Sacramento County
Biographies
WILLARD WARNER
Legion
is the name of the men who, coming to Sacramento in early life, have achieved
here a gratifying degree of material success without the prestige of an
influential family name and without the aid of capital in their first personal
enterprises. It is proof of the opportunities afforded by the capital city that
these men, with few exceptions, have risen out of obscurity into civic
prominence and individual prosperity, contributing in their personal
achievements to the advancement place of residence. Not the least noteworthy
among those progressive, prosperous business men may be mentioned Willard
Warner, who by an apparent chance became identified with the business to which
he has given whole-hearted and effective attention. When he came to Sacramento
and sought a means of livelihood, the fact that he had a previous experience in
a laundry establishment made it possible for him to secure work as driver of a
laundry wagon, and from that beginning he rose through successive steps until
finally he was chosen secretary and manager of the Cascade laundry, one of the well-known industrial plants of the city and an
organization that has built up an immense business through careful attention to
the needs and desires of customers.
Born
in Fulton, N. Y., January 4, 1865, Willard Warner was taken to Iowa
at an early age by his parents, Joseph W. and Harriette
Warner, who settled at Clear Lake
near the shores of the state. On the shores of the lake there had been started
a small hamlet, which since has developed into a popular summer resort. The
little school of this village gave him his early educational opportunities and
afterward he carried on his studies at Luverne, Rock county, in the southwestern part of Minnesota.
At the age of fifteen years he removed to Washington and
for two years attended the Seattle
high school, later securing employment in a laundry of the same city. During
the year of 1885 he came to Sacramento
and secured work as a wagon-driver with the American laundry.
A
gratifying offer from the Union Laundry Company caused Mr. Warner to leave the
other firm in 1899, after which he acted as manager of the Union
until 1903, when a consolidation was effected of a number of plants under the
title of the Cascade Laundry Company. Of this he since has acted as secretary
and manager. Employment is furnished to one hundred persons and a general
laundry business is conducted, customers being largely people of Sacramento,
although there is a growing patronage from other towns. In addition to the
management of this important business, with its increasing responsibilities and
constant need of intelligent oversight and tact, Mr. Warner holds the office of
treasurer in the California Expert Cleaners' Company, which was organized largely
through his personal efforts and as a result of his realization of the growing
need for such an industry. The Sacramento Laundry Club also has the benefit of
his active co-operation and wide knowledge of the business. With the
manifold cares connected with his special work, he has not been able to
participate in politics aside from casting a Republican
ballot at all national elections. One of his favorite forms of
recreation has brought him into prominence among the members of the Sacramento
Bowling Club, whose most expert players confess to his superior skill. For some
years he has been identified with the Loyal Order of Moose. His marriage took
place in Seattle, Wash., May 19,
1890, and united him with Miss Flora Rich, by whom he has three children, namely:
Eugene, who is employed as bookkeeper at the Cascade Laundry; Philo, who is a
student in St. Francis Convent; and Adeline, who is attending the Sacramento
public schools.
Transcribed by Sally Kaleta.
Source: Willis,
William L., History of Sacramento County,
California, Pages 913-914. Historic
Record Company, Los
Angeles,
CA. 1913.
© 2006 Sally Kaleta.