by J C Overmyer, Columbus, Ohio
Solomom Wagoner, sixth son and ninth child of John Sr and Elizabeth Leach Waggoner was
born in Perry County, Ohio, June 1, 1807, where he grew to manhood, inured to toil and
hardships of pioneer life. He received very little schooling except that secured daily in
clearing away the forests and preparing the soil for the cultivation of crops necessary
for the use of these sturdy pioneers as a means of livlihood for their families and
livestock.
On August 16, 1827, when twenty years of age, he was united in marriage with Elizabeth
Stockberger, Rev Charles Henkel officiating. This was the second marriage between the
Waggoner and Stockberger families, as Daniel Waggoner, older brother of Solomon, married
Sarah Stockberger May 13, 1824.
Solomon's marriage occurred just at the time when the members of the Waggoner family were
disposing of their lands in Perry County, preparatory to their migration and settlement in
the Black Swamp area of Seneca and Sandusky Counties. Not only the Waggoner family, but
many other pioneer families of Perry County, were keenly interested in the virgin
forest-covered area, where government land was being sold at $1.25 per acre. Among them
was John Stockberger, perhaps the father of Sarah and Elizabeth, who entered the Northwest
quarter of Section Seven, Rice Township, adjoining the entry made by Solomon Wagoner. We
have no records that would show that he ever located in Sandusky County, as he and his
wife, Mary, are both buried in St Paul's Cemetary, south of Glenford, Perry County, Ohio.
He was born February 20, 1788, and died August 13, 1854.
When Solomon and Elizabeth were married they decided to settle in the Black Swamp in
Sandusky County, and were among the first, if not the first members of the Waggoner family
to migrate from Perry County to Sandusky County, Ohio. He entered 240 acres from the
government in the east half of Section Twelve, Washington Township, under date of May 28,
1828, while his eldest brother, John Jr, entered the Northwest 1/4, Section Eighteen,
Sandusky Township, under date of February 25, 1828, the two tracts joining corners at the
township line.
Solomon and his wife settled on the 240 acre tract of heavily-timbered land, erected a
cabin and began to clear away the forest and establish a home.
After ten years of arduous labor they had the opportunity to sell the tract to John
Harmon, of Pickaway County, Ohio, January 15, 1838, after which he purchased 240 acres in
the south half of Section Two, on the banks of Big Mud Creek, where the eastern part of
the village of Lindsey is now located.
It was while living on this tract in Section Two that Elizabeth, his wife, was called to
her eternal reward in 1838, leaving the husband and six children to mourn her departure.
The children were as follows: Susannah, Solomon Benton, Samuel, Harriet, George, and
Elizabeth.
On February 2, 1839, Solomon married his second wife, Harriet Krotzer; Rev Adolph A
Konrad, of the Lutheran Church at Four-Mile House, officiating. Her parents were Samuel
Krotzer and wife, pioneers of the pioneer Krotzer family in Sandusky County, Ohio, and
resided on the Southwest 1/4 of Section Three, which he entered from the government August
30, 1834. They were located one mile west of Solomon and Elizabeth Wagoner in Section Two.
Solomon and Harriet Wagoner continued to reside in Section Two until April 6, 1854, when
they sold the land to Charles Loose, and with his family moved to Fulton County, Indiana.
The Lake Shore and Michigan Southern R R was constructed across this quarter section from
1850 to 1852, and Chas. Loose built a grain elevator on the railroad right of way in
Section Three, which was the first building constructed in the village of Lindsey, and is
still being used. The village was called Loose Station, when it was founded and later
changer to Washington Station, and about 1860, was changed to Lindsey, in honor of Mr
Lindsey, who was general superintendant of the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern R R
Company at that time.
After they sold their lands in Section Two they moved to Fulton County, Indiana, locating
near Rochester, where they purchased real estate and engaged in farming. They were
successful, prosperous, and highly-respected citizens of the community and the parents of
thirteen children, some of whom, however, died in infancy. Of the six children of Solomon
by his first marriage, the oldest, Susannah, married Emanuel Boyer in Sandusky County,
Ohio. Following her death he married for his second wife, Elizabeth, her younger sister.
Amos Boyer, the youngest brother of Emanuel, married Mary Jane Wagoner, being a
half-sister to Susannah and Elizabeth, the wives of Emanuel Boyer.
