The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-08-29
Biooraphy,of John W. u .Isr

plOVTdpHysOlsSOiIu -. ~ 49,
The following biography Of Judge:
John w. Warner will he be read with
great interest by many friends in
Decatur county.
4 John Warner was born on the banks
of Saltwater in Dark County, Ohio, on
the 9th day of June, 1927. Up to
fourteen years of age he did small work
on the farm Of his father and his neigh
.bcrs and in no wise differed from the
ordinary boy Of Pennsylvania Dutch
descent in that neighborhood at that
time. He like the rest was without
even the rudimehts of an education
1t was thought among the fathers and
mothers of Pa. Dutch that learning was
only an excuse for laziness-that
erudition led to rascality- so at four
teen young Warner, who was flledlwlth
an ambition and an aspiration to better
his surroundings found himself buying
his liberty of his honest but misguided
old father and the world was before
him.
For time he worked in the summer
for eight dollars per month and used
the money thus earned in going to
school during the months of winter.
Hearing that there was superior
school at Bloomfield, Illinois, in the
spring of 1884 he took his younger
sister, Susan, now Mrs. &. w. Baker
ST., and they went west to Bloomington.
During the sessions young Warner
attended academy and in vacation he
husked corn to make further ex.
penses. At the end of his time here,
he and his sister started home to Ohio,
with little money and afoot. When his
sister became tired and footsore he
would carry her on his back. If he got
tired he would stop and rest. and then
repeat the experiment. They got back
home in Ohio in due time and young
Warner began to teach and to read law.
He was admitted to the bar in 1851.
G. L. Vallandighem, Of Ohio, having
been one OF the committee that examin.
ed him as to his qualifications. He
married Mary Wright Martin who is
with him as his wife to-day, on the 18th
day of December, 1851 and the marriage
ceremony was pronounced at Plqua
Ohio, by the Rev. Maxwell P. Gaddis o.
national fame and reputation.
| In 1858 he came to this county anc
began the practice of law and in {
modest way to invest and speculate il
land. The panic of '57 absorbed the
land and though Mr.. Warner enjoyed
AN extensive law practice it was only {
fairly lucrative one. During all hi
career be was never public prosecutor
nor corporation attorney. At tn,
breaking out of the Civil War, in spit,
of all his opportunities he was poo
man. Notwithstanding this, and thu
further fact that he was Dougla
Democrat, when Sumpter was fred OF
he used the influence his busy life hat
given him to raise company (Co. M
Bird Ia. Cav.) to fight for the Union
The Company was organized in Leon
Iowa, in September, 1862, Warner wal
appointed upon recommendation of tn,
Company as Captain. While at Barrackl
his horse fell with him and seriously
injured his left hip and he was finally
compelled on account OF the injury tt
resign.
Captain Warner was never aspiring
for political honors. The only officia
positions he ever held was State Senator
from this district In 1856 to 1865 ant
one term as County Judge of Chatfet
county, Colorado, which he was com
PEELED to resign on account of i'll health
Mr.. Warner went to Colorado in 1877;
and engaged in mining, stock raising
and the practice of law, but having liv
ed for over rs years at an average alti
tude of over 1000 feet above the SCI
level, in June Of this ear he was com
PEELED on account of heart failure t
resign his Office as before stated ant
seek lower altitude. He Is at presen
a resident of the beautiful Utah Vale
at the city of Provo, city Of 1000 in
habitants which has for its principe
boundaries the magnificent Utah LAX
on the west and the majestic Wasatcl
range of mountains on the east. Mr.
Warner is proud of and loyal /
the young states Of Colorado and Utal
but always means Decatur county whel
he speaks of "back home"