Wagner, Alma (Georg)

Alma Georg Wagner, 104, of Columbus died Friday, Nov. 17, 1995 at River Oaks Nursing Home in Columbus.  Born Jan. 19, 1891, she was the daughter of John and Ida (Venghaus) Georg.  On April 21, 1921, she married Henry Wagner.  Mrs. Wagner, who had been a resident of Columbus for 40 years, was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Columbus.  Funeral services were held Nov. 19 at Henneke Funeral Home with Pastor John Hunsicker officiating.  Interment followed in Odd Fellows Rest Cemetery, Columbus.  Services were under the direction of Henneke Funeral Home in Columbus.  Serving as pallbearers were Fred Wallace, Raymond Heine, Roy Stallman, Eldin Wied, Delmar Fehrenkamp and L. J. Braden.  Mrs. Wagner is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, John and Evelyn Wagner of Columbus; a grandson, John W. Wagner and wife Debbie of Houston; great-grandchildren Alli Wagner and Wesley Wagner, also of Houston; and numerous nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her husband on Nov. 16, 1967.

Colorado County Citizen, November 23, 1995
Submitted by David Hahn

Wagner, Augustus Louis "Gus"

Funeral Services Held Saturday For A. L. Wagner

Respected Former Merchant of Eagle Lake Buried Saturday, Had Been a Resident of Texas For More Than 62 Years

After many weeks of patient suffering, a. L. (Gus) Wagner passed away Friday morning of last week at 5:30 o'clock, at his home in Eagle Lake. Only a few months ago he came "back home" from Corpus Christi to spend the remaining days of his life among old friends and relatives of former years.

Mr. Wagner was born September 11, 1878, at Fulton, Texas, later the family moved to Victoria and at the age of 13 he came to Eagle Lake where he has continuously make his home, with the exception of a few years residence in Corpus Christi to be near his only child.

Mr. Wagner is the last of his immediate family. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. August Louis Wagner, prominent and representative citizens of this section.

In early youth he was baptized in the Catholic Church. He was married to Miss Valentine Stockbridge, in December, 1903, and she, with an only child, Mrs. Frank O'Dowd of Refugio are left to mourn his passing, along with one grandson, Master William O'Dowd.

Impressive funeral services were conducted by Rev. J. H. Landes, pastor of the First Baptist church, at ten o'clock Saturday morning from the McCreary Funeral Home. The prelude number of funeral music, "When They Ring Those Golden Bells" was played by Mrs. J. R. Laughlin. "In the Garden" was touchingly rendered by Mesdames Hayes Stephens, W. C,. Reed, H. W. Graves, W. E. McRee and Vic Engelhard.

Those who gently bore the casket to its last resting place were W. R. Terrell, E. C. Terrell, N.C. Ney, Max Connor, Cliff Woods of Houston and Carl Seaholm. Burial was in the Masonic cemetery with many beautiful flowers attesting the high regard for the memory of deceased.

For two score years Mr. Wagner had been a part of this community and its activities, having followed the grocery business over the passage of a number of years.

In his younger days, he, at one time, served as Superintendent of the Methodist Sunday School. He lived his life quietly and unpretentiously and will be greatly missed by friends and relatives.

To the sorrowing widow and daughter, who have felt his death so keenly, the Headlight joins in the general expressions of sympathy which have been expressed to them and it is our hope that in the days to come the comforting presence of the Heavenly Father will be with them to lessen their burden of grief.

Eagle Lake Headlight, February 28, 1941
Transcribed by Dennis Boatright

Wagner, Benjamin T.

Funeral services were held at Columbus Funeral home Monday at 4 p.m. for Ben T. Wagner, 64, who died in Texas City late Sunday.

Mr. Wagner, who was visiting a cousin, Milton Cook, suffered a heart attack and died in Danforth hospital there about 5:45 p.m.

Dr. Norman L. Roberts of the First Baptist church officiated and burial was in Odd Fellows Rest cemetery.

