The Warner Families of Summit County, Ohio

WILLIAM A. WARNER, one of Coventry Township's most highly esteemed citizens, who filled the offices of township treasurer and treasurer of the Board of Education

1(11- liver a, quarter of a century, was born on a farm at East Liberty, Summit County, Ohio, October 5, 1845, and is a son of John and Elizabeth (Weaver) Warner.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

Mr. Warner is a Democrat. He was first elected treasurer of Coventry Township, in 1880, and has filled that office continuously for the past twenty-five years. His last term expired in December, 1907, when he definitely declined to accept the office again. His long period of official life has been one to which he can look with honest pride through the remainder of his life. With his family, he belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church at South Akron.

John Farriss, the grandfather of William J. Farriss, was a native of England who emigrated to America and settled in Seneca County, New York, where he died at the age of eighty-five years. Of his family of six children, William Farriss was next to the eldest. He was born in England, and was three years of age when the family came to America. He grew up on his father's farm.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

WILLIAM A. WARNER, a highly respectable farmer of Coventry township, is a native of Green township, Summit county, Ohio, was born October 5, 1845, and is of English descent.

John Warner, great-grandfather of subject, while still a young man, came from his native England and located in Maryland, where he was married and shortly afterward came to

Ohio, lived for a short time in Stark county, and then permanently settled on a tract of land in Coventry township, Summit county, among the Indians of the primeval forest, being one of the county's earliest pioneers. His son, Henry Warner, grandfather of subject, was born in Maryland, married Catherine Kepler, and had a family of eight children, viz: John, Adam (deceased), Jacob, William, Ann, Abraham, Solomon, and Daniel — the last named also deceased. Henry Warner was also a pioneer of Coventry township. Summit county, Ohio, where he cleared up from the forest a farm of 105 acres, and became thoroughly identified with the development of the township, becoming a charter member of the East Liberty church, and a leader in local politics, being, himself, a Jackson democrat. John Warner, son of Henry and father of subject, was born in Coventry township in March, 1821, on the farm on which subject still resides, and in 1844 married Elizabeth Weaver, who was born in 1824, a daughter of James P. Weaver. To Mr. and Mrs. Warner have been born six children, in the following order: William A., Henry, Samuel. John J., Adam, and Mary (the last named deceased). For many years the parents continued to reside in Coventry township, but finally removed to Norton township, generously presenting to each of the children a good farm and otherwise aiding them, and retaining for themselves only sufficient to sustain themselves in their old age. Mr. Warner has of late espoused the cause of the prohibition party, but was formerly a democrat and held many of the township offices of Coventry, as well as several offices in the Methodist Episcopal church of New Portage. He has been generous in his aid to this as well as to all the other churches of the neighborhood. He is still hale and hearty and is highly respected as an old settler, and for his charitable disposition, which has for years been made manifest in the county for miles around.

William A. Warner received a good common-school education and was reared to manhood on his father's farm. He married, February 1 8, 1866, Miss Sarah Spittler, who was born in Springfield township, Summit county, April 14, 1843, a daughter of Christian and Barbara (Weyricky Spittler. Her parents were natives of Union township, Union county. Pa., were there married, and there had born to them four of their ten children, the others having been born in Ohio. They were named, in order of birth, as follows: Jacob, John, Elizabeth (Mrs. Jacob Sprigler), Catherine (Mrs. Fred Easier" Mary (Mrs. J. A. Van Vermer), Sarah (Mrs. Warner), George (deceased from effects of army life), Jacob (deceased) and Henry ist, and Henry 2nd (both deceased). Mr. Spittler was a carpenter by trade and died in Plymouth, Ind., in 1877; his widow died in Munroe Falls, Ohio, December 31, 1891 — both members of the English Reformed church. To Mr. and Mrs. William A. Warner have been born two children: William J., born July 22, 1868 — died in December, 1868, and Mary E., born December II, 1869. The latter was married, December 12, 1889, to William J. Farriss, a native of New York, and has had three children, viz: Lottie M., who died in 1890, in infancy, Sarah E. and Willie A.

Mr. Warner's farm consists of 100 acres, twenty-five of which were originally part of his father's homestead, and seventy-five of which have been the result of his own industry and frugality. He has improved his place with a modern house and barn, at a cost of $3,000, and has one of the most pleasant homesteads in the township. He and wife are members of the Pleasant "Valley Methodist Episcopal church, in which Mr. Warner is a trustee. In politics Mr. Warner has chiefly voted with the democratic party, and by this party was elected township treasurer in 1880, which office he still continues to fill. He is respected wherever known, both as a liberal and public-spirited citizen and as a gentleman of strictly moral character.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected.

