Judson Emory Wagner

  General Notes:

North Carolina Birth Indexes:
Judson Emory Wagner
Gender: Male
Race: White
Event Type: birth
Birth Date: 7 May 1890
Birth County: Watauga
Parent1 Name: James T Wagner
Parent2 Name: Celia M Watson
Roll Number: NCVR_B_C102_66003
Volume: 12 Page: 324

The 1900 Federal Census for Stoney Fork Township, Watauga Co., North Carolina, District 131, page 237A, dated June 22, 1900 records Judson E. Wagner (May 1890 - NC/NC/NC) living with his parents James M. (July 1863 - NC/NC/NC) and Celie M. (June 1865 - NC/NC/NC) Wagner and siblings Nora E. (Nov 1886), Jennie A. (June 1888), Hade S. (June 1892), and Lillie S. (Feb 1895). James is a farmer and has been married to Celie for 15 years. They have had 6 children of whom 5 are still living. Also in the household is James' widowed father-in-law, George W. Watson (Nov 1823 - NC/NC/NC).

The 1910 Federal Census for Stoney Fork Township, Watauga Co., North Carolina, District 158, page 258A, dated April 16, 1910 records Judson E. Wagner (19 - TN/NC/NC) living with his parents James T. (46 - TN/TN/VA) and Celie M. (44 - NC/NC/NC) Wagner and siblings Jennie A. (21), Hade S. (17), and Lillie S. (15), Mattie F. (7), Alice R. (5), and Mary J. (3). James is a farmer and has been married to Celie for 24 years. They have had 10 children of whom 8 are still living.

The 1920 Federal Census for Harlowton, Wheatland Co., Montana, District 151, page 191A, dated January 27, 1920 records Judson E. (29 - NC/NC/NC) and Effie D. (25 - NC/NC/NC) Wagner with their children Roy W. (4 2/12 - NC), Emery D. (# 2/12) - NC), and Bonnie F. (1 4/12 - NC). Judson is a Fire knocker for the Railroad. Also in the household is brother-in-law, Darvin M. Smith (20 - NC/NC/NC).

Note: Below is an excerpt from the Evansville Courier & Press article of August 30, 2011, describing the job of 'fire knocker.' Several men in this directory were 'fire knockers.'
Jerry EVANS responded to a "Good Morning" column about difficult jobs.
"I was 18-years-old, and my first real job was ... painful, dangerous, sweat-soaked and very dirty ... I lasted one week.
"I was a fire knocker for the L&N Railroad. When the engines returned from a run, it was my job to shake down the clunkers in the fire pit and leave a nice bed of hot coal before the engine could be parked inside the roundhouse.
"The tool to smooth the hot bed of coal was about 15 feet long. Very heavy, and it came out hot.
"My dad could never understand why I quit such a great entry job with the railroad."


By the mid 1920s, Judson had given up his job at the Railroad, moved back east and turned to farming: The 1930 Federal Census for Election District 4, Harford, Maryland, District 16, page 231B, dated April 16, 1930 records Judson E. (39 - NC/NC/NC) and Effie (35 - NC/NC/NC) Wagner with their children Roy (14 - NC), Emery (13) - NC), Bonnie (11 - NC), Estel (10 - Montana), and Judson (2 6/12 - Maryland). Judson and Effie have been married for 15 years. The farm is listed on the Jarrettsville to Cross Roads near the intersection with Rutledge to Fallston Road.

The 1940 Federal Census for Colerain, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, District 36-8, page 126A, dated April 17, 1940 records Judson E. (49 - NC) and Effie (45 - NC) Wagner with their children Roy (23 - NC), Estel (20 - Montana), and Judson (12 - Maryland). Judson and Effie have completed 1 year of college. Judson is a farmer.

The SSDI records:
Judson E. Wagner SSN: 215-20-1731 Last Residence: 17566 Quarryville, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, United States of America Born: 7 May 1890 Died: 12 Nov 1990 State (Year) SSN issued: Maryland (Before 1951)

Judson married Effie Dean Smith circa 1915 in Watauga Co., North Carolina. (Effie Dean Smith was born on 27 May 1894 in North Carolina and died in Jul 1981 in Quarryville, Lancaster Co., PA.)