First Generation

1. Wilhelm Michael "William" WAEGNER was born on 28 May 1827 in Bergenweiler, Oberamt Heidenhein, Baden-Wurttemberg, Bayern (Bavaria) Province, German Confederation.^1,2,3,4,5 (His surname is spelled "Waegner" in the church records of his death, and "Wagner" in his obituary.) He was baptized on 28 May 1827.² He was confirmed on 3 August 1842.² Wilhelm emigrated on 20 April 1854 from Bergenweiler, Oberamt Heidenhein, Baden-Wurttemberg, Bayern (Bavaria) Province, German Confederation.^1,2 He was Lutheran on 1 April 1862 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.^6,7,8 when he became a member of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church. He and his family were listed in the church Communion Records in the early-1890's. He was listed on the Memberbership Roster in 1900. In 1862 he was an ordained minister in the Lutheran Church in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.^2,9,10 He was one of the founders of Grace Lutheran Church while they lived in Milwaukee. After they moved to Ridgeville, he attended a church meeting of the people living there, but their doctrines did not agree with his; soon, he met more people whose views did agree with his. With their help, Wilhelm founded St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Ridgeville, and served as pastor and teacher until the congregation was able to support a minister. He was listed in the Church Register as member number 1 of the first 100 members of the congregation. On March 4, 1862, he conducted services in the Ridgeville School. Fifteen families attended.

The first trustees of the church were William Waegner, Fredrick Gnewikow, John Bartels, Daniel Zellmer, Christian Richert, and Gottfried Kewitt. Others who signed the constitution and became charter members were Christoph Eckelberg, J. Daniel Redel, W. Gnewikow, Chr. Hoffmann, Chr. Helmke, Asmus Stolz, David Kortbein, Christ Miller, John Mabelmann, John Schultz, Gottlieb Kuehl, Herman Horstmann and Christian Marten.

St. John's is the oldest Lutheran Church in the area and many other Lutheran Churches were started by it as mission churches.

. Wilhelm appeared in the census in 1870 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.¹¹ He appeared in the census in 1875 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.¹² His household consisted of 1 male and 4 females. He appeared in the census in 1880 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.³ Wilhelm appeared in the census in 1900 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.⁴ He was a widower and was living with his daughter Carrie and her husband. He died on 3 September 1909 at the age of 82 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.^1,2,5,13 after suffering an accident on 27 August 1909. He was buried on 6 September 1909 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.^2,5,13 in the St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church Cemetery.

Wilhelm Michael "William" WAEGNER and Sarah W. HUTH were married on 22 July 1852 in Anhausen, Bergenweiler u Bolheim, Wurttemburg, Bayern (Bavaria) Province, German Confederation.^2,7,14,15 They had eight children, and some died in infancy. Sarah W. HUTH, daughter of (Unknown) HUTH and (Unknown) UNKNOWN (HUTH), was born on 28 June 1827 in Geislingen, Baden-Wurttemberg, Bayern (Bavaria) Province, German Confederation.^2,3,16 She emigrated on 20 April 1854 from Germany.² She appeared in the census in 1870 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.¹¹ Sarah appeared in the census in 1875 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.¹² She appeared in the census in 1880 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.³ She died on 12 November 1894 at the age of 67 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.^2,13 (She may have died in 1891.) Sarah was buried on 14 November 1894 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.^13,16 in the St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church Cemetery.

Wilhelm Michael "William" WAEGNER and Sarah W. HUTH had the following children: