Ira E. Wagoner

As printed in 1910

IRA E. WAGONER.

One of the able and active business men of Odessa comes under consideration in this review, one who by his skill and application has made himself the head of a large and prospering business. Mr. Wagoner is a master of the lumber business in all its conditions and in all its stages from the standing tree to the finished lumber. While he is a good judge of the quality of lumber and timber and its fitness for his purposes, he is also as familiar, or more so, with the wants of his trade in different sections and adapts his operations accordingly. For these reasons he has been very successful.

Ira E. Wagoner was born in Allen county, Kentucky, March 30, 1849, son of Amos H. Wagoner, also a native of the county, and born about 1816, and Mary M. Meadow, born in Tennessee about 1818. His parents came to Lafayette county in the fall of 1849 " settled near Chapel Hill, where they resided until their death, he dying in 1901, she in December, 1908. They were the parents of eight children: Nancy A., wife of R. A. Hampton; Martha L., wife of Robert F. Cobb, died in Sniabar township; Mary

M., wife of the Rev. Thomas M. Cobb; Frances C, wife of the Rev. T. P. Cobb; Ira E.; WilHam H., who died in Oklahoma; Sarah E., wife of Henry Green; and Ella, who died in Sniabar township.

Ira was six months old when his parents came to this county. He grew up on the farm and lived at home until 1877, attending the common schools. On leaving home he began to farm for himself, buying a farm in Jackson county, Missouri, where he lived for about two years. He sold the farm and came to Odessa in the latter part of 1880 and engaged in the grain business for about three years. While still carrying on the grain business, he in 1882 began operations in the lumber business, and has since devoted his time to that, not only in Odessa, but also in Kansas City, Oklahoma City, Norman, and Hobart, Oklahoma.

Mr. Wagoner was first married in Jackson county, Missouri, September 4, 1887, to Lettie H. Hobson, a native of that county. She died in Odessa, May 13, 1887. They were the parents of two children, Stella M., who died when nine years old, and Alta L. In 1889 Mr. Wagoner was married to Edmonia H. Pearcy, of Odessa, who died in that city in August, 1905. She was the mother of three children: Mary F., Josephine and a son who died in infancy. Mr. Wagoner was again married in December, 1908, to Frances Wilmot, of Odessa.

Mr. Wagoner is a public-spirited man and takes a leading and active interest in all public affairs. He has been a member of the Odessa council and school director and is a strong friend of education. In politics he has always acted with the Democratic party. He is a member of the Methodist church South, and has filled many of the church offices. As a keen business man he has few superior.

As printed in Young's history of Lafayette County, Missouri (1910). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.