From A Biographical History of Central Kansas, Vol. II, p. 1196
published by The Lewis Publishing Co, Chicago & New York, 1902

WILLIAM A. WARNER

   One of the fine farms of Rice county, known as Pretty Prairie Farm, is the property of William A Warner, one of the progressive and substantial agriculturists of the locality.  He was born in Seneca county, Ohio, March 9, 1851, a son of Henry Warner, a native of the Empire state, born in Chenango county, in 1818.  He was reared to farm life in the state of his nativity, and in 1836 removed to the then territory of Michigan to make his home with an uncle, but he became dissatisfied there and then removed to Ohio and was there married to Sarah Stetler, of Pennsylvania German descent and a representative of a prominent and influential old family.  The family subsequently removed to St Joseph county, Michigan, locating near Three Rivers, where the father improved a good farm.  He was a firm supporter of Republican principles.  He reached the Psalmist’s span of three-score years and ten, passing away at the age of seventy-two years, and his wife was called to the home beyond at the age of seventy-three years.  They were the parents of eleven children, eight of whom grew to years of maturity:  Effie and Hannah, residents of Michigan; William A, the subject of this review; Wilbur H, a prominent citizen of Victoria township; A L, also of Michigan; Herbert E, of Victoria township; Sarah Ellen, deceased; and Mary J, a resident of Wakelee, Michigan.

   William A Warner was but six months of age when he accompanied his parents on their removal to St Joseph county, Michigan, where he was reared to farm labor and the public schools afforded him his educational privileges.  He remained under the parental roof until about twenty-one years of age, and was then married, in St Joseph county, to Louisa King, a native of Pennsylvania, but reared and educated in Michigan.  She was a daughter of James and Sophia King, both now deceased, the father dying in 1891.  They were prominent and influential people in their locality and were loved and respected by all who knew them.  Mr and Mrs Warner have had four children, and the eldest, Ralph J, is now twenty-seven years of age, and is a prominent agriculturist of Rice county, owning two hundred and forty acres of well improved land.  He was married to Hattie Whaley, and they have one child, Ethel.  The two younger children of the family, Alma and Alfred, are aged respectively thirteen and ten years.  Henry died in infancy.

   In the year 1878 Mr Warner came to his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres, to which he has since added until his landed possessions now comprise four hundred acres.  He has erected a good residence and barns, has an orchard of seven acres, and in addition to the raising of the cereals best adapted to this soil and climate, he is extensively engaged in the raising of horses, cattle and hogs.  Pretty Prairie Farm, located on section 27, Victoria township, is one of the handsome country seats of Rice county.  Mr Warner gives his political support to the Republican party, and has served as a member of the school board, the cause of education ever finding in him a warm friend.  His life has been a success, and it has been characterized by energy, perseverance and hard work.  For twenty-three years he has resided in Rice county, and during that time he has so deported himself that as a citizen, as a man of business, as an honorable Christian gentleman, no man has a cleaner record or is more highly respected than he.  Of the Dunkard church both he and his wife are exemplary members, and their Christian belief is exemplified in their everyday life.