1884–1953
Sixth Generation: Ralph Ira Warner < William James Warner < James Warner < William Warner< William Warner < William Warner
Ralph Ira Warner was the adopted son of William James Warner. He was born Ralph Ira O’Connor, in New Hamburg, Ontario, on January 12, 1884, and was the son of Anna Elizabeth Otto and her first husband, John O’Connor.
In the US census for 1900, Ralph is listed as “Ralph Warner” and said to be William’s stepson. In the 1910 census, he is listed as William’s son, suggesting that he has been adopted, either formally or informally. No adoption record has been found.
Ralph married Vera Irene Henrich, in Windsor, Ontario on July 30, 1914. She was his first cousin on his mother’s side, the daughter of his aunt, Emma Otto. Although they both lived in Michigan, they crossed the river to Windsor to get married. Vera was pregnant but Michigan law did not permit first cousins to marry. Ontario law did.
They had two children:
Ralph died in Harper Woods, Michigan on February 14, 1953, and was buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Detroit. You can visit his grave (virtually) here.
Sources
The photo above is in the possession of William James Warner Jr, grandson of Ralph Ira Warner.