1884–1953

Sixth Generation: Ralph Ira Warner < William James Warner < James Warner < William Warner< William Warner < William Warner

My 1st cousin twice removed (by adoption)

Ralph Ira Warner was the stepson and later 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.

Ralph married Vera Irene Henrich, in Windsor, Ontario on July 30, 1914.** They had two children:

  1. William James Warner
  2. Ralph Lionel Warner

Ralph died in Harper Woods, Michigan on February 14, 1953, at the age of 69, He was buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Detroit.


Notes

* 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.

** Vera was Ralph’s 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. Michigan law did not permit first cousins to marry but Ontario law did.


Images

L to R: Ralph Ira Warner, Anna Elizabeth Otto, Clara Uschwald, William James Warner Sr, on June 8, 1940, the day of Clara and William’s marriage (click to enlarge)

Links

Find A Grave memorial


Sources

The photo above is in the possession of William James Warner Jr, grandson of Ralph Ira Warner.