Submitted by Lisa Hamilton Thanks Lisa!

Eugene Wager, miller at Wager, Arkansas, was born in the French portion of Switzerland in 1821. He is the son of Joseph and Sophie Clerc Wager, the former being born in Wurtemburg, Germany, and the latter in Switzerland.

There were four sons and three daughters, namely Joseph Henry, an architect and painter, died in France. Eugene, the subject of this sketch, Isidore, a miller and millwright, died at Siloam Springs, Arkansas, and Gustave, a farmer in Iowa. Josephine, (wife of Mr. L. Eplantenier) is dead, Eugenia is married to E. Briot of Chicago, and Cecile married to the late Col. Arthur Jacobs of Chicago.

Joseph Wager, having alternately resided in France and Switzerland, a portion of the children were born in France and other in Switzerland.

In 1845, Eugene Wager left France for America, and after his arrival in this country, hunting for a situation in a mill, was persuaded to go to Canada. Here he obtained employment. But his wish being to go west, he succeeded in the following spring in reaching Wisconsin, and in Milwaukee formed a close relationship with Mr. Solomon Juneau, the founder of the City.

Through his influence he was able to better his condition considerable and was employed in mills in East Troy and Whitewater. Here he married March 13, 1848 Miss Emeline Snider and after living and Janesville a short time, at the request of Governor Farwell of Wisconsin went to Madison to start and operate his mill with the water power at that place.

He next moved to DePere, where he resided for twenty one years engaged in lumbering, milling and mercantile business. Severe losses, mainly by fire, compelled him to retire from active business, and in 1864 he joined a party moving to Montana Territory, and there remained for nearly four years. On his return he concluded to make a journey in the south and make a selection of a new home, when at last he located in Elm Springs, Washington County, Arkansas. While here he purchased and restored the Thornberry Mill and in 1876 he became the purchaser of what was then called the Valley Mills, but now the Wager Mills on the Osage Creek in Benton County, Arkansas. He still operates said mill and resided there and has imparted his name both to the Post Office at that place and also the township.

Mr. Wager and his wife are the parents of six sons and two daughters, namely, Francis E., a miner in Arizona, George O., a farmer and miner, Edwin G., a miner and merchant in Arizona, Orlando V., a merchant at Neosho, Missouri, Henry V., in Arizona, and William Wallace, at his fathers. The daughters are Sophie E., wife of Hugh Ritter of Elm Springs, and Ida Jane, wife of J.F. Wasson of Springtown, Arkansas.

Lisa Hamilton submitted the above data from Goodspeed's; she did so to help others, is not researching the above person or families mentioned therein.

Return to Benton County Families® Index