- Webster Wagner
Webster Wagner (
October 2 ,1817 –January 13 ,1882 ) was a postmaster, state official and inventor. He was born nearPalatine Bridge, New York and worked as a wagon maker alongside of other family members. After serving as an employee for theNew York Central Railroad , Wagner invented the sleeping car and luxurious parlor car. He also perfected a system of ventilating railroad cars. His inventions were first used on the NY Central and later spread to other lines.He founded the Wagner Palace Car Company, located in
Buffalo, New York . Several legal battles with thePullman Company failed to put him and his partners out of business.He also served in the
New York Assembly and Senate. He was married to the former Susan Davis and had a family of five children.He died in a rail accident on Friday the 13th of January, 1882, while riding in one of his sleeping cars, in the
Bronx, New York .External links
* [http://www.rootsweb.com/~nymontgo/palatine/websterwagnerbio.html Webster Wagner]
* [http://www.ironhorse129.com/rollingstock/builders/wagner.htm Webster Palace Car Company]
* [http://www.catskillarchive.com/rrextra/wksdfl.Html Accident at Spuyten Duyvil]References
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