Wagg, John D.

Wagg, John D (1835-66)

Papers, 1854-66, 0.4 cu. ft, Ms92-048

Introduction:

John D. Wagg, son of minister James Wagg, was born in Jefferson, North Carolina, on 8 July 1835. Although he initially studied medicine in 1854 at Jefferson Academy, Wagg eventually entered the ministry. On 17 July 1858, the Holston Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church South authorized and licensed him as a preacher. The Holston Conference, in the mid-nineteenth century, encompassed most of western North Carolina, eastern Tennessee, and southwestern Virginia.

Wagg's first appointments were in the Virginia counties of Giles, Russell, and Wise where he labored as a circuit preacher. By 1859, however, he was reassigned to Hillsville, Virginia, where he married Lavinia Anderson on 13 May 1862.

Wagg subsequently assumed ministerial duties in Asheville, North Carolina, in late 1862 or early 1863. His only child, Martha Elizabeth Wagg, was born there at the home of lawyer Joshua Roberts on 6 March 1863. On 6 August 1864, his wife Lavinia died.

In late 1864, John D. Wagg relocated to Bristol, Virginia, although he continued to deliver occasional sermons in Asheville. Wagg was superannuated by the Methodist Episcopal Church South in 1865 because of tuberculosis. He died in 1866 and is buried in Hillsville.

Scope and Content:

The Wagg Papers consist of correspondence, two diaries, sermons, church documents, and miscellaneous poems and essays. Forty-seven letters from ministers, family, and friends from 1858 to 1866 comprise his correspondence. Church documents include Wagg's credentials and a list of members and map of the Hillsville circuit.

Provenance:

The Wagg Papers were purchased in November 1992 from Howard R. McManus of Roanoke, Virginia. The collection was processed in January 1993 by C. C. Reynolds.

List of Contents:

Contents

Folder 1: Correspondence, 1858-1859

Josiah Torbett in Princeton, VA. to J. D. Wagg, 11 November 1858. 3 pp.
James K. Stringfield in Wytheville, VA. to J. D. Wagg, 14 December 1858. 4 pp.
Josiah Torbett in Princeton, VA. to J. D. Wagg, 17 May 1859. 2 pp.
T. D. Summers in Boon's Creek, TN. to J. D. Wagg, 7 July 1859. 4 pp.
Josiah Torbett in Princeton, VA. to J. D. Wagg, 18 August 1859. 2 pp.
A. W. Smith in Gladeville, Wise Courthouse, VA. to J. D. Wagg, 8 November 1859. 2 pp.
W. W. Neal in Athens, TN. to J. D. Wagg. 12 November 1859, 2 pp.
John. W. Mann in Hillsville, VA. to J. D. Wagg, 7 December 1859. 3 pp.
A. W. Smith in Wise Courthouse, VA. to J. D. Wagg, 23 December 1859. 3 pp.

Folder 2: Correspondence, 1860

W. P. Quien in Wythe County, VA. to J. D. Wagg, 29 January 1860. 2 pp.
A. W. Smith in Wise County, VA. to J. D. Wagg, 13 February 1860. 3 pp.
John N. Jones in Taylorsville, NC. to J. D. Wagg, 28 February 1860. 4 pp.
John W. Mann in Hillsville, VA. to J. D. Wagg, 21 March 1860. 3 pp.
James Wagg in Jefferson, NC. to J. D. Wagg, 17 May 1860. 4 pp.
John W. Mann in Hillsville, VA. to J. D. Wagg, 21 June 1860. 2 pp.
James Wagg in Jefferson, NC. to J. D. Wagg, 1 August 1860. 4 pp.

Folder 3: Correspondence, 1861-1862

J. D. Peters in Pearisburg, VA. to J. D. Wagg, 1 January 1861. 4 pp.
John D. Wagg in Hillsville, VA. to Samuel Wagg, 18 February 1861. 4 pp.
A. J. Frazier in Rheatown, TN. to J. D. Wagg, 4 March 1861. 2 pp.
A. G. Pendleton in Fort Branch, state unknown, to J. D. Wagg, 5 March 1861. 2 pp.
A. J. Frazier in Rheatown, TN. to J. D. Wagg, 4 June 1861. 2 pp.
W. P. Quien in Grayson County, VA. to J. D. Wagg, 11 August 1861. 4 pp.
W. P. Quien in Ducktown, TN. to J. D. Wagg, 26 December 1861. 2 pp.
Gwen in Knoxville, TN. to J. D. Wagg, 11 February 1862. 3 pp.
J. M. McTeer in Speedwell, VA. to J. D. Wagg, 24 March 1862. 3 pp.
W. McDowell in Wytheville, VA. to J. D. Wagg, 11 April 1862. 1 p.
Gwen in Knoxville, TN. to J. D. Wagg, 15 April 1862. 4 pp.
Gwen in Knoxville, TN. to J. D. Wagg, 25 May 1862. 3 pp.
Benjamin W. S. Bishop in Jefferson, NC. to J. D. Wagg, 20 September 1862. 3 pp.
M. Tatum, n.p., to J. D. Wagg, December 1862. With newspaper clipping. 2 pp.

