The Warner Family

Becky Orenstein Professor Homerin Speaking Stones

10 December 2008

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Description and history of the J. Foster Warner family, including Andrew Jackson Warner (1833-1910), his son John Foster Warner (1859-1937), J. Foster’s wife Mary Adams Warner (1859-1943), and sons John Adams Warner (1886-1963) and Andrew “Jack” Warner (1884-1965). Includes information from personal

letters between Mary Adams Warner and her sons, John and Jack.

In a cemetery filled with thousands of tombstones, how can one possibly

stand apart from the rest? This is what I asked myself on the first day of

“Speaking Stones,” when I learned of our research project. In wandering about

after our first class in Mt. Hope Cemetery, I felt no particular pull towards any

stones. I knew that each stone could have a fascinating history, but I was holding

out for something extraordinary. Just as I was thinking to myself that I would be

forced to choose a stone at random, I stumbled upon the stones of the Warner

family. Although unremarkable in shape or iconography, the stones of the Warner

family held a history more impressive than any I could have dreamed.

The stones that this paper will focus on are those of J. Foster Warner,

(1859-1937, father) Mary Adams Warner, (1859-1943, mother) and Andrew J.

Warner (1884-1965, son). The Warners are buried in Lot 107, Section C of

Mount Hope Cemetery. Atop the stones are the inscriptions “Foster”, “Dearest

Mother”, and “Jack”, respectively. Upon seeing these single words, my curiosity

was already piqued. It appeared quite curious that Andrew J. Warner and Mary

Adams Warner had more personal inscriptions, while J. Foster Warner’s

inscription showed no hint of affection. In reading the main inscriptions on the

stones, I knew that I had stumbled upon a captivating family history.

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Andrew Jackson

Warner (1833-1910) Kate Foster

W illiam Amos Warner (1855-1917)

John Foster Warner (1859-1937)

Mary Adams Warner (1859-1943)

John Adams Warner (1886-1963)

Emily Josephine Smith

Andrew Jackson Warner (1884-1965)

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Mary Adams Warner’s stone bears the inscription “Devoted wife of J.

Foster Warner and wonderful Mother of her two devoted sons Andrew J. and

John A. Warner. Her incomparable companionship [two illegible words] tender

and profound understanding and great love completely filled the life of her

bachelor son Andrew J. Warner”. In response, Andrew J. Warner’s inscription

reads, “Son of J. Foster Warner and Mary Adams Warner from whose life

happiness departed at the death of his beloved mother”. J. Foster Warner’s stone

contains no inscription. I was immediately intrigued by this collection of

inscriptions. What family dynamics would lead to such a powerful connection

between mother and son, with no visible attachment to the father? My

assumption is that the success of J. Foster Warner led him to be wrapped up in

affairs that did not concern his family, leaving Mary Adams Warner and her sons

to bond closely.

John Foster Warner was a local Rochesterian, born in 1859. Warner’s

father, Andrew Jackson Warner (1833-1910), was one of the areas most

prominent architects. A. J. Warner married Kate Foster on March 22, 1855, and

they moved into the Foster home on Frank Street (Brayer). A.J. Warner’s

architectural commissions included the second Monroe County Courthouse, the

Plymouth Congregational Church, the Josiah Bissell house and Warner’s Castle.

A. J. was also responsible for the City Hall, which he built in 1873 (Reisem, 18).

Andrew Jackson Warner contributed to Mt. Hope Cemetery in 1874, designing

the present stone gate and gatehouse (Reisem, 10). According to the Memorial

Encyclopedia of New York, Warner was “an untiring worker, at his office day and

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night, wholly devoted to his business, suffering nothing to interfere with the

prompt fulfillment of his engagements” (Brayer). A. J. Warner is buried in Range

1, Lot 172.

J. Foster Warner joined his father’s practice in 1875, along with his

brother, William Amos Warner (1855-1917). By 1889, J. Foster Warner had

begun an independent practice, with his brother joining him as a clerk in 1894.

Foster Warner built many local landmarks, including nearly all public schools in

Rochester (Democrat and Chronicle, April 8, 1930). He also designed the

crematorium at Mt. Hope Cemetery, in 1912, which was attached to the old

chapel; J. Foster Warner also created the New Chapel that same year (Reisem,

18). J. Foster Warner “served as architect of the Ford Hotels built in Rochester,

Erie, Buffalo, and at Toronto and Montreal in Canada, also served as Supervising

Architect on erection of the Hospital for the Insane at Utica (Withey and Withey,

634). Perhaps more recognizable to Rochesterians is the George Eastman

House, which J. Foster Warner built in 1905 (Reisem, 18). Unlike his more

reserved father, who was active in a local chapter of the Free and Accepted

Masons, but never involved in local politics, J. Foster Warner was extremely

active in local social and business circles. Warner was a member of the City

Planning Commission, and the first chairperson of the City Planning Board in

1929. Foster Warner also served as a member of the Genesee Valley Club and

as a member of the Board of the Genesee Hospital and Hillside Home for

Children. J. Foster Warner was the director of the Union Trust Company and the

Stromberg-Carlson Telephone Corporation. Foster Warner was one of the

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original members of the Home Telephone Company in 1899, and continued on to

be the lifelong director of the Rochester Telephone Company. J. Foster Warner

was a major landlord in the City of Rochester, and was elected the first President

of the Rochester Chapter of the American Institute of Architects in 1919 (Brayer).

