GREGORY WAGNER, JR., farmer and resident of Mt. Sterling township, was born in Owen county, Indiana, March 24, 1853. His father, Gregory, was born at Baden, Germany, February 24, 1820, and his father was also born in Baden, where he learned the trade of a weaver and there followed it. He came to America about 1827, accompanied by his wife and six children. He lived in New York, Philadelphia and Pittsburg, where he worked in the iron works for some years. From there he went to Coshocton county, Ohio and was one of the early settlers there. He continued on the land he then bought until his death in 1837. This was occasioned by the bite of a rattlesnake. His wife's name was Magdaline Riling, also of Baden. After her husband's death she came to Brown county and died here about 1862. Gregory, Sr., was seven years old when he came to America. While the family lived at Pittsburg he worked in the iron works and after their removal to Ohio he assisted his father on the farm. He inherited a part of his father's land and bought forty acres more from his brother and lived there until 1851. He then moved to Indiana, traded his farm in Ohio for land in Owen township, Indiana, remained there two years, then sold and came to Illinois, and settled in Mt. Sterling township, buying land in sections 1 and 2. There was only a log cabin on the place, but he shortly began improving; later he bought another tract and engaged in farming until 1878, when he moved to Mt. Sterling, where he now resides. He was married November 18, 1840, to Miss Agatha Lash, born in Alsace, Germany, February 5, 1821. Her father was a carpenter of Baden, who came to America in 1827 with his wife and six children. The parents of our subject have ten living children.

Gregory, Jr., was but an infant when he came to Illinois with his parents. He began when very young to help on the farm, was reared to habits of industry, received the benefits of the district schools, and continued to reside with his parents until twenty-one, since when he has been engaged in farming and threshing on his own responsibility. He now owns and occupies a portion of the old homestead, where he has erected a good set of frame buildings and has otherwise improved the place.

He was married January 15, 1878, to Miss Mary Factor of Ohio, daughter of Benjamin Factor, she being one of eleven children. The family are highly regarded members of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church. He is a Democrat and the whole family is greatly respected. Mr. and Mrs. Wagner have seven children,--four sons and three daughters.