Reference: Twentieth Century History and Biographical Record of LaPorte County, Indiana

By: Rev. E. D. Daniels 1904

H. Clay Wagner, who is engaged in general farming on section 20 Kankakee Township, is a well-known and successful representative of agricultural interests in northwestern Indiana. He was born in Springfield Township, LaPorte County. His father, David F. Wagner, was a native of Pennsylvania but removed from Virginia to this state about the year 1835. He was the son of a Jacob J. Wagner, also a native of the Keystone state and one of the pioneer settlers of LaPorte county, where he took up his abode about 1836, settling in Kankakee township. All around are evidences of the pioneer condition of this district, for the lands were wild and the fields uncultivated, streams unbridged and what are not thriving towns and villages were then undreamed of.

David F. Wagner took up his abode in Springfield Township entering land from the government, and upon the claim which he secured he developed a good farm. After making a number of improvements there he sold that property and purchased land in Kankakee Township in 1845. This became the old family homestead and was located on section 20. There he remained throughout the residue of his days, and his attention was given to agricultural pursuits with good results. He died in the year 1854 and left behind him the memory of an active, honorable and useful career. In politics he was a Whig, but never sought or desired public office, preferring to give his attention to his business affairs that he might provide a comfortable home for his family. He was married in early manhood to Miss Angeline Cadwallader, who was born in Wayne County, Indiana, but was reared in LaPorte County from about the age of twelve years. She lived to the ripe old age of seventy-five years, and was a most faithful companion and helpmate to her husband and an estimable lady, whose excellent traits of character won her many friends. Her father, Byron Cadwallader, was one of the pioneer settlers of LaPorte County. He removed from Virginia to Henry county, Indiana and thence came to this portion of the state. He was one of the associated judges of Henry County.

To Mr. and Mrs. David F. Wagner were born six children: Elizabeth, who is now the widow of Isaac Barrick; Milton, who joined the Union army for service in the Civil war, and laid down his life on the alter of his country; H. Clay; Sarah, who was a successful and capable teacher in the LaPorte schools for many years; Ellen, the wife of John A. Bush, a resident of Great Falls, Montana; and David F., who is an engineer on the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railroad.

No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of farm life for H. Clay Wagner in his youth. He remained upon the home farm in Kankakee Township from the age of one year, and was educated in the common schools and in Evansville Seminary in Rock County, Wisconsin. He was also a student at one time in Hillsdale, Michigan, and when his literary course was completed he returned to the farm, and has since followed agricultural pursuits with the exception of one year spent in business at Fort Scott, Kansas. His labors as an agriculturist have been effective, for he has developed rich fields and raised good crops, which, finding a ready sale on the market, have returned to him an excellent income as the result in the care and labor he bestows upon his fields.

In 1871 Mr. Wagner was united in marriage to Miss Margaret E. Hews, a native of Pennsylvania, who came to LaPorte County Indiana, with her parents when about eight years of age. For about four years after their marriage the young couple lived upon a farm near the city of LaPorte and in 1875 they established their home upon the farm which is now their place of residence and which is the old family homestead of the Wagners. Here Mr. Wagner owns one hundred and twenty acres of land. His only son, Harry, is assisting him in the operation of the farm, which will one day become his property.

Mr. Wagner is a stanch Republican in his political views, and keeping well informed on the questions and issues of the day is enabled to support his portion by intelligent argument. He had held the office of assessor, and was a member of the Republican county committee and served as its chairman. He does all in his power to promote the growth and insure the success of his party and he is equally active and influential in advancing general measures for the public good. He is identified with the Masonic fraternity and a leading member of the Agricultural Association, of which he served as treasurer from 1895 until 1901. His lifework is familiar to the citizens of LaPorte County who know him to be a man of unfaltering integrity and honor.