Emil Christian Wagner, junior member of the firm of Swayne & Wagner, dealers in coal and feed at Sharon Hill, this county, and one of our most enterprising and successful citizens, is a son of Christian and Mary ( Steffan ) Wagner, and was born at Eslingen, Wurtemberg, Germany, March 24, 1859.
The Wagners are an ancient German family whose members have been numerous and well-to-do in the Fatherland, engaged in milling for generations. Possessing the twin virtues of industry and frugality-- qualities which distinguish the German race at home and abroad-- they have been important factors in the industrial history of their section of the German empire.
Christian Wagner (father) was a machinist by trade, and for fifteen years was employed in the Eslingen Locomotive works, which are among the largest of their kind in the old world. Having accumulated considerable property, he then embarked in the milling business at Wurtemberg, which enterprise he conducted successfully until his death, in 1885, when in the fifty-sixth year of his age.
For many years he was a strict member of the Lutheran church, and married Mary Steffan, a native of Germany. By that union he had a family of seven children, four sons and three daughters: Charles W., who married Anna Schmidt, and now resides in the city of Chicago, Illinois, where he owns extensive works ; Mary, who has been twice married, and lives in Germany ; Emil C., the subject of this sketch ; Sophia E. , wife of Carl Braun, a merchant in Chicago ; William, a merchant miller of Wurtemberg. Germany; Pauline, living in Germany; and Herman, a confectioner in the city of Philadelphia.
Mrs. Mary Wagner is still living in Germany, aged nearly sixty-four years.
Emil Christian Wagner was reared in the Fatherland, and obtained his education in the National schools and a German High school. Leaving school at the age of fourteen years, he entered the mill with his father to learn the milling business, and after completing his trade he worked as a journeyman in different parts of Europe, traveling through Wurtemberg, Bavaria, Prussia, and other parts of the old world, in order to see the country and become familiar with the characteristics of the people and the business opportunities presented by the different places he visited.
He finally made a tour through France, and then turned his face toward the new world, landing at Philadelphia, May 31, 1884. Soon after locating in that city he engaged in the retail milk trade, and successfully conducted that business for more than three years.
In 1888 he removed to Glen Olden, Delaware county, where he operated a flouring and grist mill until 1890, at which time he formed a partnership with John Swayne, under the name of Swayne & Wagner, and the new firm embarked in the coal and feed business at Sharon Hill, grinding chop and handling all kinds of coal, feed, pipe, cement, and other articles connected with these lines. In 1890 they erected a large structure thirty by one hundred and eighty feet in dimensions on Chester pike for the accommodation of their business, and have ever since remained at that location.
They are energetic, wide awake gentlemen, giving close personal attention to their business in all its details, and they have built up an excellent trade and become quite successful and widely known.
On August 31, 1884, Mr. Wagner was married in Philadelphia to Louise Frederika Staib, a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and a daughter of Christian D. Staib. To Mr. and Mrs. Wagner have been born three children : Emil Christian, jr., Harry, and Louise.
In his political affiliations Mr. Wagner is a stanch republican.
~ Biographical and Historical Cyclopedia, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, by Samuel T. Wiley, 1894, Pages 160 & 161.