SAMUEL WARNER, a highly esteemed citizen of Copley Township, and the owner of 109 acres of fine farming land, was born January 13, 1852, in an old log house on his father's farm in Coventry Township, Summit County, Ohio, and is a son of John and Elizabeth (Weaver) Warner.

Henry Warner, the grandfather of Samuel, as an early pioneer of Stark County, Ohio, settling in the woods with the Indians for neighbors, at which time Akron was still a small village, and Cleveland the nearest point at which salt could be procured. Later Mr. "\warner with his wife and several children came to Summit County, and became well known and highly esteemed residents of Coventry Township, where both passed away. Mr. and Mrs. Warner had eight children — John, the father of Samuel; Adam, now deceased; William; Jacob; Abraham; Samuel; Solomon, and Daniel (deceased). Of this family Jacob and William were in the Civil War.

John Warner, father of Samuel, spent his boyhood days in the woods of Coventry Township, and attended the old log schoolhouse. Throughout his life he engaged in agricultural pursuits, and he was the owner of the present farm of Samuel Warner, which he purchased from the Yearick estate. John Warner was married to Elizabeth Weaver, who died in 1901, and to this union there were born children as follows: William a resident of Coventry Township; Henry, who lives in New Portage; Samuel; John, of Norton Township; Adam, who lives in Coventry Township; and a daughter who died young.

Samuel Warner was reared on his father's farm, and helped to clear the home place, modern machinery having come into use

;'.l)out that time. After his marriage he rented a farm in Norton Township for about four years, and then returned to Coventry Township, where he carried on operations on (he Thornton farm for a time, removing thence to the old Warner farm. There Mr. and Mrs. Warner lived until locating on the present property, originally the Yearick estate.

On May 26, 1872, Mr. Warner was married to Emma Sailor, who is a daughter of Lewis and Rebecca (Sonon) Sailor, and one child has been born to this union: Clara, v.ho married Charles Winkleman, resides in Akron and has one child, Thore Wayne.

Mr. Warner has always been a Democrat ill politics, but has never aspired to public office. With Mrs. Warner he attends the Methodist Episcopal Church.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JOHN J. WARNER, whose valuable farm of eighty-eight and one-half acres is situated five miles west of Akron, on the highway known as the Akron-Wadsworth road, is a well-known and respected citizen of Norton Township. He was* born in Coventry Townshin, Summit County. Ohio. October 21. 1855, and is a son of John and Elizabeth (Weaver) Warner.

John Warner was born near East Liberty. Ohio, July 14, 1821, a son of Ilenry Warner a pioneer of that section. John Warner married Elizabeth Weaver and they had the following children: William, residing in Coventry Township; Henry, residing at Barberton; Samuel, residing in Copley Township: John J.: and Adam, residing in Coventry Township, all being farmers. The mother died in 1905, aged seventy-nine years.

John J. Warner was reared in Coventry Township. In 1877, his father purchased his present farm and John J. settled on it at that time and subsequently bought if. He owned seventy acres of land where Barberton now stands, owning nine of the thirteen acre.* which comprises Lake Anna. He was the first man to sell his farm to the syndicate that built Barberton. John J. Warner carries on general farming.

By marriage to Sarrah Dreisbach. Mr. Warner became connected with one of the substantial old families of Norton Township. She was born in Pennsylvania and wa* brought to Norton Township in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Warner have bad five children, the three survivors being: Fietta, who resides at

Young’s Crossing, with her venerable grandfather; and Elsie and William, residing at home. Bessie died aged three months, and Roy died aged nine months.

Mr. Warner is numbered with the leading citizens of the township and has served three years as trustee.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JOHN A. WARNER, residing on his excellent farm of fifty acres, which is situated in Coventry Town.ship, is a member of one of the pioneer families of this section. He was born in Coventry Township, Summit County, Ohio, December 5, 1847, and is a son of Adam K. and Elizabeth (Renninger) Warner.

Adam K. Warner was born in Pennsylvania and was brought to Ohio in infancy by his parents, Henry and Mary Wai-ner, who settled at a very early day in Coventry Township. For a number of years they lived in the same old log house, which had been their earliest home. On one occasion the other members of the family returned to find the aged father sleeping his last sleep, in his old arm chair. He was the father of eight stalwart sons, all of whom became leading men in Summit County, and all survive, with the exception of Adam K. and Daniel. They were named as follows: John, Abraham, Solomon, William, Samuel, Daniel, Adam K. and Jacob. Two of the above, William and Jacob, served in the Union army during the Civil War and are members of the Grand Army of the Republic.

