George Wagner, whose home is near Beloit in Mitchell County, is one of the men who bore the heat and burden of the day in introducing civilization to this section, and when the many hardships and vicissitudes encountered by him and his fellows are recalled it seems that no reward in comfort and circumstances could be too great for his declining years. Mr. Wagner is one of the few early settlers who still retain and reside on their first homestead.
On coming to Kansas Mr. Wagner migrated from Adams County, Illinois, spent a short time at Selina, where he arrived in December, 1869, but in the following year started for Asherville Township in Mitchell County. Here he took up the homestead which he now owned and occupies. It would be a long story to recount all the hardships that he and his brave wife endured, all the troubles of drought, grasshopper plagues, hard times, poor markets, bad roads which beset and hampered him and the other early settlers. Mr. Wagner was one of those who endured through it all and finally came to their reward.
Thus in order to retain his claim and yet provide a home for his wife and children Mr. Wagner in the early days would work for wages of 25 cents a day and would accept his pay in any commodity which he could use. Money was not as plentiful in Kansas then as it is now. However, he can take a pleasing retrospect over those early years from the point of view of his comfortable present. Mr. Wagner had 160 acres of fine bottom land, and all in a high state of cultivation. It is improved with a beautiful home, and there he and his family enjoy the best comforts of modern Kansas country life.
George Wagner was born in Liberty, Adams County, Illinois, in 1847, and was a young man of twenty-two when he came to Kansas. He grew up and received his education in Western Illinois. His parents were C. G. and Elizabeth Wagner, his father of Prussian ancestry and his mother of English. George Wagner was one of the eight children, four of whom came to Kansas. The others were Mrs. Culp, Mrs. Fern and Josephine.
Mr. George Wagner had been twice married. His first wife was Miss May Swartz, and she left two children, John C. and Eva. In 1901 Mr. Wagner married Miss Myr Miller. They have a son, Orville. In politics Mr. Wagner is a republican voter.