In the following spring he became a partner in the business and located in Junction City where he remained for three years. In the meantime, he was married and pre-empted a claim near Solomon City, but after making some improvements, he abandoned the claim and in 1864 came to the Solomon Valley in Ottawa County one mile and a quarter from what is now the city of Bennington. After the homestead law was enacted he filed a claim and it became his home on the banks of the Solomon River. Continuing his work as a butcher in Junction City, he came to the valley where he was lord of all he surveyed, as at that time there was no one there to dispute his rights. He made a fine selection of land in the valley which contained some native timber and here he laid the foundation of his first cabin. At that time there were many Indians who inhabited this portion of the state, and though apparently friendly, they were always ready to steal. Game of all kinds was plentiful and wild beasts roamed the country. After the close of the Civil War, however, emigrants began flocking to this fertile valley and soon the choice land was claimed. During one of Mr. Wagner's absences to Junction City to hold his job and purchase supplies, his wife met with one the many strange incidents of that day. His wife always remained on the claim and one night her solitude was broken by Indians outside. Becoming frightened, she fled from a side door, ran to the river and swam the icy waters to the near William Rehberg homestead, the home of Mr. Wagner's sister and her husband. As time passed the country became more settled and after the establishment of Junction City and Salina, the settlers were permitted to enjoy more of the conveniences of city life. Mr. Wagner made improvements on his homestead and added to his land possessions. His homestead was located one and a quarter miles south of the  city of Bennington. Mr. Wagner was married to Maria Ulrich in 1863 at Junction City, Kansas. She us an ambitious young lady and liked by all who knew her, for she became the "good angel" of the community. She acted in the capacity of nurse and midwife to all the sickness of the frontier, cholera being the worst. The sister of Mr..Wagner, the Mrs. William F. Rehberg, died with her two children of cholera and were buried on the hill overlooking the Rehberg homestead. Mr. Rehberg was the father of Theodore Rehberg living in the present city of Bennington (1966). The Wagner's never had any children, but raised Ruena (Quinn) Richter, whose mother, Crystal (Rjchter) Wagner, was a sister of Mr. Wagner and died while Ruena was a small child. Ruena lived with her uncle until her marriage to H.J. Quinn, the father of Clarence and Arthur Quinn now of Bennington (1966). The Wagners also raised an orphan boy, Charles Blake. The Wagner home was always a meeting place of old and young for dances and parties of gayety during the frontier days until the passing of Mrs. Wagner in 1887 at 56 years of age. She remained faithful to her Lutheran teachings; Seven years after the death of his wife, Mr.. Wagner moved from his homestead to a new farm two miles west of Bennington that was his home until his death. He brought his second wife to this new home. Mr. Wagner was married to Mrs. Emma (Sieberth) Mierose in 1894 at St. Louis, Missouri. Making a home and sharing of his unending love he helped to raise her two children, Martha, later Mrs. Charles Russel of Bennington; and George Mierose, now deceased. In 1896, September 7, their first child was born, Albert Leonard William and in Febraury 11, 1901, a son, Harry, was horn. Mr. Wagner remained true to the teachings of the Reformed Church of his fathers, associated his politics to the Democratic party, was broadminded and c6ntributed much to his community in early frontier days by promoting towards the need of a banking system which was later chartered as the Bennington State Bank in 1884. In 1897, he became a director and served until his death in 1912. In 1873, he contributed a parcel of land by contract and deed to Isreal Markley of Minneapolis, Kansas, upon which to build a dam to contribute power for a saw and grist mill, one and one-half miles south of Bennington. This later became a source of power for the Bennington city lights in 1913. The cause of education has ever found in him a warm friend and for thirteen years he served on the school board and has also filled other minor public offices. He was an outstanding farmer, raising some of the finest cattle in the community and had fine orchards and vineyards on his farms. He was honorable in his business dealings, loyal in his friendships and his fidelity to duty in all the relations of life gained him respect and good will as a pioneer. Mrs. Emma Wagner with her children continued to live on the farm until 1917 when she moved to a home in northeast Bennington. She served as director of the Bennington State Bank, taking the place of her husband; she served until her death in 1927. RETURN NEXT