CHARLES WAGNER

San Joaquin County

Biographies

CHARLES WAGNER

CHARLES WAGNER, resident partner of the firm of Kullman, Wagner & Co., Proprietors of the Pacific Tannery of Stockton, was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, January 23, 1837, a son of Christian and Johanna (Gunsser) Wagner. His father was a tanner and his grandfather, John Wagner, by occupation a brewer, was for a time in charge of his great-grandfather’s tannery in Balingen, Wurtemberg, to which Christian also succeeded, so that at least four successive generations of the Wagner family have followed the tannery business. Both the father and grandfather of the subject of this sketch lived to an advanced age; and the grandmother Wagner also. Grandfather Christian Gunsser, a public surveyor and school-teacher, was sixty five at his death, and his wife reached the age of ninety-two. The mother, Johanna (Gunsser) Wagner, lived to the age of sixty-two years.

The subject of this sketch attended school to the age of fifteen and afterward learned his father’s business. He left Wurtemberg in the fall of 1855, for California by the ship “Bavaria” from Havre, France, to New York, thence by steamer “Northern Light” to Chagres, across the Isthmus on mule back, then by steamer to San Francisco, where he arrived January 19, 1856. Proceeding to the mines by way of Stockton, he made one month’s trial in Calaveras County, near what is now Copperopolis. The result being unsatisfactory he returned to this city and with his brother, Jacob C., started the tannery in which he is still interested in 1890. Meanwhile, in 1859, the subject of this sketch, desiring to perfect himself in his trade, left Stockton for San Francisco and portions of the State where tanning industries were carried on, and finally worked for eighteen months in tanneries at Santa Cruz, where at that time the best article of leather was made. After an absence of two years he returned to his labor in the tannery here, which was established by himself and brother in 1856. They continued to manufacture, and in 1865 adopted the style of Wagner Brothers. In 1869 Jacob C. Wagner retired and Moses Kullman became a partner, under the style of Kullman, Wagner & Co., which has since remained unchanged, with, however, some change in the membership of the firm. In 1870 Herman, a brother of Moses Kullman, was admitted into partnership, and in 1874 Jacob Salz purchased an interest. Moses Kullman, at his death November 6, 1878, bequeathed half his interest to his brother Herman, and the other half to a nephew, Charles Hart, who thus became a member of the firm. The “Pacific Tannery” has thus been an important industry of this city for thirty-four years, with a constantly growing demand for its products wherever these have been introduced, having long since outstripped the factories of like production. In quality, their sole-leather competes successfully in the markets of the world; is sold all over the United States, and the firm has standing orders for the markets of Japan, while their harness-leather goes all over the States and Territories of the Pacific coast. The annual expenditure for raw materials is over $250,000, and their working force ranges from fifty to seventy-five men. After a fire which swept the main buildings of the tannery in 1875, the same were rebuilt on a more extensive and substantial scale, brick and iron structures taking the place of former frame buildings and being provided with the latest and best machinery and appliances. The tannery now covers an area of 300 x 250 feet, besides 200 x 150 feet occupied by storehouses for bark.

Mr. Charles Wagner was married in Stockton, in 1867, to Miss Philipina Simon, born in Basenbach, Bavaria, in 1846, a daughter of Jacob and Katrina (Rothenbuch) Simon, now deceased, the mother in 1866, and the father in 1867, both well advanced in years.

Mr. and Mrs. Wagner have two children: Edward Charles, born November 24, 1869, has been educated in the public schools and at a business college, and at the age of eighteen began to learn his father’s business; Bertha Emily, born July 23, 1873, has also received a good education, and both are living with their parents.

Mr. Wagner is a member of Stockton Lodge, No. 11, I. O. O. F., and of the Stockton Turn-Verein, of which he is a trustee, having at different terms been president of that society. He is an advanced liberal in his views and a progressive man in all the realms of thought.

Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.

An Illustrated History of San Joaquin County, California, Pages 381-382. Lewis Pub. Co. Chicago, Illinois 1890.

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