Lake County Ohio GenWeb

M.J. Warner

This biography is taken from Biographical History of Northeastern Ohio, Embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake; Lewis Publishing Company, 1893.

Transcribed and submitted by Becky Falin, 1996.

M. J. Warner, proprietor of the Chestnut Hill stock farm, in Concord township, Lake county, Ohio, near Painesville, and a prominent citizen, was born in Hampden, Geauga county, this State, June 23, 1851. His grandfather, Daniel Warner, was a native of New York State, who emigrated to Leroy township, Lake county, Ohio, in an early day. He there cleared and improved a farm in the woods, whence he subsequently removed to Geauga county and later to Cleveland, finally to Bryan, Williams county, Ohio, where he passed the remainder of his days. He was a successful farmer and stock raiser and took a prominent part in the early development of the country. He died at a ripe old age, leaving many friends to mourn his loss. His son, Martin J. Warner, father of the subject of this sketch, was also a native of the Empire State and one of a large family. He accompanied his parents to Ohio, where he early engaged in the stock business, buying cattle and driving them over the mountains to Eastern points, - Philadelphia, Pittsburg, and other large cities, - and although but a boy when he commenced he was very successful. He followed this business most of his life, shipping over the railroad after the completion of a line to the East. He was a hard worker, and by perseverance accumulated a comfortable income. He married Marcia Beckwith, a native of Lake county, Ohio, and daughter of an old and prominent pioneer, her mother being a Huntington, a relative of the first governor of Ohio, and they had four children, two of whom survive. The father died in 1873, after a long life of usefulness, followed by the regrets of all who knew him. He was an active member of the Congregational Church, to which he liberally contributed, as he did to all worthy objects. The mother still survives, happy in universal esteem. She is also a useful member of the Congregational Church, and is prominent in all good and charitable works.

The subject of this sketch was born on a farm on which he lived until ten years ago, after which he resided in Painesville, in which city he attended school. He early engaged in farming and stock-raising, being interested with his father until the latter's death, when he, in September, 1879, removed to his present farm in Concord township, on the old State road. For the last few years, he has been a breeder of high-grade horses, mostly the Wilkes stock, in which he has been very successful and which enterprise has proved very remunerative. He has greatly improved his farm, on which, in 1892, he erected a commodious and handsome residence and large, well-arranged barn, besides other valuable modern facilities for the prosecution of business. His farm includes 174 acres of as choice land as is to be found in Ohio, besides which he also owns valuable land in Wisconsin and Missouri, and is numbered among the substantial men of the country.

Mr. Warner has been twice married, first, in 1878, to Miss Carrie Benjamin, a highly estimable lady of Painesville, where she was born and reared. Her life was spared but a short time after marriage, her death taking place in 1880, to the general sorrow of all who knew her. She left one child, Kate G. In 1881, Mr. Warner married Mrs. Hattie Valentine, an accomplished lady, a native of Geauga county, Ohio, who has been a worthy helpmeet. Mrs. Valentine had one daughter, Lavern E., by her former husband.

Politically, Mr. Warner has been a Republican, but of late years has inclined toward Prohibition. He is a member of the Home Guards Military Company, a local organization of merit. Although not belonging to any religious denomination, he is always first to assist any worthy cause. His wife is an active member of the Methodist Church. Few men are more heartily in accord with all that tends to advance the welfare of the community, and few more thoroughly enjoy the respect of all who know them.