Adam K. Warner assisted his father and brothers to clear off the farm and with the latter attended the old log school-house where they learned to read and write. In early manhood he was married to Elizabeth Renninger, who was born in Coventry Township and died here in 1895, aged sixty-six years. She was the eldest of eight children born to her parents, John and Mary Renninger, who journeyed to Ohio from Pennsylvania, with an ox team. They settled in the woods in Coventry Township and, like other early settlers, cut 'down many dollars' worth of valuable timber in clearing up their land. John Renninger died on his farm in advanced age. His widow died at the home of a daughter, Mrs. Weaver, at Loyal Oak. The Renninger children were: Elizabeth, Catherine, Rebecca, Mary, Susan, Solomon, George and John. They have numerous descendants and it is a pleasant custom with them to hold family reunions at stated times. Adam K. Warner died in 1897, aged seventy-two years. The children of Adam K. Warner and wife were: Henry, who is deceased; John A.; Mariah, who married D. Rothrock; Jane, who married

R. A. Messner; Levina, who married Frank Bowers; and George and Frank.

John A. Warner attended the district school in boyhood and was well grounded in reading, writing and arithmetic, the foundation stones of all book learning, but he began hard work on the farm when but twelve years old, even then being able to handle a plow very effectively. Although he has carried on farming for many years, he has a natural talent for working with machinery, and when he was nineteen years of age he learned wagon-making and conducted a shop of his own at East Liberty, until 1874. He then turned his attention to the threshing business, and he operated a threshing machine and a steam sawmill up to recent years. He was one of the early threshers traveling through this section and was a very capable and successful one. In 1894 he purchased his present farm from George Shutt, since when he has carried on general farming and has done many dollars' worth of improving on his valuable property.

On December 21, 1871, Mr. Warner was married to Hattie 0. Rininger, who is a daughter of Christian and Rachel Rininger, who reared a family of seven children, namely: Lucinda, Mary, William, Christina, Maria, Hattie 0. and Sadie. The father of Mrs. Warner died in Green Township, aged seventy-five years, and the mother, aged sixty-two years.

Mr. and Mrs. Warner have had three children, namely: Ofie, who died aged two years and five months; Chloe, who married Byron Bowers, residing near Mr. Warner, has three children, Ralph, Howard and Myron; and Russell Glen, who resides with his father. The Warners are Democrats. They belong to the Evangelical Church.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

FRANK WARNER, residing on the old Warner home place of ninety acres, which is situated in the northwest corner of Green Township, is a leading citizen of his community. Mr. Warner was born July 28, 1867, in Summit County Ohio, in the old log house that formerly stood on his present farm, and is a son of Samuel and Sarah (Thornton) Warner.

Samuel Warner, father of Frank, was born in Coventry Township, Summit County, in 1829. his parents having settled there when they came from Pennsylvania. Samuel wak5 the fifth in a family of eight children, the other? being: John, William. Jacob, Adam, Abraham, Solomon and Daniel. Samuel Warner grew up on his father's farm and assisted to clear it of the heavy timber which then covered it, doing the work with teams of strong oxen. He married Sarah Thornton, who was born in Pennsylvania and died in 1900, aged sixty-three years. After marriage, Samuel Warner and wife settled on the present farm, which had belonged to the Thorntons in early days, and found domestic happiness living in the old log house that.stood for many years. During the strength of youth and manhood, Samuel Warner was a very industrious man, carrying on his farming and stock-raising and also threshing through the country, having one of the oldtime horse-power machines, which were then considered entirely adequate. He resides ndth his son Frank but owns a farm of sixty acres separate from the one under consideration. Six of his large family of children reached maturity, as follows. Harriet; Mary, who married Henry Hauff; Ellen, who married Grant Stahl; William; Frank; and Martha, who married Harvey Rex.

Frank Warner may be said to have spent his whole life on his present farm for here his main interests have always centered. After leaving school he worked for a time in the rubber factories at Akron and the sewer pipe works at Barberton, but shortly returned 10 the life which makes a man independent, that of a farmer. He has a fine property and he has placed it 'under an excellent state of cultivation. There is a natural lake on the land which but adds to its value, and the beautiful shade trees around the residence make most attractive surroundings.

