Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1882-01-16
= sRNArOR WEBSTER wAGHER.

HIS Resent visit to Wllmlngt0n-
mis- Terrible Death On Friday
Nisht and . Short Sk fetch OF His
Remarkable Life.
Last week the jackson & Sharp Co.,
completed three handsome sleeping
cars for the Wagner sleeping car com
pany, and just previous TO their being
sent away, they were inspected by Mr.:
Wagner who was killed by the railroad
accident on last Friday night, on the
Hudson River road He expressed
himself as being much pleased with the
cars and by invitation Of Mr.. jackson
accompanied him home, where he spent
the night. The jackson & Sharp Co.
have built quite number of cars for
the Wagner Company, and Mr.. Wag-
ner was riding in one Of his own cars
when the terrible accident occurred that
caused his death Mr.. Wagner was a
man WHO had most remarkable career
and his life il another illustration of
the opportunities that are fJrded in
this country to rise to fame and fortune.
Born of humble parentage he managed
to mount To wealth and high position
and his success was achiev d by cour-
age and determination. His parents
we're Germans and he was born at
Palatins Bridge, Montgomery county,
New York. Educated in the common
schools he was mere boy when he
was apprenticed to his brother James,
who was wagon and carriage builder.
In this business young Webster became
proficient and in due COURSE started for
himself bit did not meet with all the
success he looked forward to. In 1915
occurred what was probably the turn
ing point of his life. He was appointed
station agent for the Utica and Sche-
nectady Railroad at Palatine Bridge.
Always a keen observer, it occurred to
him that it was possible to increase the
com fort of those who travelled by rail-
road, and it also struck him that it was
practicable to make much money by
the scheme. After cogitating and con-
irving and experimenting on models
without number he turned out design
for sleeping car, which he at once
brought to the notice of the proper au-
thorities. 1t was early in September,
1853, when he introduced the first sleep
ing car on the Utica and Schenectady
road. There can be no doubt that in
order to accomplish this he brought to
bear on the plan an immense amount
of diplomacy and knowledge of human
nature. Suffice it to say that he was
successful, and he soon began to reap
the reward OF his labors. He organized
company, bought into it men of
standing and wealth and called 1t the
Wagner Sleeping Car Company. He
was appointed president of the corpo-
ration, and devoted his energies to push
and develop the concern. The first
sleeping car he constructed cost only
81. 900, but some of those of later date
were built at an expense of from &c.
900 to $40, 900. The company proved
successful, and great number of
sleeping cars are now run on various
railroads. Mr.. Wagner grew rich and
was associated in his work with some
OF the wealthiest men in the United
States. He built the first drawing room
car in America, and began to run it in
August, 1867.
In 1871 Mr.. Waguer's legislative ca
reer commenced. He was elected to
the Assembly as Republican from
Montgomery county, New York. Sub
seuuently hs was elected to the Senate,
gaining majority of 1929 over Isaiah
Fuller, his Democratic opponent. In
the Senate of 1872 Is he was chairman
of the Committee on Public Expendi-
ture and member Of that on Railroa IS
aud Grievances. In the Senate of 1874.
Is he served on committee ofimportance
and in that of 1876 II he was chairman
of printing and member of railroads and
villages. To the last Senate he was
elected by a majority of 2,2l6 over Mr..
George B. Scott, and was returned to
the present Senate without opposition.
During his political career Mr.. Wagner
busted himself much in promoting rail-
road legislation. Senator Wagner was
intimately associated with Mr.. W. II.
Vanderbilt in the great palace car sys-
TEN on Mr.. Nandcrbilt's roads. He Oc-
cuped magnificent residence at Pala-
tine Bridge.