Nancy
Jane (Bateson) Warner
(1838-1933)
Nancy Jane (Bateson) Warner
was born on March 23, 1838, at what is now Bateson Beach in Millersport, Fairfield County, OH, the daughter of William
and Rebecca (Miner) Bateson. She and her husband were early pioneer settlers
of Illinois, and at her death in 1933 was the oldest resident of the town of
Arcola, IL.
Nancy once told a journalist that living to be quite old is a characteristic of her mother's side of the family:
My mother lacked a few days of reaching the century mark, and I well remember her last days. We all wanted to see her reach the century mark and all prayed for that but she was taken away just two days before she was 100 years old. My grandfather, however, lived to be 104 and nearly all of the family on my mother's side lived longer than the average span of life.
At the age of 19, in 1857, Nancy married Benjamin Griffin Warner (1835-1914),
a native of Delaware County, OH, and the son of Samuel and Celia Warner.
The Warners had at least nine children -- Samuel V. Warner, Rebecca Katharine "Kate" Roberts, Linus Vitorio "Lynn" Warner, Louis B. Warner, Ada M. Warner, Cordelia "Cordie" Roberts, Melsinia ("Mollie" or "Nellie") Payne, William Sitton Warner and Jessie Warner.
Benjamin served in the Civil War in the 126th OH Infantry, Company E. This will be researched more completely in the future, with results published here.
In 1869, after several of their children were born, the Warners left Ohio and ventured westward on an overland voyage to Illinois. On the trip, said the Arcola (IL) Record-Herald, "the family was fording a river in their wagon, when the couple's three-year-old daughter, Katherine, who was sleeping [in] the rear of the wagon, rolled out and fell into the water. Her father rescued her from the water and laid the child on Mrs. Warner's lap, who succeeded in reviving her." The awful memory stayed with Nancy for the remaining three-quarters of a century of her life.
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Arcola's Main Street at the turn of the 20th century |
Upon arriving at their destination in Douglas County, IL, the Record-Herald
said, the Warners "located on a farm near Filson after which they resided
on farms in different parts of Arcola township. Retiring from the farm in 1897,
they came to Arcola, purchasing the property in which Mrs. Warner now lives...
After Mr. Warner's death [in 1914], Mrs. Warner continued to live in Arcola,
through the children were married and had gone to homes of their
own." While in Arcola, she lived on West Jefferson Street, next door to her
son Samuel, and loved to entertain "occasional visitors ... neighbors
calling on her frequently."
Nancy enjoyed social gatherings and "was a good dancer," reported the Record-Herald. As an elderly woman, she enjoyed seeing her son and grandson dance a jig in her home, but told the newspaper that "they couldn't dance like we used to."
Benjamin, who apparently was not religious during most of his life, "was converted and joined the Methodist Episcopal church at Filson during the pastorate of Rev. Durham," said the Arcola Arcolian newspaper. "Some years ago he united with the Baptist church of [Arcola]... Having been wonderfully blessed in the service of the Lord he did not hesitate to give positive convictions on the subject of religion. He had many friends among the churches of the town, but no friend like his Lord and Master."
Sadly,
Benjamin died after a series of strokes at home at the age of 81 on Aug. 26,
1914. The Arcolian reported that:
... he rallied quickly and seemed to be making very satisfactory progress toward recovery. On the day preceding his death, his health had seemed to be particularly good and his daughter who had been here caring for him went to visit her brother in the country. Mr. Warner had retired early but was up before midnight and complained of feeling ill. He went down stairs and took a dose of medicine which relieved him. A short time later he arose again and Mrs. Warner got up to assist him. A few minutes later he was stricken and toppled dead.
The funeral was held at the Arcola Methodist Episcopal Church, led by Rev. C.M. Duncan. "A large number of the friends of the family attended the service and the remains were followed to the Arcadia cemetery by a long procession of carriages," said the Arcolian. At the time of his death, Benjamin and Nancy had 15 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Nancy suffered the death of her son Lynn in Arcola in 1921. Daughter Cordie Roberts also died as an adult while Nancy was still living. As fate befalls the elderly, Nancy actually outlived five of her eight children. The three alive at the time of her passing were Samuel, Kate Roberts and Nellie Payne.
In about 1929, at the age of 91, Nancy fell and dislocated her hip. Due to her age, said the Record-Herald:
... it was impossible to set the bone and this misfortune left her crippled so she is unable to walk without assistance. Although confined to her bed practically all of the time, she maintains a sunny, cheerful disposition, never complaining of the condition which has made her practically helpless. She does not read nor is her eyesight very good but she can see people passing by the house when she is lying in her bed. Her mind is clear and she recalls many interesting events of her childhood without much thought.
During the summer of 1932, Nancy's grand-nephew, Fred Bateson, who lived on the home farm in Ohio where she was born, traveled to visit her in Arcola.
On March 23, 1933, when Nancy reached her 95th birthday, the Record-Herald published her photograph and a lengthy feature article on the front page. This article has been a major source of information about the details of her pioneer life.
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Autumn sunset at the Arcola Township Cemetery, where the Warners rest |
Nancy passed away at the age of 95 on June 27, 1933. She was laid to rest alongside her husband in Arcola Township Cemetery following a funeral at the Arcola Methodist Church, led by Rev. O.B. Hess. Daughter Kate Roberts had plans to travel to the funeral from her home in Texas, but became seriously ill just before leaving, and could not make the trip.
Among those attending the funeral from out of town were Nancy's niece, Kate (Bateson) Hite of Columbus, Ohio; daughter Nellie Payne, Bess Schneider, Charles Wallace; Mr. and Mrs. C. Weller; Mattie Cox, Earl Newman, and Pearl Newman.
Son Samuel V. Warner (1859-1942) resided in Arcola.
He married Cynthia Cox (1870-1924) on July 26, 1896. The Warners were 11 years apart in age. They
had at least one son, Glenn H. Warner, who was born in 1899. They
resided in the Arcola area. Cynthia passed away at the age of 54 on June 11,
1924. She was laid to rest in the Arcola Township Cemetery. Samuel outlived her
by 18 years. He followed her to the grave on Oct. 2, 1942.
- Son Glenn H. Warner (1899- ? ) married Irene (?) (1904- ? ) in about 1922. They had four known children -- Dale Warner, Robert Warner, Maynard Warner and Glenadine Warner.
Daughter Rebecca Katharine "Kate" Warner (1863- ? ) married (?) Roberts. She was a pastry cook circa 1900, and resided in 1933 in San Benito, Cameron County, TX. Several of Kate's cousins also resided in San Benito over the years, including Alora (Bush) Johnson, who moved there in the early 1900s and resided at 474 North Reagan Avenue; Mary (Bush) Anderson, who moved in with the Johnsons in about 1926, and died at their home in 1938; and Civil War veteran Henry Bush, who died in the Johnsons' home in 1933.
Son Linus Vitorio
"Lynn" Warner (1864-1921) married Lillian (?) (1874-1963). They
resided in the Arcola vicinity. Lynn died on April 19, 1921, at the age of 57.
Lillian survived him by more than four decades. She died on May 23, 1963, and is
buried beside her husband in the Arcola Township Cemetery.
Daughter Cordelia "Cordie"Warner (1877- ? ) married Lou Roberts or Robbins. Circa 1914, they lived in Pine (?), IL.
Daughter Melsinia ("Mollie" or "Nellie") (1877- ? ) married James Payne ( ? - ? ). They lived in Tuscola, Douglas County, IL, circa 1933. Their fates are not known.
Copyright © 2006-2007 Mark A. Miner