WI BIO - Dane Co - WARNER, Wilber W.
Biographical Review of Dane County, WI. Chicago: Biographical Review Pub. Co. 
1893, Vol I, pp 283-285

Wilber W. WARNER, one of the successful and prominent representative business 
men of Madison [Dane County], Wisconsin, where he has he leading and most 
extensive music house in the city, was born in Lockport, Erie County, 
Pennsylvania, 20 December 1850. His parents were William C. and Susan 
(PARTRIDGE) WARNER, he father a native of New York State and he mother of 
England; she, however, coming to the United States when sixteen years of age. 
The WARNER family is an old one, both in this country and England, the 
genealogy being easily traced back to 1600, at which time the family was 
found living at Gloucester, England. In about 1625, Arnold S. WARNER came 
with his family to the American colonies, settling in Massachusetts with the 
Puritans. The family went from Massachusetts to Connecticut in about 1696, 
and the old homestead of the Warners at Chester, Connecticut, is still 
extant. [In 1785 Chester became part of Middlesex County, MA, when that 
county was created.] For the past eight generations they have lived in the 
old homestead; and in Saybrook Township, Connecticut, are buried the great 
grandfather and other members of the family.

In 1780 the grandfather removed to the State of New York, locating in 
Cambridge [now in Washington County, NY]. Prior to the war of 1812, he was 
an innkeeper at Rome [Oneida or Essex County, NY?] He served with the 
American army throughout that struggle as a farrier, rendering more service 
individually in that capacity than he [p 284] could probably have done as a 
soldier in the ranks. He was a man of powerful build and of herculean 
strength, and lived beyond the allotted "three score and ten."

The maternal side of our subject's family was also well known; they came from 
Le Grave, Bedfordshire, England, in 1785, and first located in Cortland [now 
in Cortland County], New York, where members of the family reside at the 
present time. They were educated and cultured people, several of whom were 
members of the clergy. William C. WARNER [the father of the subject] was 
born at Rome [Oneida or Essex County?], in 1813. He received only a common 
school education. The marriage of he and his wife [William C. and Susan 
(PARTRIDGE) WARNER] took place at North East [Erie or Tioga County?], 
Pennsylvania. To their union nine children were born, five of whom are 
living, the surviving ones being: (1) Edwin, a contractor of Madison [Dane 
County], Wisconsin; (2) Frank, a merchant of Sumner [Pierce County], 
Washington; (3) Anna, wife of E. DANE, an extensive cranberry grower, of 
Mather [Juneau County], Wisconsin; and (4) Ella, wife of C. A. RYAN, 
formerly of Baraboo [Sauk County], Wisconsin, but now a ranch man of 
considerable prominence of Slaughter [King County?], Washington. [Note that 
only four of the five surviving children are named.]

The father [William C. WARNER] came to Wisconsin in 1852, and located at 
Baraboo [Sauk County, WI], where he died 24 July 1882. He was a prominent 
business man and at one time was a miner in Colorado. He also served a term 
as Postmaster at Baraboo [Sauk County, WI], during President Buchanan's 
administration [1857-1861]. Our subject [Wilber W. WARNER] was three years 
of age when he came with his parents to Wisconsin. [Assuming the birthdate 
given is correct, Wilber W. WARNER was three on 20 Dec 1853.] After 
attending the schools of Baraboo he entered the preparatory department of the 
University of Wisconsin, where he remained three years, leaving as a member 
of the sophomore class of 1877. When he was twelve years old [by his given 
birthdate, Wilber W. was twelve from 20 Dec 1862 to 20 Dec 1863] his father 
[William C. WARNER] removed to Gilpin County, [Territory of] Colorado, where 
he engaged in mining. [Gilpin County was created in 1861, the same year 
Congress recognized the Territory of Colorado. Colorado became a state in 
1876.] Although but a boy, young Wilber possessed a remarkable faculty for 
locating valuable mines and was the discoverer of some of the most valuable 
mines ever located in those localities. As an evidence of his ability and 
value in this direction, his father [William C. WARNER] declined an offer of 
$50 per week for his [Wilber's] services locating lodes.

While at Central City [Gilpin County, Territory of Colorado], our subject 
[Wilber W. WARNER] discovered the famous "Wilber" mine (named for him), which 
in six months from the time of its discovery sold for $20,000. At the time 
of the location of this mine, Dr. UPDEGRAFF, of Baraboo [Sauk County, WI], 
purchased a half interest in it for $25. Two years were spent by our subject 
in [the Territory of] Colorado. Before he [Wilber W. WARNER] was twenty-one 
[by his given birthdate, Wilber was twenty on 20 Dec 1870], Mr. [Wilber] 
WARNER made three trips across the country by team to [the Territory of] 
Colorado. He also located the celebrated "Idaho," from which mine was taken 
the finest specimen of silver ore exhibited at the Centennial Exposition at 
Philadelphia [PA] in 1876.

Upon leaving the university [of Wisconsin, at Madison] our subject began his 
business career as a salesman in the music store of H. N. CLARK, in Madison 
[WI], which business was established by the W. W. Kimball Company. His rise 
in business was rapid and after one year as salesman he was given charge of 
the establishment. During the first ten years of his career he [Wilber W. 
WARNER] indorsed paper to the amount of $60,000, all of which he paid at par 
with interest. Beginning with a capital of $300 in cash, he has, by industry 
and enterprise, and the exercise of his naturally fine business talents, 
built up a trade of considerable magnitude, easily establishing himself at 
the head of his line in Madison and Dane County, and by the practice of only 
honest and legitimate methods and principles, has at the same time made for 
himself a splendid reputation financially and socially. In all his life he 
has never failed in discharging an obligation, meeting all when due, and is 
trade has come to rely implicitly upon his [p 285] word the same as his bond. 
He continues to deal with the W. W. Kimball Company, mainly in pianos and 
organs, and aside from his large retail business has an extensive jobbing 
trade. He is a thorough and practical business man in all that term implies, 
and gives all his attention to his trade. He takes little or no interest in 
politics, never permitting his name to be used in connection with any public 
office. He is possessed of extraordinary talent and fitness for his line of 
business, and with his splendid executive ability, could handle with ease a 
much larger house than that warranted in Madison. But he has not allowed 
business to absorb all of his time, to the exclusion of the pleasures of 
life. Being of a genial and pleasant temperament, he has quite a circle of 
friends and acquaintances. He is quite a linguist and speaks fluently both 
the French and German languages. He has a taste for art and painting.

Mr. [Wilber W. WARNER] was married on 13 May 1875 to Miss Medora A. FINSTER, 
of Pulaski [Oswego County], New York, who is the daughter of Sherman W. 
FINSTER. Mrs. WARNER, who is a charming and accomplished lady, was educated 
at the Pulaski Academy. One son has been born to Wilber W. and Medora A. 
(FINSTER) WARNER, Paul S., born 21 August 1876. He is attending the Madison 
High School.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly