arvilla Maria Watkins, wife of Darius Frank was the daughter of Thomas J. Watkins, born at Milton, Cayuga county, New York, May 23, 1801, died May 16, 1847. He married Mary Austin, born at Cambridge, Washington county, New York, April 3, 1801, died 1830.

Children of Thomas J. and Mary Watkins

1. Volney, born at Dryden, Tompkins county, New York, February 17, 1829, died August 6, 1854.
2. Arvilla Maria, married Darius Frank, mentioned above.

See: Genealogy of the Allegheny Valley Pennsylvania

Source

Jordan, J. W. 1840-1921. (1913). Genealogical and personal history of the Allegheny Valley, Pennsylvania. New York: Lewis Historical Pub. Co.

This genealogy is based upon the source cited above. Only the structure and formatting have been changed for clearer presentation; the genealogical and biographical content