Plumas
County
Biographies
WILLIAM WERNER
William
Werner, the present county clerk and auditor of Plumas County, is one of
Quincy’s most popular citizens, for he possesses not only marked business and
executive ability, but is also a genial and friendly man in social life. He was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on
the 11th of July, 1869, and is a son of John and Anna (Vogel)
Werner, both of whom were natives of Germany.
His father was the owner of an extensive flour and feed business in
Pittsburgh. A veteran of the Civil War,
he was in the cavalry branch of the service, participating in many battles and
campaigns of that great struggle until captured, being confined for three
months in the notorious Libby prison.
His death occurred in 1891, at the age of forty-nine years. The mother passed away at Duquesne,
Pennsylvania, in 1918, at the age of seventy-five years. Of their five children, William is the second
in order of birth and the eldest son.
William
Werner attended the public schools of Pittsburgh, graduating from high school
when sixteen years old, after which he took a commercial course in Duff’s
Business College. He obtained his first
business experience in his father’s office, in which he was employed for
fifteen years as a bookkeeper. The
business enjoyed a steady growth, amounting in volume to one hundred and ten
thousand dollars a year. After the death
of his father Mr. Werner took charge of the business, which he conducted until
1895, when the plants was destroyed by fire, and, but little insurance being
carried, the loss was almost complete, thus putting an end to the
business. After that Mr. Werner engaged
in various kinds of business in Duquesne, where he lived until 1906, when he
sold out to a brother-in-law and on July 6th of that year came to
Quincy, California. Here he went to work
in the brewery owned and conducted by his cousin, John C. Werner, known as the
Quincy Brewery. In 1909 he went to
Alturas, Modoc County, where he engaged in the ice cream business, which he carried
on until 1924, when he went to Stockton, this state, where he was in business
for 2 years. While there he was taken
seriously ill, necessitating a hospital operation, and on the recovery of his
health, in 1927, he returned to Quincy.
In 1929 he was appointed to the offices of county clerk and county
auditor, which he has since filled in a very capable and satisfactory
manner. He is efficient and courteous in
the discharge of his duties, accommodating in his relations with people having
business in his office, and is very highly regarded throughout Plumas County.
On
July 24, 1912, in Quincy, Mr. Werner was united in marriage to Miss Agnes
Jacks, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Jacks, of Meadow Valley. She is a school teacher by profession and is
a member of the board of education of Plumas County, being prominent in educational
circles. Mr. and Mrs. Werner are the
parents of three children, namely:
Hazel, the wife of John Andrewson, a civil
engineer now with the California Land Company in San Francisco; Scott, a
graduate of the Stockton high school, who is employed in San Francisco; and
William, who is in the high school in Quincy.
Mr. Werner, a member of the Masonic
order, is a past master of Stephen Bayard Lodge, No. 526, at Elizabeth, Pennsylvania;
and a past officer of the Royal Arch Chapter at McKeesport, Pennsylvania; and
belongs to Ascalon Commandery,
No. 59, K. T., in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and Pittsburgh Consistory, A. A. S.
R. Mrs. Werner is a past worthy matron
of the Order of the Eastern Star at Alturas, Modoc county. Mr. Werner has always supported the
Republican Party and has shown a deep interest in public affairs. Among the varied experiences which he has had
was gold mining in Plumas county, but this did not
prove a successful venture. He is
recognized as a man of sterling character, true to the highest ideals of
citizenship, and the high place which he holds in public regard is due entirely
to his merit..
Transcribed by
Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
Wooldridge, J.W.Major History of Sacramento Valley
California, Vol. 3 Pages 109-110. Pioneer Historical
Publishing Co. Chicago 1931.
© 2010
Gerald Iaquinta.