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In 1918, the son, Albert L. began a career
of farming. He lacked the advice and coaching of his father who had passed
on while Albert was still a teenager. However, with determination and
hard labor he began on the farm of his youth, two miles west of Bennington
to farm. On July 16, 1919 he drove to Salina with his fine horse and buggy
and his future life partner, Angie C. Harder, daughter of H.J. and Mary
Harder, to he married by the Rev. Van Ordan of the First Presbyterian
Church.
On January 11, 1923, their son, Albert Julius, was born. In July,.1923,
they moved to the father's homestead south of Bennington, Kansas. The
house contained the second log cabin with added improvements by the original
founder, Albert William Wagner. On July 27,1926, a daughter, Twila Geniva,
was born completing the family circle.
Up until this time all farm work had been done by horse-drawn machinery,
but this gave way to tractor power in 1930.
A new and modern house was built in 1928 beside the log cabin home which
was later torn down. The greatest disaster of Mr. A. L. Wagner's farm
life was the great flood of 1951. Through the foresight of his father,
the homestead had been built on one of the highest points of the farm.
It had withstood all previous floods which had never reached the building
sites. However, the swirling waters of 1951 surrounded the foundation
of the home, but caused no serious damage.
Mr. Wagner spent his full life in farming and preparing for the future
of his children. Albert Julius (A.J.) graduated from Emporia Teacher's
College at Emporia, Kansas, with a B.S. in band and school music and education.
He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1942 as an engineer, ensign, serving four
years in World War ll in the Pacific. He taught three years of high school
band and chorus. He was married in 1945 to Patricia Hamilton, daughter
of Irvin and Alice (Baker) Hamilton. Patricia was at the time serving
as a Wave in the U.S. Navy of World War II. Together with their children,
Albert Michael, Patricia Alice, Donald Irvin and William Jay, they live
on the old Wagner homestead since the death of A. J.'s father, Albert
L. Wagner in 1963.
The daughter, Twila Geniva, graduated from Kansas University in Lawrence,
Kansas , with a B.S. in piano and education. She accepted a position as
a music supervisor in Arvin California, in 1950. She has continued her
teaching career and is now employed in Goleta Valley Junior High, Santa
Barbara,. California. She was married August 6,1950, to Thomas H. Tipton
and with their sons,. Lionel and Kyle, reside in Santa Barbara, California.
The second son of Albert William, Harry Wagner, was married to Emma Horn,
the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Horn, Sr., on June 1, 1922. They
made their home on the original farm of his father two miles west of Bennington
where Harry began a career of farming. Possessing the characteristics
of his father,. he is a neat and efficient farmer.
On June, 1933., a son, Leslie Lee was born. He attended the Bennington
schools and after graduation he took up farming with his father. Leslie
was married January 1, 1953, to Gloria Comfort, daughter of Frank and
Angie Comfort of Wells, Kansas. Gloria and Leslie, with their daughter,
Connie Sue, reside on a farm four miles southwestof Bennington.
Thus our curtain closes on the several generations of Wagners.
JEREMIAH WATTS FAMILY
By Mrs. Raymond Watts
Jeremiah Watts, one of three children, was the son of John Watts and Hannah
Hawkins-Watts and was born in Littleport, England, September 3,1855. He
was a member of the Church of England all his life. While in England,
he worked on the docks in the shipyards. He was married to Emma Markley,
a daughter of Thomas M. Markley, on December 25,1874. They were the parents
of eleven children, six of which were born in England, three of which
passed away while still living in England. Ruth, Ernest and Albert came
with the parents by boat to America then moved on to Ottawa County and
settled to farming in the year of 1888, five more children were born after
the family arrived in Ottawa County, these were: George, Harry,. Bertha,
Chester and Harley.
RUTH - married Charlie Woodruff, and had six children, three of which
are deceased. Angie married Frank Comfort and to this union were born
three children: Malcon, Vernon and Gloria. Doris married Robert Bruce
and they have a son, James (Jim). Ethel is single and resides withthe
Bruce family
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