WARNOCK, Hon. William S., 1887 biography

WARNOCK, SLOAN, CARYS, BOWMAN, DAVIS, SEVERE, SILTZ

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 2/16/2014 at 10:42:11

Biography ~ Hon. William S. Warnock

"Biographical and Historical Record of
Ringgold and Decatur Counties, Iowa"
(Lewis Publishing Company (1887)), Pp. 488-89:

HON. WILLIAM S. WARNOCK, a prominent and enterprising citizen of Burrell Township, is a native of Pennsylvania, born in Beaver County, a son of JAMES and Mary (SLOAN) WARNOCK, natives of Pennsylvania, and grandson of THOMAS WARNOCK and JOHN SLOAN, his paternal grandfather being of Irish ancestry. When he was six years of age his father died, leaving his mother with a family six small children – CAROLINE and EMELINE (twins), WILLIAM S., MARY, ELZA and ROBERT. He was taken to the home of a sister of his father, ELEANOR CARYS, who located in Trumbull County and subsequently moved to Mahoning County, Ohio, and having chosen the law as his life work he commenced his legal studies with S. W. GILSON, of Canfield, Ohio, a prominent attorney of the State, and was admitted to the bar in 1853, Ex-Governor FORD being one of the examining committee. He commenced the practice of law at Lowell, afterward moved to Canfield, and in 1855, on account of poor health and by the advice of his physicians, started for the West, intending to go to the mountains. He made the journey by rail to Cleveland, thence by water to Detroit, by rail to Chicago and Davenport. He visited Iowa City and Des Moines, at the time a village, from there went to Chariton, Iowa, where he taught a select school during the summer and fall of 1855. In the fall of 1855 he went to Southern Missouri, intending to teach, but on account of his political views, abandoned the project and returning to Iowa, located at Pleasanton, Decatur County, where for two years he engaged in the practice of his profession. He then went to Davis City and engaged in the mercantile business a year, being one of the first merchants of that village, but returning to Pleasanton made that his home until 1872. June, 2, 1864, he enlisted in the war of the Rebellion, and was assigned to Company C. Forty-eight Iowa Infantry, and served until October 2, 1864, his regiment being on guard duty the most of the time, at Rock Island. In 1872 he again moved to Davis City and became a member of the mercantile firm of Bowman & Warnock. In the fall of 1878 he was elected to represent his district in the Seventeenth General Assembly of the Iowa Legislature, receiving a majority of eighty-seven votes. After the expiration of his term of office he retired from public life and settled on a farm on section 34, Burrell Township, where he has since lived, devoting his attention to stock-raising. His farm contains 300 acres of good land, and his building improvements are substantial and commodious. His residence is sounded by shade and ornamental trees, and at a convenient distance he has a fine orchard of bearing trees. Mr. WARNOCK is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Remembrance Lodge, No. 375, located at Davis City, and Leon Chapter, No. 33. In politics he affiliates with the Democratic party. He was married October 2, to Miss SARAH DAVIS, who was born near Cythiana, Pike County, Ohio, a daughter of WILLIAM and ELIZABETH DAVIS. They have had five children, four are living – ALICE, wife of L. M. SEVERE; VIOLA; LILLIE, wife of A. M. SEVERE, and BLANCHE, wife of L. F. SILTZ. BELLE died at the age of two years.

NOTE: William was born June 2, 1824, and died January 23, 1907. Sarah (Davis) Warnock was born January 23, 1835, and died April 12, 1920. Viola Warnock was born March 6, 1859, and died in Lucas Co. IA on August 12, 1924. Dorabell "Belle" died on September 17, 1874. Alice (Warnock) Severe, wife of F. M. Severe, was born July 8, 1857, and died December 6, 1899. Interments made at Old Davis City Cemetery.

Transcribed by Sara LeFleur, Decatur County Historial Society Musuem, January of 2014

Note by Sharon R. Becker, February of 2014