John and Catherine (Dickman) Wagner - were married in Cleveland, Ohio. They moved to Galien, Ohio in 1859. In 1869 they moved to Cedar Springs, Michigan where Grandfather was a pioneer in the lumber business. Where his sawmill was located is still called Wagner's Corners.

When his sawmill burned down and he lost everything, he moved his family to Grand Rapids in 1871. The street was destroyed when the expressway was built.

After moving to Grand Rapids, Grandfather was a machinist.

John Baptist Wagner became a naturalized citizen of the U. S., 12 September 1860.

Part of Article from White's Personal Biographies, 1924 -John B. Wagner, was born in Germany in 1829, and his mother, Catherine Dikman, was born in Paris, France. John Wagner came to the United States with his parents in 1839. He did not settle in Michigan, however, until 1858, when he went to Sand Lake. There he operated a sawmill until 1862, selling the mill in that year to come to Grand Rapids, where he entered the employ of the Leitelt Iron Works as master mechanic. He was employed by that concern thirty-two years, or until his death in 1894. His widow died in 1908. John Wagner and his wife were the parents of twelve children as follows: Julius, Gustave, Amelia, Albert, Charles, Arthur, Matilda, Caroline, Ida, Edward L., Minnie, and Walter.

Catherine Dickmann emigrated to the U. S. in 1852 located in Cleveland, Ohio. She sailed from Germany on 8 Sep 1852 and arrived in U. S. on 15 Oct 1852.

In Grand Rapids they resided at 48 Livingston.

They were married at the German Evangelical Protestant Church, Cleveland, Ohio

Grandma's brother, Louis Dickmann, and her sister, Carrie Dickman, arrived in the United States on 16 June 1854. On 4 July, 1854, Uncle Louis went swimming at a resort near Cleveland on Lake Erie and was drowned. Grandpa Wagner was an excellent swimmer and he volunteered to dive to recover the body. Grandma was so grateful to the young man that recovered her brother's body that she wanted to meet him to thank him. A romance developed between them and they were married a few months later.

Grandma came from a part of Germany close to the French border, Alsace-Lorraine. She came to the United States as a French governess for some children of a wealthy family in Cleveland.

Obituary of Mrs. Catherine Wagner - aged 77 years, widow of the late John B. Wagner, died Saturday at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. C. DeBoe, 288 Crescent Avenue. Mrs. Wagner came to America from Germany in 1852 and had resided in Kent county and Grand Rapids since 1869. Her husband was one of the pioneer lumbermen of the state. She was a member of the Evangelical German Lutheran Church of Emmanuel on East Bridge Street (now Michigan Street). Her many friends will always remember her as a cheerful and charitable woman, always ready to help those in distress.

Surviving Mrs. Wagner are eight of the 12 children born to her. Julius, Gustave, Edward and Walter Wagner; Mrs. C. DeBoe and Mrs. R. DeBoer, all of this city; Mrs. D. E. Beebe of Homestead, PA; and A. G. Wagner of Denver, Colo. A sister, Mrs. George King of Cleveland, OH; and a brother, August Dickman of Newport, KY., also survive. The funeral will be held Tuesday from the residence of her daughter, Mrs. DeBoe, 288 Crescent avenue, at 2 p.m. and at the church on East Bridge street at 3 p.m. The interment will be made at Oak Hill cemetery.

John B. and Catherine (Dickmann) Wagner daughters
Left: Emilie, Top: Carrie (Caroline); Bottom: Minnie, Right: Tillie

Grocery Store on Michigan Avenue, Grand Rapids, Michigan
On the steps - Julius, Minnie and Edward Wagner

Julius Joseph Wagner and Minnie (Schroeder) Wagner

Julius Wagner Home at 225 Hastings NE

Julius and Minnie (Schroeder) Wagner Family
Left to Right: Julius, Eddie, Gerald, Louise, Ralph, Minnie

Article from White's Personal Biographies, 1924 -

Edward L. Wagner, clerk of the Kent circuit court at the present time and nominee of the Republican party for re-election to that office, is a native of Grand Rapids, where he was born 5 May 1871. His father, John B. Wagner, was born in Germany in 1829, and his mother, Catherine Dikman, was born in Paris, France. John Wagner came to the United States with his parents in 1839. He did not settle in Michigan, however, until 1858, when he went to Sand Lake. There he operated a sawmill until 1862, selling the mill in that year to come to Grand Rapids, where he entered the employ of the Leitelt Iron Works as master mechanic. He was employed by that concern thirty-two years, or until his death in 1894. His widow died in 1908. John Wagner and his wife were the parents of twelve children as follows: Julius, Gustave, Amelia, Albert, Charles, Arthur, Matilda, Caroline, Ida, Edward L., Minnie, and Walter. Edward L. Wagner attended the public schools of the city of his birth and studied for the position of clerk. With the conclusion of his educational career, he secured employment as a clerk in a grocery store, continuing in that work until the opening of the war with Spain. Answering the president's call for volunteers, he enlisted in Company E, thirty-second Michigan Volunteer Infantry, and served with that organization until the cessation of the hostilities. He returned to Grand Rapids after his discharge from the army, and there engaged in the grocery business, which he continued until 1915, when he accepted a position as deputy clerk of the Kent circuit court, filling that position until the clerk was appointed postmaster, and in July, 1923, he was appointed to fill the office of clerk of the court until the end of the un-expired term. His work was so noteworthy that at the primary election, 9 Sep 1924, he was chosen the Republican nominee for election to the office of clerk of the Kent circuit court, to which he was elected by a large majority. Such has been his record and so large is his following that he feels virtually certain of being returned to the office when the matter goes before the people in November, 1926. In 1908 he married Fern Smith daughter of Inman and Edith Smith, of Rockford, Michigan, and to Mr. and Mrs. Wagner have been born two children, Velma, born 21 Sep 1909, and Leo, born 6 Oct 1915.

Minnie Sophia (Wagner) Boer               Rufus Boer

Minnie, Helen, Catherine Boer                          Rufus Boer and ??

Rufus and Minnie (Wagner) Boer Home
236 Carroll Street SE
Grand Rapids, Michigan