Aaron WARNER, born circa 1791 in Massachusetts, is the starting point of our family tree. His parentage is unknown at this time, and our quest is to find the missing link to his ancestral family line. He married Harriet GRIDLEY, born circa 1792 in Connecticut. Her parentage also is unknown; however, there is a likelihood that her parents are Abel GRIDLEY and Rhoda HILL.
It is likely that Aaron removed to Van Buren Township, Onondaga County, New York (with his parents and siblings?). All of Aaron and Harriet’s children were born in New York state: David–1814, James W.–1816, Caroline M.–1818, Emily J.–1819, Mercy–18xx, Corodon–1823, Willard–1829, Elijah–circa 1832, and Cyprian G.–circa 1836. There may have been a tenth child, C. Orlin, but no conclusive information has been found for this person.
There is evidence that Aaron, Harriet, and their single and married children removed from New York to La Porte County, Indiana, in 1836. In 1839, several Warner marriages occurred in the Michiana area:
- July, eldest son David WARNER to Almira W. WEED (daughter of Lewis WEED and Esther STEBBINS) in La Porte County.
- September, James W. WARNER to Cordelia SHEDD (daughter of Sylvester SHEDD and Sally SMITH) in Three Oaks, Berrien County, Michigan.
- October, Emily to Lewis Orlin WEED (son of Lewis WEED and Esther STEBBINS) in LaPorte County, Indiana.
The 1840 Federal Census for La Porte County includes an Aaron Warner head-of-household with a male/female age profile that matches the known information about his family.
By 1850, the Warner family members are identified by name in the Federal Census for La Porte County.
- David and Almira Warner
- James W. and Cordelia Warner (Aaron and Harriet Warner were living adjacent to them.)
- Caroline and Dorestus HOLCOMB
- Emily and Lewis O. Weed
- Corodon (He was to marry in 1861 in Berrien County, Michigan, Emeline Cynthia OLDS, daughter of Kingsley OLDS and Sophia SCALES.)
- Willard (He was to marry in 1855 in La Porte County, Sophia MERRILL, daughter of Aaron S. MERRILL and Ester/Hester Unknown. The widow Willard was to marry in 1897, Jennie CUMMINGS.)
- Elijah, living with his parents (He was to marry in 1855 in Berrien County, Michigan, Margaret MAUDLIN [daughter of Thomas MAUDLIN and unknown wife.])
- Cyprian, living with his uncle and aunt, Solomon L. and Candace Jane (Shedd) PALMER in the city of LaPorte. (There is no known record that Cyprian ever married. He served in the Civil War and was later transferred to the Invalid Reserve Corps.)
Willard served in both the Mexican War and the Civil War. Corodon, Elijah, and Cyprian all served in the Civil War. Their nephew, James Harvey Warner (eldest son of James W. Warner) also served in the Civil War. Elijah was captured in the battle of Shiloh and died in 1862 in Atlanta, Georgia, as a prisoner of the Civil War.
Exact death and burial information is not known for Aaron and Harriet Warner. Harriet probably died between 1850 and 1860, as she did not appear on the 1860 Federal Census. Aaron probably died between 1864 and 1870. There is evidence that he is still alive in 1864, but he did not appear on the 1870 Federal Census. They probably are buried in Foster Cemetery, Galena Township, La Porte County, Indiana, in Section 1, Lots 3-4 that were purchased by Aaron Warner.
The editors of this Web site descend from James W. Warner. His family history continues as follows.
On a warranty deed dated 18 April 1863, James W. Warner bought for $600 from Daniel Harrington and his wife Frances, 160 acres of farmland in Sections 28 and 33 of Blue Earth Township, Faribault County, Minnesota. By June of 1864, James W.’s oldest son James Harvey ("Harve") was living in a log cabin on the Minnesota farm. In the summer of 1864, James W. sold his farm in Galena Township, La Porte County, Indiana, and moved his family to Minnesota in August. James and Cordelia Warner’s children included:
- James Harvey "Harve"Warner–b. 1842, Indiana. Married circa 1867 in Minnesota, Lois Amanda JOHNSON (daughter of Albin JOHNSON and Nancy BURKEY.) They lived the remainder of their lives near Blue Earth, Minnesota.
- Martha Jane Warner–b. 1845, Indiana. Married circa 1870, Enos HAWKINS. They lived in Iowa, Illinois, and finally back in Iowa.
- George Willard Warner–b. 1846, Indiana. Married 1871, Celinda O. ARNOLD (daughter of John N. ARNOLD and Orrenda WOODWORTH). They lived in Faribault County, Minnesota; Brookings, South Dakota; and near Osakis, Douglas County, Minnesota.
- Sylvester "Vest"Warner–b. 1847, Indiana. Married Sarah Isabell MAGLOUGHLIN (daughter of Phillip MAGLOUGHLIN and Anna BROWN). They lived their lives on a farm in Elmore Township, Faribault County, Minnesota.
- Janett Caroline Warner–b. 1850, Indiana. Married in 1887, Leonard LANE. They lived their lives near Blue Earth City, Faribault County, Minnesota.
- Seth W. Warner–b. 1853, Indiana. Married in 1894 in Blue Earth, Minnesota, Alta Mae SAVAGE (daughter of Daniel SAVAGE and Angeline B. PALMER of Berrien County, Michigan.). They lived in Faribault County, Minnesota, and near Hancock, Stevens County, Minnesota.
- Rose (Rosetta?) Ellen Warner–b. 1857, Indiana. Married circa 1881 in Portland, Oregon, Dr. Frederick Dwight Miller. They lived the remainder of their lives in Portland.
- John Alsworth Warner–b. 1860, Indiana. Married (1) in 1880, Rosella MAGLOUGHLIN (daughter of Phillip MAGLOUGHLIN and Anna BROWN); (2) in 1897, Emma C. MITTELSTADT, and (3) in 1897, Emma Clarissa PARKE. They lived their lives on the Warner farm near Blue Earth, Minnesota.
- Asher Warner–b. 1863, Indiana. Married in 1888 in Blue Earth, Minnesota, Hattie Ellen RAY (daughter of Charles Henry RAY and Lucinda J. COWGILL of St. Joseph County, Indiana). They lived in Faribault County, Minnesota; La Porte County, Indiana; Stevens County, Minnesota; finally settling on a farm in Todd County, Minnesota.
- Samuel Warner–b. 1866, Minnesota. Married in 1888, Mary Rosetta NAUMANN. They lived their lives on a farm in Faribault County, Minnesota.
More details about all of these individuals and their descendants can be found at the link to the family tree.