Mr. Wagner, a native of Columbus, was born Sept. 25, 1891, a son of Thomas and Bernetta Dunn Wagner.

His mother died when he was a very small child and, he was reared by 2 aunts, Mrs. S. K. Seymour Sr. and Mrs. Bertha Wagner.

He had just returned home from Guam after about 7 years of work there with the Brown-Maxon-Pacific co., who do construction work. He had planned to retire and spend his time here an in Texas City.

Survivors include 3 first cousins, Sam K. and J. D. Seymour of Columbus and Mrs. George Belew of Waco and his cousins in Texas CIty,

Pallbearer, were Bennett Hastings, Leon Willman, A. I. Chapman, Adolph Vacek, John Busselman and Sam Harbert Jr.

Colorado County Citizen, April 19, 1956

Wagner, Berta (Mathee) Bryon

Mrs. Bertha Wagner

The death of Mrs. Bertha Wagner, 84, occurred at her apartment in Seguin late Friday, following only a brief illness. Funeral services were held here Sunday afternoon at three, Rev. J. W. E. Airey of Houston officiating, and interment was made in Odd Fellows Rest.

Attending the funeral from out of town were Mr. And Mrs. G. C. Wagner and Dr. Grover C. Wagner of Paris, Mr. and Mr. J. W. Schuhmacher, Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Robertson and Wilson Schuhmacher of Navasota, Mr. A. O. Smith of Mart, Mr. and Mrs. R. E. Wagner and Fred Wagner of Brownsville, Mrs. W. H. Benedict and daughter of Fayetteville, Avery Schuhmacher of El Paso, Mr. Benton Fisher of Paris, Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Schuhmacher Jr. and daughter Jetta Lavo and Misses Hattie and Malzena Mathee of Houston, Mr. A. C. Garret and Mrs. Sophie Garrett of Wharton, Mesdames, C. R. Bennett, S. B. Darnall, Maude Hairston and P. E. Driver of Mart, Mrs. A. J. Cook of Texas City, Mrs. L. G. Weyer of Galveston, and Mr. and Mrs. Lewis and Mrs. Leo Horwitz of Houston, Mrs. Sallie Westmoreland and Mrs. Mattie Tolliver of Eagle Lake.

The Citizen is indebted to Rev. Mr. Airey of notes on the history of this brave and bold pioneer woman of Texas as follows:

Mrs. Wagner's parents, J. W. and Dorothy Schuhmacher Mathee, were natives of Mecklenburg, Germany, and immigrated to Texas in 1847, settling in Houston, at that place. Bertha Mathee was born six years after Texas had been admitted to the Union (April 15, 1851). During October of '51, when Mrs. Wagner was but six months of age, the family undertook to move by covered wagon and mule team to Columbus. The road was so rough that the little baby was bounded out of the wagon but no injured. There were other adventures, among them the loss of their provisions, necessitating a return to Houston and a new start. They finally reached this section after some two months of overland travel.

At that time there were about a dozen white families in Columbus, including such names as Emil Miller, Draub, Sandmeyer, Zumwalt and Oncelene. Five other children were born to the parents of Mrs. Wagner after they came to Columbus.

Mrs. Wagner's 84 years witnessed the unfolding drama of the Lone Star State's development from a frontier wilderness to the civilization of today. The steamship and railroad replaced the sailboat and stagecoach, Indians were segregated to their reservations, buffalo exterminated, open range operations hampered and doomed by miles and miles of fences. She well remembered the first Mayor of Columbus, the Hon. Mr. Miller, father of Mrs. Kate Glithero, who, with his good wife, passed out of this life in the yellow fever epidemic of the 70's.

The community extends its deep sympathy to the six surviving children, Mrs. Bettie Schultz of this city, Mrs. J. W. Schuhmacher of Navasota, Mrs. J. M. Yarborough of Seguin, Grover Wagner of Paris, Robert E. Wagner of Brownsville and Mrs. H. M. Wurzbach of Seguin.

