James White Wagner

NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey

James White Wagner

Source: History Morris County New Jersey, Volume II, Lewis Publishing Co., 1914

James White WAGNER of Chatham, New Jersey, is one of those men who have been able to overcome the handicap said to attach to those who seek their fortune at home, the handicap of never seeming more than boy to the fellow townsmen, who have watched him grow to maturity. He has overcome it so entirely, as to have taken his place as a conspicuous figure in both the political and financial circles of his community. A member of the Chatham town council, and serving on the finance committee, and as chairman of the legal committee of that body, with a large and growing business, and a constantly widening reputation, he has vindicated the wisdom of those who see the door of opportunity as wide open in the home parish as in the antipodes, since the world is, after all, made up of nothing more than an endless succession of home parishes.

He was born February 9, 1888, at Chatham, a son of James F. and Caroline (WURSTER) WAGNER, who have been residents of Chatham for the past thirty-two years, and received his education in the schools of that neighborhood, graduating from the high school at Summit, New Jersey. Since that time he has been actively engaged in conducting the flourishing florist business, founded by his father fifteen years ago. The business, and the connected greenhouse establishment he has steadily developed until, at the time of this writing, he has a modern plant including an area of eighteen thousand square feet under glass, and employing three men in its running. Here is grown a general stock of flowers, which is disposed of to the New York market through the regular brokerage channels. Besides supplying this most discriminating of markets with the highest class of goods, Mr. WAGNER is a frequent exhibitor at the important flower shows.

In 1912 Mr. Wagner was elected to the Chatham town council, and was soon placed upon the important legal and finance committees, of the former of which he is chairman. He is an attendant of the Congregational church. He is also a member of a number of business and social clubs and orders among which may be mentioned the American Rose Growers’ Association, and Lodge No. 148, J. O. U. A. M. Mr. WAGNER is unmarried, and resides with his parents.

This biography was transcribed by John Cresseveur (1949-2003).