Apart from his many achievements and roles in the community, J. Foster

Warner had quite a social reputation. Married to Mary Louise Adams in 1883,

Warner was known in Rochester as “elegant, dashing, tough, stubborn,

contentious, and generous – a bon vivant, a ladies man, a lover of fast cars, and

a figure isolated from his wife and sons” (Brayer). With a license plate reading,

“5,” Warner displayed proudly that he was the fifth individual in the State of New

York to own an automobile. Known for racing, Foster Warner could be seen

careening down streets from Rochester to Buffalo with goggles on, ready for

competition. In a letter written by Mary Adams Warner on August 12, 1907, J.

Foster was depicted as “perfect as a host and lavish in giving his time and

attention. [The guests] are all crazy about him” (Warner papers). Although Foster

was often seen as gracious and philosophical, others saw him as “personification

of ego and pride,” and “unable to tolerate criticism of his work” (Brayer). Family

friend Helen Ellwanger commented, “When Foster remodeled our house, he

assigned each family member the bedroom he thought was most suitable. It was

years before we realized we could choose our own rooms” (Brayer). J. Foster

Warner was known for destroying builders’ work that did not satisfy him, and

storming out of meetings if he was challenged (Brayer).

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Despite his egoistic tendencies, J. Foster Warner was also renowned for

being generous on his own terms. This is demonstrated in the story of his lifelong

friendship with Reverend Frank L. Brown, which “began when Foster Warner saw

the black minister gazing longingly into an automobile showroom. The architect

took the minister inside, purchased a car for him, and paid for its gas and

maintenance from that time on” (Brayer). J. Foster Warner was also generous

with his sons, as demonstrated in a correspondence between Mary Adams

Warner and son John, on January 18, 1909. Mary wrote, “All you need to do is

make the statement to him, and as soon as he can he will surely send you the

money, for he is most reasonable and just. I never have had as little money as

just now and will do my best to pay all my indebtedness to you as soon as

possible. Ask your father in a nice sweet way. Not for what I owe you, I beg”

(Warner papers).

Although their relationship was reportedly strained, J. Foster Warner and

Mary Adams Warner celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 1933.

Following the death of J. Foster Warner, on April 20, 1937, a friend wrote of

Warner, “Gone is our friend the architect/from his drawings, stone and steel; /His

loves were his home, the country roads/and the song of the automobile” (Brayer).

This quote plainly illustrates that J. Foster Warner’s life did not revolve around his

family. Mary Adams Warner, however, was in close correspondence with her

two sons, writing letters daily when they were away from home. Mary was a

musician, and she passed her love of the arts down to her sons. As seen in her

letters, Mary Adams Warner was a socialite, with functions to attend almost daily.

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Her letters told of nightly dinner invitations, daily luncheons, and lovely scenic

drives. Mary Adams Warner frequented musicals and orchestra performances,

and spoke of them glowingly. Mrs. J. Foster Warner frequently entertained

guests, and wrote cheerful letters to her sons of how much she enjoyed her

assorted company. In general, Mary Adams Warner seemed to have a sunny

disposition, but she would occasionally doubt herself as a mother. On January

18, 1909, she wrote to son John, “Sometime you may forgive me for many

things. I am not very good, but would like to be” (Warner papers). In a letter

dated January 31, 1909, Mary Adams Warner displayed a more stern side of her

character, telling John, “You are a very headless, careless neglectful boy

sometimes and I fear will get yourself into serious trouble with your friends if you

are not more thoughtful and considerate, and appreciative” (Warner papers).

Little did Mary know at the time of this letter how successful her son would grow

to be. Mary Adams Warner died on March 1, 1943 of chronic nephritis (Mt. Hope

records).

John Warner was born September 17, 1886, and was already playing “the

Bowery” on the piano by the age of four. A Harvard graduate of 1906, John also

studied music professionally in Paris, Vienna and Italy. John A. Warner

composed scores for the annual amateur revue at the Lyceum, played at

Carnegie Hall, and played a Schumann concerto on a nationwide radio broadcast

in 1934. As stated in the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, Warner was

“elected to the directorate of the New York Philharmonic Society—one of the few

nonresidents of New York City to be so honored” (“Major Warner;” Moranz).

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Apart from his musical talents, John Warner was born to be a military man.

Reportedly punished frequently in his boyhood for shooting water through the

peephole of his door, Warner served three years in the New York National

Guard, 1st Cavalry. Warner “saw active duty during the U.S. Army’s 1916

incursion into Mexico in pursuit of the bandit Pancho Villa” (Brayer). John Warner

was the fourth man to be sworn into the ranks of the New York State Police. After

being promoted to First Lieutenant two days after his June 9, 1917 swearing-in,

Warner was made Captain on June 15, 1918. John Warner introduced many

innovations to the Police Department, including the teletypewriter system,

Aeronautics Division (1931), Pistol Permit Bureau and Radio Communications

(1932), Diving Unit (1934), Bloodhound Unit (1935), Laboratory System (1936),

and the Traffic Bureau (1937). Superintendent Warner was forced to end his

career with the New York State Police when he was called for the second time to

active duty with the US Army.