Colorado County Citizen, August 22, 1935
Transcribed by Dennis Boatright

Wagner, Charles F. A.

Drowned Saturday last, in the Colorado river at this place, about three o’clock, p.m. Charles F. Wagner, aged nine years, son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Wagner, of this city.

The recent rise in the river had attracted him to the scene, and while standing on the brink, the bank softened by high waters gave way,precipitating him into the cruel depths, and before he could be rescued life was extinct.

“The tear, the knell, the pall, the bier,
And all we know, or feel or fear”
of agony are compressed in that one word, death; but when the insatiable monster claims for his prey the joy of a household, the delight of his parents; heart, and he who went so lightly out, the full tide of health bounding in every vein, in so short a space of time is brought back cold and lifeless, we stand appalled as in the dreadful presence, and deeply recognize our helplessness.

He was interred in the City [Odd Fellows Rest]Cemetery Sunday morning, Rev. J. A. Duncan officiating. CHARLEY was a boy of remarkable promise; possessing qualities of head and heart that won him friends on every side, his future might have been predicted prosperous and brilliant. The CITIZEN extends sincere sympathy to the afflicted parents and most earnestly deplores their deep bereavement. That, Charley is in the world fairer than dreams can picture can not now lessen the bitter anguish of their sense of loss, but may time gently soften the poignancy of their grief, and this consolation be “pleasant though mournful” to heir hearts.

Colorado Citizen, June 12, 1884

Wagner, Evelyn (Thrasher)

Evelyn (Thrasher) Wagner, 77, of Columbus, passed away March 29 at Columbus Community Hospital.

She was born in El Campo, Nov. 26, 1927 to Rand O and Katie (Ashford) Thrasher and married John Wagner, Dec. 23, 1945. She was an elementary school teacher and worked as a medical records clerk and assistant manager for Columbus Sherwin Williams Branch.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

She is survived by her husband; son and daughter-in-law, John W. and Mary Elizabeth "Betsy" Wagner of Friendswood; and grandchildren, Allison Wagner of Lubbock and Wesley R. Wagner of Katy.

Funeral services were conducted April 1 at St. John's Episcopal Church in Columbus with the Rev. Patricia Whittington officiating. Interment followed at Odd Fellows Rest Cemetery in Columbus.

Pallbearers were George Poppe, Cecil Marburger, Clinton Voelkel, Ernest Baumgart, Charles Moeller, Dittman Harrison, Wesley Wagner and Brandon Howard.

Colorado County Citizen, April 6, 2005
Courtesy of The Citizen 

Wagner, Gertrude (Braden) Burttschell

Houston Chronicle: Columbus. -The body of Mrs. Gertrude Wagner, who died at Dime, Box, Lee County, November 26, was shipped here. Deceased was born in Germany, on the Rhine, in 1839, and was 73 years old. She is, survived by two brothers and five sisters: Mrs. Linberger of Cuero, Mrs. Embrook of El Campo, Mrs. Franz and Mrs. Heller of Columbus, Mrs. Boettcher of Fayetteville, Mrs. Hoffman of Cuero, John Braden of Mentz and Conrad Braden of Falls County. Seven children, Mrs. Aug. Heyne of Nada, Mrs. Fred Jerrells of Taiton, Mrs. John Weller of Hahn, Mrs. Louis Neumann of Yoakum, Mrs. Joe Wilrodt[sic] of Columbus, Robert Burttschell of Bonus and John Burttschell of Dime Box; thirty-five grandchildren and twenty-eight great grandchildren. She was buried in the Catholic Cemetery at Mentz

Weimar Mercury, December 6, 1912

Wagner, Henry

Henry Wagner, aged 88, was laid to rest Saturday afternoon after services at Untermeyer Funeral Home, Pastor H L Anderson officiating. Burial was in Odd fellows Rest cemetery.

Mr Wagner died in Columbus Hospital Thursday, he had been a patient there since Nov 7.

Born Oct 18, 1888 in San Antonio, he was the son of John and Annie Mardoff Wagner. He was baptised and confirmed in the Lutheran Church.