Mr. Warner married Bessie Carmany, who is a daughter of Benjamin and Louisa (Bower) Carmany, and they have two children, Marie and Gertrude. Mr. and Mrs. Warner belong to the Evangelical Church. Politically, he is a Republican and for three years he sen'ed as township constable.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

MILTON H. WARNER, owner of the Hillside Fruit and Dairy Farm, which consists of sixty-five acres of some of the most productive land in Coventry Township and is favorably located within one-half mile of the corporation limits of Akron, is one of the prominent and substantial men of this section. Mr. Warner was born on his father’s farm in Coventry Township, Summit County, Ohio, August 1, 1859, and is a son of Solomon and Matilda E. (Ritter) Warner.

Mr. Warner’s grandparents were Henry and Elizabeth (Kepler) Warner, who were born in Pennsylvania. In 1835 they came to Ohio, settling first at Canton, but later they came to the farm in Coventry Township, Summit County, which is now owned by William Ferris. When they came to this neighborhood as pioneers, the whole region was a wilderness, and before they could build their first log house, a clearing had to be made in the forest. After Henry Warner had provided a comfortable home in Ohio, he was joined by his aged father, Adam Warner, who survived until almost the age of ninety-nine years. Henry Warner died aged seventy-six years and his widow when three years older. They reared a sturdy family of eight children, six of whom are still living. They were John, Adam, Jacob, William, Samuel, Abraham, Solomon and Daniel. Jacob Warner, of this family, served as a 100-day soldier in the Civil War, and William Warner served three years, both receiving an honorable discharge at the close of their terms of service.

Solomon Warner, father of Milton II., was born in Coventry Township, Summit County, Ohio, June 22, 1837, and still survives, residing with his son, Milton H., his only child. He was married May 27, 1858, to Matilda E. Ritter, who was born in Springfield Township, Summit County, Ohio, October 28, 1837, and died April 24, 1888. For many years, Solomon Warner followed the threshing business.

Milton II. Warner, their only child, was reared on the old home place. He attended the district schools and later spent a short time in the Smith ville High School. When about seventeen years of age he began to work in the mill of Brewster Brothers, at Pleasant Valley, where he remained for twelve years, when he went to East Akron and worked for eighteen months in the Seiberling mill, retaining his home, however, at Pleasant Valley until 1897. Tie then moved to his present farm, which he had bought from the Austin Spicer heirs, in 1895. This land has always been considered fertile and has been made exceptionally productive under Mr. Warner’s excellent methods. He makes a specialty of dairying, keeping sixteen head of cattle and five head of horses, and of fruit-growing, especially berries. He finds a ready market for all his produce at Akron. The improvements on the farm, including the commodious fourteen-room residence, and substantial barn and other buildings, have all been made by Mr. Warner. Mr. Warner is also connected with the Norton Mutual Fire and Cyclone Insurance Company and has written some of the largest policies in this locality.

Mr. Warner was married December 18, 1884, to Ida C. Grotz, who is a daughter of John and Almira (Martin) Grotz. The maternal grandmother of Mrs. Warner, Rebecca Way, was the first white child born in Suffield Township, and the family is an old and prominent one of this section. Mr. and Mrs. Warner have two sons, Harry J., residing at home, assisting his father, and Edgar S., who is connected with the Goodrich Rubber Company. Mr. Warner and family belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church. In the spring of 1907, Mr. Warner was elected a member of the Summit County Agricultural Society. Fraternally he belongs to Summit Lodge, No. 50, of the order of Odd Fellows, and is also a member of the Encampment. His portrait is presented on an adjoining page.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

SHARON E. WARNER, the enterprising young blacksmith of Manchester, was born in East Liberty, Summit county, Ohio, March 11, 1871, and is of the third generation of the Summit county family bearing his name.

Adam Warner, grandfather of subject and a native of the county, married Elizabeth Reminger, and owned a farm in Coventry township; he was a substantial and highly respected citizen, in politics was a democrat, and with his wife a consistent member of the United Brethren church. His son, Henry R. Warner, the father of subject, was born on the Coventry township farm, on which he lived until twenty'-one years of age, when he began learning the blacksmith's trade. His educational facilities were somewhat limited, but by self-, instruction he mastered the common English branches of learning. He married Miss E. Bower, a daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth Bower, and this union resulted in the birth of the following children: Aaron E. (subject), Ida E. (wife of William Richard), Homer E., Earl B., Ora B., Lillian M., and Stanley B., all still living to bless the declining years of the parents, who have lived in East Liberty for the past twenty-seven years, where Mr. Warner, by his industry, has secured a comfortable home. In his politics Mr. Warner was a democrat up to the fall of 1896, when he voted for McKinley for president of the United States, believing the republican party to be sound on the questions of tariff and finance. He has reared his family in respectability, and he and wife enjoy the esteem of all who know them.

