Edward E. Wagner Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1087-1088 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	EDWARD E. WAGNER, one of the representative members of the bar of 
Hanson county, was born in Lyon county, Iowa, October 22, 1870, a son of 
James H. and Louisa E. (Conklin) Wagner, of whose six children four are 
living, namely: Orville S., of Rock Rapids, Iowa; Fred B., of Pasadena, 
California; Hulbert D., of Hawarden, Iowa, and Edward E., subject of 
this sketch. The father of the subject was born in Pennsylvania, on the 
8th of February, 1840, and as a boy accompanied his parents on their 
removal thence to Iowa, the family locating in Linn county, where he was 
reared to manhood on the homestead farm. He was there married in the 
year 1860, and in the following year enlisted as a private in Company G, 
Twenty-fourth Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry, with which he remained 
in service until the close of the great conflict which perpetuated the 
integrity of the Union. He was captured by the enemy at Sabine 
Crossroads, Texas, and later was again taken captive in a spirited 
engagement, passing about fourteen months in rebel prisons. He was with 
Grant in the siege of Vicksburg and participated in many of the 
important engagements incident to the progress of the war. After 
receiving his honorable discharge he returned to his home in Iowa, where 
he continued to be identified with farming until 1870, when he removed 
to the northwestern part of that state, where he took up government 
land. He was one of the organizers of Lyon county, in 1871, and was 
chosen the first treasurer of the county, while for many years 
thereafter he was a member of the county board of supervisors, being a 
man of influence in that section and a prominent figure in the local 
ranks of the Republican party, of whose principles he was an ardent 
advocate. He passed the remainder of his life in the county which he 
aided in organizing, his death there occurring on the 15th of November, 
1884, while his cherished and devoted wife entered into eternal rest on 
the 7th of October, 1901, both having been consistent members of the 
Congregational church, while he was a Royal Arch Mason.  

	Edward E. Wagner was reared on the homestead farm and after 
attending the district schools completed a course in the high schools at 
Rock Rapids, Iowa. In February, 1891, he began reading law in the office 
of H. G. McMillan, of that place, his former preceptor being now United 
States district attorney for the northern district of Iowa, while he was 
for several years a prominent member of the Republican state central 
committee of Iowa. Under the able direction of this honored preceptor 
the subject continued his technical studies until his admission to the 
bar, on the 13th of May, 1893. He then came to Mitchell, South Dakota, 
where he was associated in the practice of his profession with D. A. 
Mizener until November, 1895, when he returned to Rock Rapids, Iowa, and 
became associated in practice with his former preceptor, Mr. McMillan, 
who had lately been chosen chairman of the Republican state central 
committee. About one year later Mr. Wagner formed a law partnership with 
C. J. Miller, of Rock Rapids, and this professional alliance there 
continued until April, 1899. when the subject came again to South Dakota 
and located in Alexandria, where he has since been established in 
practice, having gained a high reputation as an advocate and being one 
of the prominent and successful members of the bar. He is a staunch 
Republican, and in 1900 was elected state's attorney of Hanson county, 
serving one term. He was the nominee of his party for representative of 
his district in the state senate in 1903, but met the defeat which 
attended the party ticket in general in this section. He is a member of 
Celestial Lodge, No. 37, Free and Accepted Masons; of Mitchell Chapter, 
No. 16. Royal Arch Masons; and St. Bernard Commandery, No. 11, Knights 
Templar, of Mitchell, while he also is affiliated with the Alexandria 
lodges of the Modern Woodmen of America and the Ancient Order of United 
Workmen. He has served as a member of the county central committee of 
the Republican party and is a zealous worker in the cause of the same. 
He is a member of the Presbyterian church, at Alexandria.  

	On the 10th of July, 1894, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. 
Wagner to Miss Alice E. Tresler, of Rock Rapids, Iowa, and they are the 
parents of three children, Hazel L., Ruth N. and Robert Edward.