Stephen Warner
Most of the information we have on Stephen is from the census. I have searched all
over for Stephen in the 1850 New York Census and cannot locate him. I found Lafayette
living with his grandfather Cyrus Warner in the 1855 New York state census. I skipped a
generation until a fellow researcher told me that the family moved to Wisconsin and this
is where I found Stephen Warner in the 1860 Wisconsin census with all of the children
having been born in New York. Since the youngest child was born in 1858 NY we learn
they probably left New York in the last two years. But where in New York could they be
in 1850 was still a mystery until recently. After learning definitive proof that Stephen’s
first wife was Eliza Diffin we find Eliza, Lafayette and Ebenezer in the 1850 census
living with her father Samuel Diffin and the names of her and the children are listed as
Diffin. I still could not locate Stephen Warner. I recently tried census in Oswego County,
Schroeppel, New York. Why there? This is where Lafayette Warner joined the Civil War.
Why did he leave Wisconsin and go back to New York at 19 years old in 1864? Well I
did not find them there in 1850 but when I did the 1855 state census I found a Stephen
Warner age 33 born in Onondaga county NY married lived in the city 4 years was a
native and owned land. Here is the family listed with this Stephen Warner:
E C Warner 31 female, wife born in Onondaga county NY married lived in the city 4
years
L Warner age 10 male child born in Onondaga county NY lived in the city 4 years.
E C Warner age 6 male child born in Onondaga county NY lived in the city 4 years.
J Warner age 4 male child born in Onondaga county NY lived in the city 4 years
M E Warner age 2 female child born in Onondaga county NY lived in the city 2 years.
The names, dates and places add up to our Stephen Warner family But if this L Warner
is Lafayette and E C the 6 year old male is Ebenezer and J Warner is Julius then the
female M E Warner could the E for Elizabeth as listed in the 1860 census. But we know
for certain that Lafayette was found listed in the 1855 Onondaga county census in Clay
Township with his grandparents, Cyrus and Susannah Warner. The census said he had
been living there for two months and their census was done on June 15 and the
Oswego census done June 22. Could Lafayette come back home or since the question
was Name every person whose usual place of abode on the first day of June was in this
family Stephen Warner would list his son with him as well?
Here are the research questions involving this 1855 census: How can a child 4 years
old be born in Onondaga and live in a different county and city for 4 years? Same
question for M E Warner, why was she not listed as born in Oswego county if the family
had lived there 4 years?
In 1860 Wisconsin census Stephen Warner is age 37 and what I believe is Olive
(Although very hard to make out Alave or Aleda, could it be Eliza with an A?) is age 35
both born in New York and have the following children:
Lafayette age 17 years old male farmhand born in New York
Ebenezer age 11 years old male born in New York
Julius age 9 years old male born in New York
Elizabeth age 7 years old female born in New York
Emma age 5 years old female born in New York
Leida or Clyda age 2 years old female born in New York
We learned from the estate records of Eliza A. Warner that all of the children mentioned
above are Eliza’s. If the spouse record is Olive why would Eliza leave all her children
especially a 2 year old?
In 1870 Wisconsin census Stephen is 51 years old and Olive is 43 years old both born
in New York and has the following children: It is believed that Annette is Stephen and
Olives since she was not listed in the estate record but what if she died as a child or
before her mother Eliza? More research needs to be done on Annette.
Ebenezer age 22 years old male born in New York
Julius age 19 years old and born in New York
Elizabeth age 17 years old and born in New York
Emma age 14 years old and born in New York
Alida age 12 years old and born in New York
Annette age 9 years old and born in Wisconsin
In 1880 Census Stephen and Olive have moved to Minnesota Lake, Faribault County
Minnesota he is 57 years old and Olive is 51. Stephen is a mail carrier. The children are
no longer living with them. They have a hired man Henry Mire age 24 and servant girl
Josephine Hall age 18.
I found their son Julius Warner and his wife Josephine living in Lura, Faribault County
Minnesota in 1880 as well. They have one child Cora Dell age 1 born in Minnesota. In
the 1900 census Julius is back in Wisconsin living in Walworth county. He has more
children, Arthur, Byron and Edward all born in Minnesota but his youngest Clara age 6
born in 1896 was born in Wisconsin. In the 1910 Census he has moved back to
Minnesota and resides in Dodge County. In 1920 Minneapolis, Ward 7, Hennepin
county Josephine is listed as a widow. I sent off for Julius Warner’s death certificate to
see how his parents were listed and his father was listed as Stephenson Warner,
birthplace New York, maiden name of mother unknown but her birthplace is listed as
New York. The evidence points this is Julius the son of Stephen because he and
Stephen and Olive Warner were living in the same county and nearby towns in the
Minnesota 1880 Census. He was born in New York and lived in Wisconsin. There is no
Stevenson Warner in any census but my research showed in 1844 a Henry B Warner
married a Sarah Stephenson so could this could be a family surname handed down?
I also requested the death certificate for an Ebenezer Warner who died in Wisconsin in
the same county and age of our Ebenezer Warner – but his death certificate only states
birth place of both parents as New York and no names.
What happened to Stephen and Eliza Warner? It is assumed they divorced but we
have found no marriage record or divorce record for him and Eliza or him and Olive.
Eliza died 24 March 1888 and is buried with her parents. In the 1880 Census Eliza
Warner is living with her son Ebenezer Warner in Wisconsin – it looks like the column
married is marked but when I look at it – it could be a mark for divorced. If not divorced
Stephen would then be practicing polygamy. Nicole Warner who is married to Aaron
Warner descendant of Ebenezer Warner found the information on Eliza Warner thru
hiring a professional genealogist in New York and she was kind enough to share Eliza’s
estate/administrative records, Samuel Diffin’s will etc.
There is a Stephen Warner buried in Wisconsin at Wood National Cemetery in
Milwaukee Wisconsin. This Stephen Warner died Sept 28, 1886 his marker is a military
stone with just a name and service in the civil war which is Co. F. 51 Wis. Inf. Steven
served 2 months March 4, 1865 to May 6, 1865 and was 40 years old at time of
enlisting.
Updated June 21, 2014
Rhonda (Warner) Wilhite