First he was a painter and later he went to work for Southern Pacific Railroad and served for 41 years. He and Mrs Wagner have lived in Columbus since his retirement.

He is survived by his widow, the former Alma Georg, a son John and a grandson, John Jr of Columbus and a sister Mrs Anne Logan of Spokane, Wash.

Pallbearers were Arthur Anton, Albert Aschenbeck, Fred Walling, Dickie March and Otto Georg.

Colorado County Citizen, November 23, 1967
Contributed by Terry Jackson

Wagner, Henry John

Henry John Wagner, 84, of Columbus passed away April 13 at Columbus Nursing and Rehabilitation in Columbus.

He was born Feb. 7, 1923 in San Antonio to John Henry and Alma (Georg) Wagner. He married Evelyn Thrasher on Dec. 23, 1945. He was a retired mail carrier. He belonged to St. John's Episcopal Church in Columbus.

He was preceded in death by his wife and parents.

Survivors include son, John W. Wagner and wife Mary Elizabeth "Betsy" of Columbus and grandchildren, Allison and Wesley Wagner.

Funeral services were conducted April 17 at St. John's Episcopal Church in Columbus with the Rev. Patricia Whittington officiating. Interment was in Odd Fellows Rest Cemetery in Columbus.

Pallbearers were Ernest "Bub" Baumgart, Delmar Fehrenkamp, Billy Joe Neuendorff, Dr. Cecil Marburger, Brandon Howard and Wesley Wagner.

Colorado County Citizen, April 18, 2007
Courtesy of The Citizen

Wagner, James William

The HEADLIGHT’S deepest sympathy is extended Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Wagner in the death of their little four year old son, James William, which sad event occurred at their home in this city Monday morning, the funeral being held with interment in the Masonic cemetery the same afternoon. The little fellow was a beautiful child, bright and interesting and idolize by his mother and father, and a general favorite with all who knew him. A week before his death the child was taken violently ill from eating canned goods, and later developed blood poisoning in the throat. The heart broken mother and father have the sympathy of the entire town in the loss of their darling little boy.

Eagle Lake Headlight, October 26, 1912, page 1

Wagner, Merle L.

A memorial service for Merle L. Wagner, 66, of Weimar will be held Saturday, Feb. 10, in Hubbard Funeral Chapel, with Rev, Ernest Dean officiating. [Interment in Weimar Masonic Cemetery]

Wagner, a sandblasting and painting contractor died at 2:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 2, in Fayette Memorial Hospital, after a stroke.

Born Oct 6, 1923, in Wentworth, Wisconsin, he was a son of Franklin and Edna (Miller) Wagner. He attended school in Jamesport, Missouri. He served in the armed forces on Okinawa and in the Philippine invasion. He married Imogene Berger on July 26, 1946, in Mayfield, Kentucky. He was a member of the VFW and Woodmen of the World.

His wife survives him, along with three sons, Gary add Steve Wagner of' Beaumont and David Wagner of Weimar; a daughter, Lorrie Kasper of La Grange; six grandchildren; three sisters, Avonelle Wagner of Forsyth, Mo.; Marlene Gravett of Orange and Donna Riggs of Arizona; and three brothers, Lloyd, Kenneth and DaIe Wagner all of Orange. His parents, three sisters, and two. brothers preceded him in death.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Colorado-Fayette Medical Center or the Weimar Volunteer Ambulance Corps.

Weimar Mercury, February 8, 1990, page 12

Wagner, Thomas W.

Thomas W. Wagner, a leading merchant,and highly respected citizen of this place died Tuesday afternoon. He had lived here for many years, was a thorough business man, kind and benevolent. He had accumulated quite an amount of property, which is located in the town of Columbus. He was progressive and did more to build up the town than any citizen in his days. He leaves a large family and many friends to morn his death. His remains were interred in the city [Odd Fellows Rest] cemetery Thursday afternoon with Masonic honors.

Weimar Mercury, January 31, 1891