| Quantity: | 1 box (0.25 cubic ft.) |
|---|---|
| Access: | Open to research |
| Acquisition: | Purchase, Abbott. January 1913 |
| Processed by: | Fred Bassett, December 1985 |
Webster Wagner (1817-1882) formed a partnership in the wagon-making business with his brother James. Their shop was located at Palatine Bridge, New York. The business folded by 1842, largely due to the Panic of 1837. Subsequent to this venture, Webster Wagner found employment in the railroad business, eventually becoming the principal agent at the Palatine Bridge railroad station. During the 1860s, he designed and built a railroad parlor car that made him a substantial fortune. Later Wagner became active in state and local politics and government.
The papers in the collection document the brothers' unsuccessful venture in the wagon-making trade. Included in this collection are a variety of business records, such as correspondence, debit-credit accounts, promissory notes, bills, and receipts. The business folded by 1842; these records show that the Panic of 1837 and subsequent economic depression probably affected their business.
| Folder | Contents |
|---|---|
| 0 | Biographical information about Webster Wagner |
| 1 | Letters, 1839 |
| 2 | Letters, 1840-1842 |
| 3 | Accounts, 1837-1839 |
| 4 | Accounts, 1840-1842 |
| 5 | Orders, 1839-1842 |
| 6 | Promissory Notes, 1839-1840 |
| 7 | Receipt Book, 1839-1840 |
| 8 | Receipts, 1838-1840 |
| 9 | Receipts, 1841-1842 |
| 10 | Legal Papers, 1840-1841 |
| 11 | Miscellaneous Papers |