Henry Warner
Henry Warner, deceased, was born in Fairfax County, Va., nine miles from Alexandria, on the Potomac River, June 15, 1795, and came to Ohio with his parents and grandparents in the spring of 1805, settling in Belmont County. He removed to London in September, 1812, where he lived consecutively until the day of his death, a period of sixty-four years. When he came to London, it was a collection of less than a dozen huts, and he assisted Judge Patrick McLene in laying out the town. He was married, February 27,1823, to Keturah H. Gosslee, by whom he had eleven children, seven now living, viz.: Mrs. William Riddle, of London; Mrs. R. A. Harrison, of Columbus; Capt. James R. Warner; Gen. D. B. Warner, U. S. Consul at St John, N. B.; Mrs. Eliza Baker, of Chicago; Mrs. Asa Myers, of Brooklyn; and Miss Mary Warner, who lives at home. Mr. Warner came of a long-lived family, his grandfather having attained the remarkable age of one hundred and four years, his father eighty-eight, and his only living brother, the venerable William Warner, of London. is now one of the oldest citizens of the city. Mr. Warner was a merchant, surveyor and dealer in real estate, besides having held several county offices. He was four years Sheriff of the county, fourteen years County Treasurer (elected in 1834 ) and for a number of years County Surveyor. He retired from business, more than twenty years prior to his death. By industry, frugality, sound sense and force of character, he became possessed of a considerable fortune. Many anecdotes are related by old citizens, illustrative of his rigid honesty and eccentricity, for honest he was and eccentric to a marked degree. Kind of heart when convinced of duty or when charity deserved, he was, nevertheless, one of the most sarcastic of men. For instance: Once when he was representing his own cause before a magistrate, the lawyer for the other side remarked that he "did not wish to take advantage of Mr. Warner. as he saw he was there without counsel." "Oh, go on," said Mr. Warner. "your aide of the case is in the same condition." Mr. Warner had been an invalid for thirty years previous to his death. Mr Warner was an invalid, but he was always a pleasant and instructive gentleman, and a worthy member of the Methodist Church, to which he had belonged for more than half a century. He was a Whig in politics, so long as that party had an existence, and endorsed the Republican party at its birth, with which he ever after affiliated. He never missed voting at an election in his life until the fall before his death, when his physical health was such that he could not get to the polls. He died Friday, January 31, 1879, at the advanced age of eighty-three years six months and sixteen days. His remains were interred in Kirkwood Cemetery, on the afternoon of Monday, February 2, 1879 the funeral sermon beging preached by Rev. J. C. Jackson. Mr. Warner was one of the oldest, best known, and most highly respected citizens of this county. As an officer, citizen, parent, or friend, he was conscientious, liberal, faithful and affectionate, and his loss was deeply felt and lamented by the church, State, and society, as well as by a large circle of mourning relatives. Mrs. Warner is a daughter of Richard Gosslee, who was born in Sussex County, Md., in 1781, and died in London November 26, 1872, aged ninety-one years six months and one day. He emigrated to Ross County, Ohio, in 1804, and to Madison County in 1816. Before his death he represented the oldest of five generations living in London. He was married three times. He left fourteen children. thirty grandchildren, and over thirty great-grandchildren. and two great-great-grandchildren. He was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for seventy-one years. If he had lived three months longer he would have been enabled to have witnessed the golden wedding of his daughter, Mrs. Warner.
From HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY - W. H. Beers [Chicago, 1883]