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Below is a family biography included in the Biographical Review Volume of Biographical Sketches of The Leading Citizens of Hampshire County, Massachusetts published by Biographical Review Publishing Company in 1896.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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CHARLES L. WARNER, a prosperous farmer of Hatfield, was born at the Warner homestead, in this town, April 11, 1837, son of James W. and Lois B. (Longley) Warner. Mr. Warner is a descendant of Andrew Warner, one of the earliest inhabitants of Cambridge, Mass., as stated in Paige’s History, residing there in 1635, but selling his estate in December, 1636, and moving to Connecticut. In 1659 Andrew Warner settled in Hadley, Mass., where he died in 1684. Among his children were: Andrew, Daniel, Isaac, Jacob, Robert, John, and Mary.

Daniel Warner settled in Hatfield, where he owned the farm which is now in possession of S. F. Billings, and was here engaged in farming until his death. He married Martha Boltwood as his second wife, it is said, and had a large family of children, among whom may here be named: Mary, Daniel, Sarah, Andrew, Abraham, Anna, Ebenezer, and Elizabeth. Ebenezer, son of Daniel and Martha B. Warner, was born in Hatfield, and settled upon a farm in Belchertown, Mass. He married Ruth Ely; and his son Moses, who married Sarah Porter, was the father of Deacon Moses Warner, great-grandfather of Charles L. Warner. Deacon Moses Warner was born in Belchertown in 1754, was there reared to farm life, and subsequently moved from Belchertown to Hatfield, where he bought the farm known as the Billings homestead. On June 4, 1779, he married Mary King; and their children were: John, Elisha, Sarah, Mary, and Moses.

John Warner, son of Deacon Moses, was born in Hatfield. In early manhood he was engaged in teaming between Hatfield and Boston, carrying produce to market, and returning with merchandise. He later entered mercantile business, and also conducted a farm. In 1806 he married Caroline Whiton, who was born in Lee, Mass., December 6, 1786. They became the parents of seven children, as follows: Mary, John S., Jonathan D., Caroline R., Eliza, Lydia A., and James W. John Warner died in 1823.

James W. Warner, son of John, and above named as the father of Charles L. Warner, was born in Hatfield, May 11, 1809. He settled on the homestead, and was a progressive and prosperous farmer. He died November 20, 1891. He was a Democrat in politics. His wife, Lois B. Longley, whom he married March 30, 1836, was born January 14, 1816, and she became the mother of eleven children, namely: Charles L.; Mary L., born November 26, 1838, now the wife of W. D. Billings, of Hatfield; Sarah A., born March 26, 1841, now wife of C. B. Bardwell; Moses E., born February 3, 1843; Egbert S., born February 5, 1845; John A., born October 10, 1846, who married Elizabeth Bacon; James D., born in 1849, who married Hannah Buck; Benjamin M., born January 14, 1853, who married Ella E. Fitch; George W., born July 5, 1855, who married Lillian Fisher; Caroline L., born February 15, 1858, now the wife of Arthur G. Holt; and Lewis W., who was born October 25, 1860, and died in 1864. Mrs. James W. Warner died on January 10, 1890.

Charles L. Warner received his education in the schools of Hatfield, and resided with his parents until reaching the age of twenty-two years. He has since conducted farming on his own account. He is a leading tobacco grower, fifteen acres of his farm being devoted to that product, and his crop averaging one and one-half tons to the acre. He is a Republican in politics, and has served as a Selectman and an Assessor.

In 1865 Mr. Warner was united in marriage to Maria E. Fitch, of Hatfield, daughter of John T. and Julia (White) Fitch. Mrs. Warner’s great-grandparents, Ebenezer and Abigail Fitch, were early settlers in Hatfield. Ebenezer Fitch was a surveyor, also a successful agriculturist, and was a prominent man in the town. He died in 1825, aged eighty-nine years, his wife having died in 1818, aged seventy-three. Mrs. Warner’s grandfather, John Fitch, was born in Hatfield, and followed general farming. A man of energy and enterprise, he erected a new house and barn, and remodelled his other farm buildings. He also bought the old White Tavern, which he moved back from the road to use for storage purposes, and which still stands as a landmark in the town. John Fitch died at the age of sixty-one years. His wife, Rachel Applebee, died in 1833, aged forty-seven. Their son, John T. Fitch, succeeded to the ownership of his father’s place, becoming a prosperous farmer, and in his later years a very successful tobacco grower. He was a Republican in politics, and became prominent in public affairs, serving as a Selectman and an Assessor; and in 1862 he represented his district in the legislature. His wife, Julia White, whom he wedded March 3, 1842, was born May 17, 1821, daughter of Nehemiah and Sarah (Cogswell) White, the former of whom was a carpenter and cabinet-maker of Williamsburg. The children of Mr. and Mrs. John T. Fitch were: Maria E., Mrs. Warner; and Herbert, who died aged three years.

Mr. and Mrs. Warner have had three children, namely: Harry, born in 1867, who died at the age of six years; Edwin, born August 11, 1872, who married Myra Field, and has one son, named Harold; and Luda F., born January 27, 1877, who resides at home.

The portrait*, presented on an adjoining page, of the leading subject of the foregoing sketch will be of interest to the general reader as the likeness of a worthy representative of one of the first families of the historic old town of Hadley.

*Editor's note: Portrait was included in the original printed book.

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This family biography is one of the numerous biographies included in the Biographical Review Volume of Biographical Sketches of The Leading Citizens of Hampshire County, Massachusetts published in 1896. 

View additional Hampshire County, Massachusetts family biographies here: Hampshire County, Massachusetts Biographies

View a map of 1901 Hampshire County, Massachusetts here: Hampshire County Massachusetts Map

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