I think today’s birthday boy might have been delivered by a doctor who had his office in his grandmother’s hotel. There was once a hotel in Altenburg known as the Wagner Hotel, which was operated by Theresia Wagner when a baby was born in 1899. The ad for Dr. G.B. Schulz shown below indicates that he had his office in that hotel.

Here is a photo that has shown up on this blog before that includes the Wagner Hotel. The sign on the tree indicates that Dr. Schulz had his office in that hotel.

Hugo Otto Georg Wagner was born on October 12, 1899, so today would be his 125th birthday. Hugo was the son of Joseph and Fredericke (Estel) Wagner. Fredericke was the sister of Theodore Estel, another doctor who had his practice in Altenburg, but he did not become a doctor until after 1900, so I have my doubts that he was involved in assisting with his sister’s birth. Hugo was baptized at Trinity Lutheran Church in Altenburg. We can take a look at his baptism record from that congregation’s books below.

Hugo is found in the 1900 census at the age of 7 months. His father is called a farmer and butcher. Hugo had an older brother, but that child had died prior to this census, so Hugo spent his life as the oldest child in his family.

In a plat map made in 1915, we see that the Joseph Wagner land also included the hotel and a livery.

When the 1910 census was taken, Hugo was 10 years old. Joseph was said to be a livery man with his own barn. Since Theresia Wagner died in 1903, Fredericke took over as the proprietor of the Wagner Hotel. Lina Engert was also included in this household, and she worked as a cook at the hotel.

Hugo had his World War I draft registration completed in 1918. His address is given as St. Louis, and he is called a student at McKinley High School. His father is also given the same address in St. Louis.

Since we find Hugo’s mother still living in Altenburg in 1920 and called “divorced”, Hugo’s parents must have become divorced, or at least separated, prior to 1918. In the 1920 census, Hugo was not living with either his father or his mother. He was living with his aunt, Hulda Hermann, whose husband, Gustav Hermann, was a doctor. Hugo, at the age of 20, was not given an occupation.

By the way, when the 1930 census was taken, Hugo’s parents are back together and living in Altenburg. However, we now need to take a look at the woman who would become Hugo’s wife. Her name was Elizabeth Mabel Atly, who was born on November 5, 1906. Elizabeth was the daughter of William and Florence (Young) Atly. She was born in Oakland, California. We find Elizabeth at the age of 3 living in Oakland where her father was a commercial traveler.

In the 1920 census, Elizabeth was 13 years old. Her mother was the head of the household, yet she was said to be married. Her husband was also living in the Oakland/San Francisco area by himself, and he was also called married. A stepson from William’s first marriage was included in this household. This household is found living in Vallejo, California, which is also in the Oakland vicinity. All 3 of the members of this household other than Elizabeth were employed at the Navy Yard in Vallejo.

Now, I will switch back to Hugo. I do not know where he went to medical school, but we do know that he became a doctor. We also know that he enlisted in the Navy in 1925 according to this military record shown below.

I figure Hugo was stationed at the Mare Island Naval Hospital in Vallejo, California. A photo taken in 1920 of that hospital is shown here.

On August 15, 1926, Hugo Wagner married Elizabeth Atly in Vallejo. We can look at a California marriage license, but I have to display it in 2 images, so you may have to click to enlarge them. Hugo is called a physician and surgeon on this document.

A daughter named Elizabeth Jean was born in Vallejo in 1926. Prior to 1930, Dr. Wagner must have been sent overseas as part of his military responsibilities. On a passenger list for the ship, President Madison, we see him returning to the states from Shanghai, China in 1930. You can see that Mabel and Elizabeth are on this form, but are crossed out. I can assure you that these 2 are found on another page of that same ship’s passenger list.

When the census was taken that same year, we find the Wagner’s living in Vallejo, and Hugo is called a Navy doctor.

Another daughter was born in 1931, but that child died in 1934. In 1939, Dr. Wagner was called a lieutenant commander on this military form. He was serving aboard the USS Oglala.

At some point during the 1930’s, Hugo must have been sent to live in Denver, Colorado because that is where we find him in the 1940 census. Hugo is still called a physician in the Navy.

I failed to find the Wagner’s in the 1950 census. I do know that by the end of the 1950’s, Hugo and Elizabeth were living in San Diego where they lived for the remainder of their lives. Hugo retired from the military in 1955.

Hugo Wagner died in 1972 at the age of 72; Elizabeth Wagner died in 1986 at the age of 79. These two are buried together in the El Camino Memorial Park in San Diego.

I found the story of Hugo Wagner to be quite interesting. Throughout his formative years, he seemed to either have doctors nearby in his community or others connected to his family. So, he had plenty of opportunities for people to influence him to get into the medical field. I also applaud him for using his skills to serve his country for 30 years.