Solomon and Harriet Krotzer Wagoner, his second wife, were very prosperous and acquired
several valuable farms in the vicinity of Rochester, Indiana, where she was taken by the
hand of death August 4, 1874, and her remains were interred in Odd Fellows Cemetary at
Rochester, Indiana.
Solomon married for his third wife, Anna Eberts, the widow that survived him at the time
of his death. There were no children from the third marriage. Of the nineteen children of
his first two marriages, some died in childhood and at the present time, 1939, we
understand that Charles, who resides in California, is the only child of Solomon now
living. Some of his grandchildren reside in the vicinity of Rochester, Indiana.
Solomon was very active and industrious during a long and useful life and experienced the
hardships and discomforts of the early pioneers in Perry County from his birth until 1828,
about a year after his marriage, when they settled in Sandusky County as one of the
original owners and settlers in
Washington Township, Sandusky County, Ohio. Following the death of his first wife and his
subsequent marriage to Harriet Krotzer, he continued to reside there until 1854, when they
moved to Fulton County, Indiana, where, for the third time in his life, he became a
pioneer settler and again established a home. They became the parents of thirteen children
and the owners of several large, well-improved farms. After his third marriage, he lived a
retired life and and occasionally visited his children, grandchildre, and former neighbors
and acquaintances in Sandusky County, Ohio. On his eighty-sixth birthday anniversary he
was on such a visit and spent the day as a guest of Benj. Karchner, an old friend and
neighbor at Hessville, Ohio, where hewas suddenly stricken and passed away, June 2, 1893,
aged eighty-six years and one day. His remains were returned to his home near Rochester,
Indiana, and interred in the Odd Fellows Cemetary at Rochester, Indiana. A gravestone
marks his last resting place.
This brought to a close an active career of more than four-score years, in three distinct
and and widely separated localities, in each of which he was regarded as a leader. He left
the imprint of hios character, industry, and thrift upon the memories of many descendants
who cherished his memory for the sterling qualities he possessed.
Children of Soloman and Elizabeth Stockberger Wagoner were as follows:
by Elizabeth W Winters, Fremont, Ohio
Susannah Wagoner, oldest child of Solomon and Elizabeth Stockberger Wagoner, born in
Sandusky County, Ohio, September 28, 1828; died July 15, 1855. Married Emanuel Boyer, son
of John and Catharine Smith Boyer, born in Union County, Pennsylvania, February 8, 1827;
died June 15, 1906. Both are interred in Four-Mile House Cemetary, Fremont, Ohio. Children
are: Catharine Tena Boyer "Weirman", 1852 to 1931; Henry Benjamin Boyer, 1854.
by Elizabeth W Winters, Fremont, Ohio
Elizabeth Wagoner, youngest child of Solomon and Elizabeth Stockberger Wagoner, born
February 15, 1838; died September 30, 1913. Buried in Four-Mile Cemetary. After the death
of her oldest sister, Susannah Wagoner Boyer, she married Susannah's husband, Emanuel
Boyer. Children of Emanuel and Elizabeth Wagoner Boyer: Sarah Ellen Boyer
"Gnepper", 1857; Susannah Boyer "Weirman", 1859 to 1926; Lewis
Franklin Boyer,1860 to 1933; and William Harrison Boyer, 1865.
by Mre Mabel C Wagoner Hanson, Knox, Indiana
Solomon Benton Wagoner, son of Solomon Sr and Elizabeth Stockberger Wagoner, was born in
Sandusky County, Ohio, March 11, 1830. Removed to Fulton County, Indiana, with his parents
about 1850. Married, May 18, 1856, Sarah Ann Gregson, born July 8, 1832; died April 18,
1872. Interred at Rochester, Indiana. Solomon Benton married second, December 10, 1879,
Lida Wiley (born Eliza May West), born December 11, 1851. Solomon Benton died November 14,
1909. Children by first marriage are: Mary Jane Wagoner "Spencer", 1857 to 1934;
Kalista Catharine Wagoner "Carr", 1860 to 1936; Harriet Eldora Wagoner
"Wood", 1862; and Margaret Rebecca Wagoner "Pontious", 1865 to 1938.
