Lawrence C. Warner

As printed in 1910

LAWRENCE C. WARNER.

Lawrence C. Warner, well known in business circles of Western township as president of the Warner Elevator Manufacturing Company and the owner of three hundred acres of valuable land, was born on the old Warner homestead in this township on the 27th of February, 1861, a son of Wilder W. and Olive (Washburn) Warner. The father, a native of Massachusetts, was there reared and educated, receiving a good education in the common schools ef that state. He came west to Illinois in 1849 and for a time was engaged in teaching school in Rock Island, Illinois, then known as Stephenson, and later in Andover, Henry county. Subsequently he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Western township, which formed a nucleus of his later extensive possessions, paying seventy-five cents per acre for this tract. He was here married to Olive Washburn, also a native of the Old Bay state, who came to Henry county with her parents in 1835, when about four years of age. She was a daughter of Nathan W. and EHzabeth (Sheldon) Warner, who upon their arrival in this county took up their above in Colona township. Here she received a good education in the common schools of Rock Island and also became a pupil in Old Oxford, a select school in Qover township. She was united in marriage to Mr, Warner about 1853 and they took up their above upon the farm which he had purchased in Western township. He later added to his possessions, until he became the owner of seven hundred acres in this and Colona township. He took an active part in bringing the railroad to this section of the county, the road passing through his land, upon which was established the station known as Warner's Station. Here he erected an elevator and began buying and selling grain. Previous to this he had been engaged extensively in feeding and shipping cattle and had been very successful in his undertaking. He became well known in local republican circles, being elected to fill various offices such as assessor and collector, and for several years served as justice of the peace and also as supervisor of Western township. He also represented his district in the state legislature in 1871-72. He was one of the early members of Mount Pleasant Baptist church, which was organized in the home of his maternal grandfather, Nathan W. Washburn. The congregation afterward moved to Orion and a branch was established at Warner's Station in 1893. In 1896 he built himself a handsome mansion on the old homestead but lived but a few years to enjoy it, passing away on the 31st of January, 1898, his remains being interred in Western cemetery.

In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Wilder W. Warner were six children, namely: Wilder W., the eldest, married Ella Lockwood and has two children. He now makes his home in Sedalia, Missouri. Mary E. resides at home with her mother, Wilmot S., who married Fannie Wood, resides in Geneseo and is associated with our subject in the manufacturing business as secretary and treasurer of the company. He has two children. Lawrence C, of this review, is the next in order of birth. Frank C, who married Harriet Sanford, by whom he has four children, makes his home in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he is treasurer of the Great Western Printing Company. Alice M. became the wife of Clarence M. Bills and makes her home in Geneseo, where Mr. Bills is engaged in the real estate business. She is the mother of three children.

No event of special importance came to vary the routine of daily life for Lawrence C. Warner during the period of his boyhood and youth, which were spent on the home farm. He attended the district schools during the winter months, acquiring a good knowledge of the various phases of the English language. He remained with his father, assisting him in his different business enterprises, until the death of the latter, after which he and W. J. Blodget acted as administrators of the estate. Mr. Warner took, along with other property, his father's elevator and store, which he later sold in 1902. In 1903 they organized the Warner Elevator Manufacturing Company and began the manufacture of portable elevators for farm use. In 1905 they extended their business to include the manufacture of gasoline engines, also for farm use, and today they have one of the largest manufacturing industries in the county. They have worked up an extensive trade, shipping their product to all of the greatest grain producing states of the union and also to Canada. Mr. Warner has been president of the company since its inception, and as its head has directed his efforts toward the further upbuilding and growth of the business, the gratifying proportions which it has already assumed being due in no small measure to his excellent administrative ability and executive control.

It was on the 23d of June, 1891, in Western township, that Mr. Warner was united in marriage to Miss Isabelle Carson, a native of Yonkers City, New York, and a daughter of David and Jean (McGee) Carson. The parents came to Henry county in 1861, the father now making his home in Western township. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Warner has been born one daughter, Inez Jean, who is now in her sophomore year in Rock Island high school. The entire family are members of the Baptist church, in which Mr. Warner is serving as a trustee. He is stalwart in his support of the republican party, and, like his father, has never sought nor desired public office as the reward for party fealty, although he has been called upon to serve as justice of the peace and also as a member of the school board. Fraternally he holds membership with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Colona, having filled all of the chairs therein and having been sent as a delegate to the state lodge. His interests in public affairs is deep and sincere and is manifest in the substantial cooperation which he has given to plans and measures for the public good. He stands as an excellent representative of the business life of the times, alert and enterprising, watchful of opportunities and recognizing and improving advantages as they come.

As printed in History of Henry County, Illinois (1910). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.