My Genealogy Hound

J. H. WARNER. The growth and prosperity of Cass County, Mich., have been upon a scale commensurate with the emigration to this region in past years, and this prosperity is largely due to the members of the agricultural profession, prominent among whom stands the name of J. H. Warner. He is a fair sample of what can be accomplished by industry and perseverance, for all his life has been passed in the arduous duties of the farm, and he is now one of the substantial men of his section.

Mr. Warner was born in Herkimer County, N. Y., March 23, 1832, and was but five years of age when he came to Michigan with his parents, Hubbell and Catherine (Hughes) Warner, both now deceased, he remembers the journey well and many of the incidents that happened at that time. He attended school in the old-fashioned log schoolhouse, with slab seats, and in the Newton district school, on Card’s Prairie, but went only a few weeks in each term, for much of his time was required to help clear the farm. He remained under shelter of the home roof until his marriage to Miss Rachel J. Rich on the 23d of November, 1854.

This estimable lady was born in Volinia Township, this county, December 5, 1831, and was the daughter of Samuel and Charity (Gard) Rich, the father a native of North Carolina, born in 1802. Mr. and Mrs. Rich were married on the 23d of November, 1827, and their son, John H., was the first white child born in Volinia Township. Mr. Rich passed away on the 20th of February, 1873, and his widow in 1891. Only two of their children are now living.

After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Warner settled on their present farm in the woods and began house-keeping in a frame house built by Grandfather Gard. It was not long before they gathered around them many comforts, and although they worked hard and struggled early and late to get a start, they were finally successful. On this farm they have remained ever since, and although the original tract was but forty acres, it has been increased to eighty acres and is in a fine state of cultivation. Mr. Warner is also the owner of eighty acres one mile north and has sixty-five acres of this cleared. He has made all the improvements, and a glance over his broad acres shows him to be a man of industry and good judgment.

Our subject was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife on the 5th of September, 1892. They were the parents of three children. Flora E., wife of Edgar Gard, is the mother of one child; Clara M., wife of William Wright, is also the mother of one child; and Erie J. resides at home. His children have all received good common-school educations. He has been a member of the School Board for many years, and socially he is a member of the Farmers’ Club. In politics he has been a Democrat all his life and takes a deep interest in the welfare of his party, and has been a delegate to conventions, He is one of the old settlers of the State and has seen this county grow from a wilderness to its present prosperous condition. In his possession is a table which he made himself when he and his wife began housekeeping.