WARNOCK, William S., 1915 biography

WARNOCK, SLOAN, DAVIS, VAN METER, SEVERE

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 2/16/2014 at 11:01:21

History of Decatur County Iowa and Its People
Illustrated, Volumne II.

Prof. J. M. Howell and Heman C. Smith
Supervising Editors

The S.J. Clarke Publishing Company. Pp. 266-68. Chicago. 1915.

WILLIAM S. WARNOCK

William S. Warnock was for a number of years a successful merchant of Davis City but for some time previous to his demise he carried on farming on a large scale in Burrell township. He was prominent in public affairs and represented his district ably in the state legislature. A native of Beaver county Pennsylvania, he was born on the 2d of June, 1824, a son of James and Mary (Sloan) Warnock, both likewise natives of the Keystone state. The father died when our subject was but six years of age, leaving his widow with a family of six children.

William S. Warnock went to live with an aunt in Ohio and was there reared and educated, attending school at Lowell and Salem, that state. He desired to become a lawyer and began his legal study in the office of S. W. Gilson, of Canfield, Ohio, and in 1853 was admitted to the bar. He began the practice of his profession in Lowell but subsequently removed to Canfield, where he remained until 1855. In that year he came west as he was in poor health and his physicians advised a change of climate. He made the journey by rail to Cleveland, thence by water to Detroit and then by rail to Davenport by way of Chicago. He visted Iowa City and Des Moines, which was then but a small village, and located at Chariton, this state, although he had intended to go as far as the mountains. He taught at a select school during the summer and fall of 1855 and then removed to Pleasanton, Decatur county, where for two years he practiced law. He was then for a like period of time engaged in the mercantile business in Davis City, being one of the first merchants of that town. He returned to Pleasanton, where he resided until 1872, when he again moved to Davis City and became a member of the firm of Bowman & Warnbck, who successfully conducted a general mercantile store. In the fall of 1878 he was elected to the state legislature and he proved an efficient member of the seventeenth general assembly. On the expiration of his term he removed to a fine farm of three hundred acres on section 34, Burrell township, where he devoted his attention to stock-raising during the remainder of his life. He made many improvements upon his place and received a handsome annual income from his farm.

Mr. Warnock was married on the 2d of October, 1856, to Miss Sarah Davis, a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Van Meter) Davis, natives of Highland county, Ohio. In 1854 her father removed with his family to Decatur county, Iowa, and purchased land in Burrell and New Buda townships. He founded the town of Davis City, which was named in his honor. Both he and his wife died there. To Mr. and Mrs. Warnock were born five children, namely: Alice, who died December 6, 1896; Viola; Lillie; Blanche; and Belle, who passed away September 11, 1874.

Mr. Warnock was a democrat and fraternally belonged to Remembrance Lodge, No. 375, A. F. & A. M., at Davis City and Lamoni Chapter, No. 33, R. A. M. He was liberal in his religious views. His demise, which occurred on the 22d of January, 1907, when he was eighty-two years of age, was deeply regretted by his many friends and his memory is still cherished. He was a man of undoubted ability and was a leader in shaping public opinion, his excellent education, combined with his natural keenness of intellect, making his opinions of unusual value. Throughout his life he was guided by the same public spirit that prompted him to enlist in the Civil war on the 2d of June, 1864. He was a member of Company C, Forty-eighth Iowa Infantry, and served until October 21st of that year, his regiment being on guard duty at Rock Island the greater part of the time.

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.

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, February of 2014