Claim: The Rail Car Grand Isle was one of a group of rail cars owned by Dr. William Seward Webb, president of the Wagner Palace Car Company, and founder of the Sons of the American Revolution whose members were comprised of male descendants of those who served in the American Revolutionary War or who contributed to establishing the independence of the United States.
Evidence: The Wagner Palace Car Company fabricated the rail car Grand Isle in April 1899 for Dr. William Seward Webb, president of the company from 1885 to 1899. Webster Wagner (October 2, 1817 – January 13, 1882) was an American inventor, manufacturer and politician from New York. He founded the Wagner Palace Car Company, located in Buffalo, New York. Grand Isle was one of a group of rail cars owned by Webb. He was a founder and former president of the Sons of the American Revolution. In 1883, Webster Wagner, the president of the Wagner Palace Car Company, was crushed between two of his own railroad cars. Vanderbilt owned a controlling interest in the company, and asked his new son-in-law to take over the firm. The Wagner Palace Car Company was subsequently merged with the Pullman Company.