Honus Wagner

Wagner in 1903, Chicago Daily News

Birth Name: Johannes Peter Wagner

Date of Birth: February 24, 1874

Place of Birth: Chartiers Borough, Pennsylvania, U.S.

Date of Death: December 6, 1955

Place of Death: Carnegie, Pennsylvania, U.S.

Ethnicity: German

Honus Wagner was an American professional baseball player. A shortstop, he played for the Louisville Colonels and the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball (MLB). He was also manager, and later coach, of the Pittsburgh Pirates. He is in the Hall of Fame.

Honus was born to German parents, Katheryn (Wolfe) and Peter Wagner. He was known as “Hans” Wagner, and “the Flying Dutchman” for his speed. Historically, many German-Americans in the U.S. were referred to as “Pennsylvania Dutch.” Honus was married to Bessie Baine Smith, with whom he had three children.

Honus’s paternal grandfather was Johann Nikolaus Wagner (the son of Johann Nikolaus Wagner and Anna Maria Brueck). Honus’s great-grandfather Johann was the son of Johann Nikolaus Wagner, who was born in Dirmingen, Neunkirchen, Saarland, and of Luisa Katharina Wohlfahrt, who was born in Dirmingen, Eppelborn, Saarland. Anna was the daughter of Johann Nikolaus Brueck and Christina Katharina Kiefer.

Honus’s paternal grandmother was Karolina Sorg (the daughter of Johann Philipp Sorg and Christina Henriette Carolina Gollmann). Johann was born in Dirmingen, Eppelborn, Saarland, the son of Johann Sebastian Sorg and Maria Magdalena Diener. Christina was born in Enkirch, Rhineland-Palatinate, the daughter of Johann Peter Gollmann and Maria Catharina.

Source: Genealogy of Honus Wagner (focusing on his father’s side) – http://www.geni.com