Aaron E. Warner received a good common-school education, notwithstanding the fact that he began learning his trade with his father at the early age of twelve years, and that he remained with him until two years ago, when he located in Manchester.

April lo, 1895, Mr. Warner married Miss Ella Warner, daughter of J. J. and Sarah (Kreigham) Warner. J. J. Warnerisa citizen of East Liberty and is the owner of a sixty-acre farm, but is beside a dealer in buggies, to which trade he chiefly devotes his attention; in politics he is a democrat, and he and wife are active members of the Evangelical church, and both are greatly respected by their neighbors. The marriage of Aaron E. Warner has been blessed with one child — Grace A. Aaron E. Warner has a good shop and tools — far better than the ordinary run — and is rapidly building up an excellent trade. Beside his shop he owns the lot adjoining, on which he has a neat village cottage, and is altogether a thrifty and prosperous young man. In politics he is a democrat, and during his brief residence in Manchester has gained a host of warm friends.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

W. WALLACE WARNER is the sixth son and eighth child of John Warner, who was born in Middletown, Connecticut, in 1798, and of Marietta (Woodard) Warner, born in Glenmore, New York, in 1805. His parents moved to the "New Connecticut" in

Mr. Warner was born in Springfield Township, Summit County, Ohio, February 28, 1848. When he was four years old his parents moved to Cuyahoga Falls, where he received the most of his schooling, finishing at the Quaker City Business College of Philadelphia in 1866. He was married in Philadelphia to Annie E. Yeamans, daughter of Robert and Mary (Greer) Yeamans in 1869. By this union two children were born, January 14, 1870. Arthur Lee, who died in 1881, and Harry Albert, who married Miss Josie James. His wife died in 1871. He was again married to Miss Alice Grace, daughter of George and Susanna (Dodson) Littleton, October 25, 1877. By this union three children were born — George Littleton Warner, now married to Miss Martha Burton of Oklahoma; Wallace Vincent, who died April 23, 1907; and Mabel Marietta. There are two grandsons, Irvin Shelley, aged nine, son of Harry A. and Josie; and George Burton, one year old, son of George L. and Martha.

Mr. Warner's business life has been mostly spent in Akron, in the real estate business. He is known as the pioneer abstract man. Commencing in 1870, when abstracts were comparatively unknown in business transactions, he compiled the first abstract books of the county, and established the business now conducted by The Bruner Goodhue Cooke Company, with whom he is now associated. He has made several maps of the city, county and other places. His most notable work in this connection is an atlas, known as "Illusfrated Summit County, Ohio," published in 1891-2, and, which, though out of date, is a standard authority in its line. His business life of forty years has been an active one; interspersed with its pleasures, anxieties and disappointments. He is hale and hearty and at sixty is actively engaged in abstract work.

He became deputy recorder in 1868, and does not believe that anyone then a county officer is now living, and but four attorneys, only one of whom is practicing. He does not recall a business house or factory now doing business in the same name. Two hundred thousand real estate papers have been recorded. Barberton, South Akron and nearly all the present industries have come into activity since that time.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

C. C. WARNER, a member of the Board of Public Safety, at- Akron, is one of the city's prominent men, who has been identified with itvS business, political and social interests for a long course of years. Mr. Warner was born in 1860, in Germany, and is a son of the late FredcTick Warner.

C. C. Warner was about ten years of age when he came to Akron, and here he was reared and educated. He left school to enter the employ of the E. H. Merrill Company, with whom he remained for twenty-three years, going then to the Robinson Clay Product Company, where he stayed four years. Since then Mr. Warner has been connected with the Akron Gas Company. He owns a considerable amount of real estate, and a large part of his time is taken up in looking after these interests. For many years he has been more or less prominent in Democratic politics and has served a number of times as a member of the City Council, showing the careful interest in civic affairs that betokens the good citizen. He served two years also as a trustee of Portage Townsiiip, and three years as a member of the Board of Public Safety, and is the Democratic nominee for the Board of Public Service.

In 1890 Mr. AVarner was married ik> Louise Knapp, of Massillon, Ohio. His home is a beautiful residence at No. 373 Wooster Avenue. Mr. Warner is a member of the Akron lodge of Odd Fellows, of which he has been treasurer for eight years, and he belongs also to several of the leading German benevolent societies.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.