Folder 4: Correspondence, 1863-1867

Samuel S. Grant in Hillsville, VA. to J. D. Wagg, 16 April 1863. 2 pp.
A. J. Frazier in Jacksboro, TN. to J. D. Wagg, 19 May 1863. 4 pp.
Samuel S. Grant in Hillsville, VA. to J. D. Wagg, 12 August 1863. 4 pp.
William H. Howell in Hendersonville, NC to J. D. Wagg, 20 July 1864. 2 pp.
Joshua Roberts in Asheville, NC. to J. D. Wagg, 2 October 1864. 2 pp.
A. D. Stewart , n.p., to J. D. Wagg, 20 February 1865. 4 pp.
Joshua Roberts in Asheville, NC. to J. D. Wagg, 24 February 1865. With newspaper clipping. 4 pp.
James R. Stringfield in Emory, VA. to J. D. Wagg, 21 September 1865. 2 pp.
A. D. Stewart in Chattanooga, TN. to J. D. Wagg, 28 December 1865. 6 pp.
J. B. Johnson in Lynchburg, VA. to J. D. Wagg, 15 February 1866. 2 pp.
Josie in Rose Valley, state unknown, to J. D. Wagg, May 1866. 2 pp.

Folder 5: Correspondence, n.d.

M. Tatum, n.p., to J. D. Wagg, n.d. 4 pp.
M. Tatum, n.p., to J. D. Wagg, n.d. 4 pp.
M. Tatum, n.p., to J. D. Wagg, n.d. 4 pp.
Anson W. Cummings at [Holston Conference] Female College, Asheville, NC., to J. D. agg, n.d. 1 p.
J. D. Wagg, n.p., to unknown person, n.d. 1 p.
Elva in Hillsville, VA. to Lavinia Wilkerson, n.d. 1 p.

Folder 6:

Diary of J D. Wagg, 1854-1858.

Folder 7:

Pocket diary and almanacof J D. Wagg, 1865 [With lock of hair and sheet with family data. Diary has entries, 1882-1883.]

Folder 8:

Notebook of sermons by J. D. Wagg, n.d. 117 pp.

Folder 9: Sermons, 1865

Sermon by J. D. Wagg. "Trial of Faith." Preached at Asheville, NC. on 21 February 1864 and Bristol, VA. on 5 March 1865. 5 pp.
Sermon by J. D. Wagg. "The Builders." Preached at Bristol, VA. on 19 February 1865 and Asheville, NC. on 27 March 1865. 4 pp.
Sermon by J. D. Wagg. "Angels." Preached at Asheville, NC. on 15 March 1865. 5 pp.
Sermon by J. D. Wagg. "Faith." Preached at Asheville, NC. on 15 June 1865 and Bristol, VA. on 18 June 1865. 4 pp.

Folder 10: Sermons, n.d.

Sermon by J. D. Wagg. "God Seen in Nature." 4 pp.
Sermon by J. D. Wagg. "What of the Night?" 3 pp.
Sermon by J. D. Wagg. "Valedictory." 2 pp.
Sermon by J. D. Wagg. "Aspiration of the Scriptures--External Evidence." 2 pp.
Sermon by J. D. Wagg. "The Divinity of Christ." 4 pp.
Sermon by J. D. Wagg. "The Fall of Man." 4 pp.
Sermon by J. D. Wagg. "A New Creature." 3 pp.
Sermon by J. D. Wagg. "Praise." 4 pp.
Sermon by J. D. Wagg. "The Water of Life." 4 pp.
Sermon by J. D. Wagg. "The Lord God and Death." 4 pp.

Folder 11:

Miscellaneous notes for sermons, n.d. 9 items.

Folder 12: Miscellaneous church documents, poetry and essays, 1858, n.d.

Class book for Hillsville, VA. congregation of the Holston Conference, Methodist Episcopal Church South. Lists church members. Compiled by J. M. McTeer and J. D. Wagg. 10 pp.
Map of Hillsville, VA. circuit of the Holston Conference, Methodist Episcopal Church South.. 1 p.
Church credentials of J. D. Wagg. 1 January 1858. 1 p.
Church credentials of J. D. Wagg. 17 July 1858. 1 p.
Poem by J. D. Wagg. "To Miss _____." 1 p.
Poem by J. D. Wagg. "Mocking Bird." 1 p.
Poem by J. D. Wagg. 2 pp.
Essay by J. D. Wagg. 1 p.
Essay by J. D. Wagg. 1 p.

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