My Genealogy Hound

JOHN W. WARNER. This, in brief, is the sketch of a man whose present substantial position in life has been reached entirely through his own perseverance, and the facts connected with his life only show what a person with courage and enlightened views can accomplish. His reputation for honesty and integrity has been tried and not found wanting; his financial ability has been more than once put to the test, but never without credit to himself; his social qualities are well known and appreciated, and he has hosts of friends, whose confidence and esteem are his highest eulogium. He is now living in the town of Reading, Schuyler County, where he is the owner of a quarter-section of fine land.

Our subject was born in Starkey, Yates County, this state, February 9, 1832. His father was Dr. John Warner, a native of Litchfield, Conn., while his mother, whose maiden name was Mary DeWitt, was born in Chemung County, N. Y. After their marriage they located in Yates County, where the father continued in active practice until his death, when in his sixty-sixth year. His wife survived him many years, passing away at the age of eighty years. They became the parents of a family of six children, three sons and three daughters, and of these our subject was the youngest.

John W. was a lad of eight years at the time of his father’s death, and soon thereafter his widowed mother with her children came to Schuyler County, locating in the town of Reading. Here our subject was reared and educated, and with the exception of two or three years spent in his native county, has made this locality his home since that time. He has been engaged in various enterprises, in one and all of which he has met with success. For about four years he was employed in shipping lumber, used for the building of vessels, to New York City, and upon abandoning that enterprise was engaged for the same length of time in the United States revenue service.

The marriage of Mr. Warner with Miss Nancy Corbett was celebrated January 6, 1853. The lady was born in the town of Reading, September 19, 1833, and was the daughter of Chester and Sally Corbett, well-to-do and highly esteemed residents of this county. Mr. and Mrs. Warner became the parents of three children: James W., who died in infancy; Ada M. and Indianola W. Ada is now the widow of John R. Linzey; the younger daughter married Henry Vosburgh, and makes her home on the old homestead.

Although at all times interested in the welfare of his community, Mr. Warner has in no sense of the word been an office-seeker. He has proved himself to be a valued citizen of the county, and when the First National Bank of Watkins suspended, he was appointed Receiver for the defunct institution. Since 1876 he has been employed by the Fall Brook Railroad Company as agent at Reading, and in his duties he is greatly assisted by his daughter Indianola. From his long term of service it must be conceded that he gives entire satisfaction. He takes no part in politics other than to cast his vote in favor of Democratic candidates and principles. In the Methodist Episcopal Church, with which both he and his wife are connected, he is actively interested, having filled many offices in the same, and by contributing liberally of his means has aided greatly in pushing forward the good work in his community. As stated above, Mr. Warner is the proprietor of one hundred and sixty acres of highly cultivated land, on which have been erected good and substantial buildings, and there all the farm machinery necessary for carrying on a first-class estate may be seen.