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| John Z. Wagner |
I thought that this might be a good time to reintroduce my other great-great grandfather, John Zartman Wagner...or John Z. for short. I mention John Z. in a few prior posts but it is probably a good time to reiterate his service in the war.
John Z. Wagner was born on September 27, 1841 in the Deep Creek area of Barry Township. A farmer and laborer by trade, John Z. enlisted in the United State Army on April 20, 1861 as part of President Lincoln's call for volunteers during what was supposed to be a 90 day suppression of the rebellion. John Z. was mustered into the 6th regiment of the Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, Company E, to serve his 3 months of service to his country. He was part of the famous First Defenders that came from the great state of Pennsylvania.As we all know...what was thought to be a 3 month war, ended up being a 4 year struggle that would tear the country apart.
John Z. served his 3 months of duty...mostly on provost and guard duty in the Williamsport, Pa. area of the county and was mustered out of service on July 26, 1861. He would return home only to re-enlist in the newly formed 55th PVI (Company E) on September 13, 1861...after taking a 1 1/2 month rest from his prior service. |
| Mary Ellen Wagner Derr (left), John Z. Wagner (right) |
As I mentioned in my prior posts, John Z. Wagner knew John W. Derr, owing to the close knit nature of the Deep Creek community. Eventually, his daughter Mary Ellen Wagner would marry the son of John W. Derr, George Washington Derr, my great grandfather. My great grandmother, Mary Ellen Wagner Derr...or Mom Derr...would produce 1 daughter and 4 sons, of which one was my grandfather, James Monroe Derr.
My father, Donald James Derr, was born in 1927 and remembers, as a little boy, sitting on the lap of John Z. Wagner, as the old man would sing and talk to him. His great grandfather would still chew tobacco from a plug... taking the little tin brand markers that were pinned into the plug and pressing them into the window sill. That is what my father remembers most about John Z. Wagner.
John Z. Wagner would serve all 4 years of the Civil War, surviving to become a hard working old man and living for 88 years. John Z. worked until he was 80 years of age, attesting to his good health and fortitude.
Jim D.
