In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
From Young's history of Lafayette County, Missouri (1910)
JOHN T. WAGONER.
Our present task concerns itself with one who is the efficient and popular postmaster at Odessa, a man who has always taken especial interest in the affairs of public interest and who has been among the foremost advocates of every measure which was calculated to benefit the community. By his zealand activity in behalf of such enterprises he has become well known in the county and much respected.
John T. Wagoner was born in Sniabar township, Lafayette county, Missouri, June 20, 1857. His father was Edward M. Wagoner, who was born in Kentucky in May, 1826, the son of Edward Wagoner, who was a pioneer Methodist minister, a man of great piety and usefulness, who died in Lafayette county. His mother was Julia Ann Summers, born in Washington township, Lafayette county, and died in Sniabar township, in October, 1887. His parents were married in this county and located in Johnson county, Missouri, where they lived until the early sixties, when they moved to Lexington, Missouri, and lived there four years. Edward M. served in the state militia two and one-half years. On leaving Lexington he located in Sniabar township, where he has since resided and is now one of the oldest residents of that township. He had but one child, John T.
John T. Wagoner grew up on his father's farms, and attended the common schools and the State Normal School at Warrensburg. On leaving school he engaged in farming and continued at that occupation from 1875 until 1901, when he was appointed postmaster of Odessa by President Mc- Kinley, which position he has since satisfactorily filled. He has always been a strong Republican.
Mr. Wagoner was first married to Nannie E. Cheatham, who died in Sniabar township. He was again married to Cora Baker, of Wappello county, Iowa, by whom he had one son, Cecil V., who is assistant postmaster under his father. Cora Wagoner died at Eldorado Springs, Missouri, May 23, 1887. Mr. Wagoner's third marriage was to M. J. Reddick, of Nodaway county, Missouri.
Mr. Wagoner is a member of the Methodist church. He has by his character won the esteem of his fellow citizens, and is a man of many attainments and one possessed of much intelligent information on all the important matters of the day.
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.
The printed record stops around 1910. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.