Unknown Ohio Newspapers (Lorain County, OH)

"Chas. Wagner Believed to be a Nephew of the Great Composer, Wilhelm Wagner.
Possibility that there lives in Wellington a man who is closely related to one of the world's greatest composers, Wilhelm Richard Wagner, was revealed recently by a chance contact with a hotel keeper in a southern state who, himself a distant relative of the Great German, has been interested in further tracing the line of the relationship.
The local man is Charles Wagner, owner of Wagner's Grove, who lives on the Pack-Wadsworth Road north of town.
Not long ago, the local Wagner's daughter, now living in Elyria, made a long trip with her husband through the southern states, and at one place she spent several days at a hotel owned and operated by a man named Wagner. The hotel keeper noticed in her face what he described as a natural resemblance to other relatives of Richard Wagner, and asked if her maiden name had been Wagner. Assured of this and told also of her birthplace, the man eagerly explained that records thus far revealed have indicated that a brother of the composer, Burkhart Wagner, had settled somewhere in the section of the United States many years ago, after marrying a woman whose maiden name had been Catherine Hahn, and these are the exact facts concerning the parents of the local Charles Wagner.
Burkhart Wagner was born in German (the local Wagner does not know just where) early in the nineteenth century. He came to America when he was 22, married Catherine Hahn, and settled in Brownhelm-twp. When his son, Charles Wagner, was six years old, Burkhart died. His wife, who remarried, died several years later, and the only surviving children are Charles and a half sister, Mrs. George Walhauer, of Brownhelm.
Richard Wagner, whose brother Burkhart is thought to have been, was born in Leipzeg, Germany, to Friedrich and Johanna Wagner, May 22, 1813, the ninth child in the family. The year of Richard's birth, his father died and his mother married Ludwig Guyer, an actor, in whose home Richard grew up. Richard's success as a composer was slow in coming, but secure when it arrived, and his popularity is still growing constantly. He was the author of "Tannhauser," "Lohengrin", and "Tristan and Isolde," as well as many other well-known musical dramas. He never visited the United States, it is believed, though he traveled over much of Europe. He died at Venice in 883 (sic), and was buried with great ceremony at Bayreuth, Germany. The fiftieth anniversary of the death was observed with special performances of his works all over the world last year.
Charles Wagner, who will be 80 years old next June, is backward about claiming any relationship to the composer until he has received more definite proof that such relationships exists. His father's immigration papers, which he thinks would throw light on the subject, are in the possession of his half-sister, in Brownhelm, and he has not been able to examine them since he heard of the possible relationship.
He has, however, seen the statue of Willhelm Richard Wagner, which stands in the Cleveland Public Square, and he says it resembles his father as he remembered him, very much. He is much impressed by the fact that the southern hotel keeper knew so much about his family, merely from studying Richard's descendants. He thinks that he was at least a cousin or nephew. In any case, he intends to find out about it."

"Farmer, 80, Builds Playspot for Others, Wins Happiness for Self
By Violet Curtice
WELLINGTON — Charles Wagner, 80-year-old Wellington farmer has won considerable happiness for himself in his declining years in planning for the enjoyment of others.
In the rear of the Wagner farm north of town is a quiet brook, a sparking spring, and a grove of trees. Fourteen years ago the octogenarian conceived the idea of opening this grove for picnics and family reunions. He built a table and a few benches and invited the public in.
They came. Just a few at first, followed by an ever increasing number, until today it is one of the favorite picnic spots in Lorain-co. Many a Sunday this past summer, over 100 have enjoyed the cool quiet of the grove on a single day.
Wagner is there to greet them and to see that everything they need for their comfort is provided for. The tables, the benches, the grove itself is kept spotlessly clean for the visitors.
There is no admission price into the grove and Wagner apologizes for the obscure little tin box which he has nailed onto a tree. "If any would like to put in a nickel or a dime, it will help me to keep the tables and benches in repair," he explains.
"Sometimes people ask me why I work so hard for others," said Wagner. His pleasant face beams with smiles. "I like to see everyone have a good time," he explains. "Many of the youngsters who come here are children, grandchildren, or even great grand children of my own neighbors and friends, who have long ago passed into the next land."
In the grove is a large twin sycamore tree which measures 27 feet around the base, believed to be the largest in the county.
To add further to the pleasure of the picnickers, Wagner is planning now to build a pool in the grove. "I believe that it can be built as a swimming pool," he says, "but if is does not pass the requirements of the sanitary commission, it will be a fine pool for boating. I expect it will be completed when the summer season opens next year."
Wagner is assisted by his son, Austin, who has inherited his love for people and good times. The two of them have been 'baching' it alone on the old Wagner homestead ever since the death of Mrs. Wagner, several years ago."