Solomon Benton married second, December 10, 1879, Lida Wiley (born Eliza May West), born
December 11, 1851. Their only child was Nellie May Wagoner "Barnes", 1887 to
1966.
by William D Wagoner, Rochester, Indiana
Samuel Wagoner, son of Solomon Sr and Elizabeth Stockberger Wagoner, born January, 1833;
died March 1874. Not married.
by William D Wagoner, Rochester, Indiana
Harriet Wagoner, daughter of Solomon Sr and Elizabeth Stockberger Wagoner, born February
18, 1834; died January 29, 1918. Married first, Henry Krotzer; second, James Whealden; and
third, Samuel Fear. No children.
by William D Wagoner, Rochester, Indiana
George Wagoner, son of Solomon Sr and Elizabeth Stockberger Wagoner, born in 1836. Date of
death not given. No family.
Children of Solomon and Harriet Krotzer Wagoner are as follows:
by William D Wagoner, Rochester, Indiana
John Wagoner, son of Solomon and Harriet Krotzer Wagoner, born in Sandusky County, Ohio,
October 6, 1842; died July 12, 1914. Married first, Lucretia McMahan, born March 22, 1852;
died February 23, 1874. No children.
John Wagoner married second, Amanda J McMahan, sister of Lucretia, on November 2, 1875.
Amanda was born October 10, 1858; died March 12, 1879. All are buried in the Mt Hope
Cemetary, Athens, Indiana. Two children: William D Wagoner, 1876; and Sussannah Wagoner,
1878 to 1879.
by Ellen Boyer Marx, Monroe, Michigan
Mary Jane Wagoner, daughter of Solomon and Harriet Krotzer Wagoner, born August 29, 1845.
Married Amos Boyer, born October 19, 1844; died december 7, 1920. Mary, his wife, died
February 28, 1913. Both are buried in the Woodlawn Cemetary at Monroe, Michigan. Graves
marked. Six children: Solomon Monroe Boyer, 1870; Harry L Boyer, 1872; Phoebe Martha Boyer
"Erich", 1874 to 1932; Matilda Jane Boyer "Flessner", 1876; Ellen
Boyer "Marx", 1880; and Alice Boyer "Schaal", 1881.
by Mrs Clinton Strong, Rochester, Indiana
Louis Wagoner, son of Solomon and Harriet Krotzer Wagoner, born October 9, 1849; died May
14, 1879. Married Susannah McMahan, born February 10, 1850; died May 14, 1879. Both are
interred in the cemetary at Athens, Indiana. Three children: Charles F Wagoner, 1868;
Oliver C Wagoner, 1870; and Rosa Wagoner "Strong", 1875.
by O G Shaeffer, Tippecanoe, Indiana
Rebecca Wagoner, daughter of Solomon and Harriet Krotzer Wagoner, born June 3, 1850; died
October 29, 1875. On September 25, 1868, married John shaeffer, born January 25, 1847;
died February 16, 1915. Both are interred in the I. O. O. F. Cemetary at Rochester,
Indiana. Two children: Oliver Lee Shaeffer, 1873 to 1875; and William henry Shaeffer, 1869
to 1892.
by William D Wagoner, Rochester, Indiana
Emaline wagoner, daughter of Solomon and Harriet Krotzer Wagoner, born in Sandusky County,
Ohio, October 25, 1852; died February 14, 1865.
by Mrs Ida Wagoner Bailey, Rochester, Indiana
William H Wagoner, born in Fulton County, Indiana, November 1, 1855; died August 16, 1903.
On September 9, 1877, married elizabeth Calison, born November 14, 1860; died May 5, 1929.
Both are interred in the Odd Fellow Cemetary at Rochester, Indiana. Eight children:
Harriet A Wagoner, 1878; Emma E Wagoner, 1881; Edward A Wagoner, 1884 to 1903; Omar G
Wagoner, 1889; Milo L Wagoner, 1887 to 1916; Ida B Wagoner "Bailey", 1891;
Margaret Wagoner "Cohen", 1895; and Mary E Wagoner "Fields", 1900.
by Mrs Ida Wagoner Bailey, Rochester, Indiana
Charles Wagoner, son of Solomon and Harriet Krotzer Wagoner, born -?-. Married Ella B -?-,
whop died January 5, 1880. Charles Wagoner married second, Mary Emerick. Three children:
Jessie Hugh Wagoner, Edith Wagoner, and Louise Wagoner "Conner".
by William D Wagoner, Rochester, Indiana
Aaron Wagoner, son of Solomon and Harriet Krotzer Wagoner, date of neither birth nor death
given. Served in Civil War. Died in the service. Buried at Nashville, Tennessee. Single.