At age 39, John Warner married Emily Josephine, aged 24, on June 5,

1926. As written in Time Magazine on June 14, 1926, “Notables attending the

wedding included: George Brennan (Democratic boss of Illinois), George W.

Olvany (leader of Tammany), Owen D. Young, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Damrosch,

Efrem Zimbalist, Assistant Secretary of the Navy T. Douglas Robinson. […] In all,

1,500 people crowded into the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. […] The

wedding gifts included a diamond and emerald bracelet (from the Downtown

Tammany Club of New York City), two diamond bracelets, four oriental rugs, a

dozen silver plates (from the State troopers), a Whistler etching, two carloads of

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early American furniture, a sapphire bow, a gold bag containing 50 $20 gold

pieces, valuable tapestries, 20 clocks, 25 lamps, 25 chests of silver, 50 sets of

dishes.” Emily Smith was daughter of New York Governor “Al” Smith (1873-

1944), who graced the cover of Time Magazine on July 13, 1925. Smith served

as Governor of New York four times. He was the Democratic U.S. Presidential

candidate in 1928, the first Roman Catholic and Irish-American to run for

President as a major party nominee (Time).

Equally successful was son Andrew J. Warner. “Jack” worked in his

father’s firm for two years (1909-10) as a draughtsman. Mary Adams Warner

wrote to son John on January 31, 1909, “Jack is in your father’s office, I think I

told you, and is seemingly greatly interested. Nothing he has ever done has

pleased his father or Bomp as much” (Warner papers). Apparently, Jack found

another profession more pleasing, as he moved on to become a successful

theater critic. Jack “enjoyed astonishing conservative Rochester,” and was well

respected as the music and drama critic for the Rochester Times-Union from

1918-1961. Within these years, Warner traveled widely, and had many friends

overseas. In 1932, Warner interviewed Benito Mussolini and had an audience

with Pope Pius XI. Jack was a good friend of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor

in the 1920s (Brayer). Apart from his public standing, Jack’s private life remains

mysterious. A life-long bachelor, Jack lived at home even following the deaths of

his parents. He moved to 254 Alexander Street, where he he died on October 26,

1965 of cerebral arteriosclerosis (Mt. Hope records).

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The J. Foster Warner Family was exceedingly successful in both social

and business realms, but one is left wondering about the inner-workings of the

household. It is apparent that J. Foster was detached from the rest of his family,

but there is undoubtedly more to this story than meets the eye. I was

disappointed that I could only find information on the outer appearances of the

family, rather than their personal dynamics. I have no doubt that I stumbled upon

an extraordinary family, but unfortunately, some elements of history are forced to

stay in the past.

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Full List of Commissions: Andrew

Jackson Warner • Bissell-Townson House (c. 1852-54) • Osborn House (ca. 1856) • Bates-Ryder House (1856) • No. 9 School (1859) • Stettheimer Block (1860) • Churchill Block (1860) • Brick Presbyterian Church (1860) • St. Mary’s hospital (1863) • Osborne House (1863) • Lawrence Hotel (1864) • St. Patrick’s Cathedral (1864-68,

1896-98) • Powers Block (1865-91) • Warsaw Congregational Church

(1866) • Elmira Opera House (1867) • State Arsenal (1867-69) • Our Lady of Victory (1868) • Calvary Presbyterian Church (1868-

71) • Christ Church Episcopal (1869) • Richardson-Bates House (c. 1870) • Buffalo State Hospital (1870-78) • First Presbyterian Church (1871) • Erie County Municipal Building

(1871-75) • Rochester Free Academy (1872) • 18 Vick Park B (1872) • City Hall (1873-75) • Steuben County Clerk’s Office

(1873) • Mt. Hope Cemetery Gatehouse

(1874) • Alteration to the Pitkin-Powers

House (1874) • Stone house for G. H. Ellwanger

(1875) • Frame house for Howe and Rogers

(1875) • Brick house for G. H. Thompson

(1875) • Stone house for E. T. Oatley (1875)

• Brick house for Mrs. S. Angle (1875) • Vick-Allison House (1875) • Our Mother of Sorrows (1875) • First Baptist Church (1875) • Holy Sepulcher Cemetery (1875,

1881-85, 1886) • Erie County Jail (1876) • Soldiers and Sailors Home (1878) • House for Hon. S. S. Rogers (1878) • House for Samuel Sloan, Esq.

(1878) • J. Moreau Residence (1878) • Ellwanger and Barry Store (1879) • Kidd Building (1879) • J. and N. C. Scoville Residence

(1879) • Newman Residence (1879) • Frame house for G. H. Fuller (1879) • Cottage for the Hon. E. K. Hart

(1879) • Frame house for Mrs. Norrington

(1879) • Methodist Church (1879) • John Weis residence (1880) • Trinity Episcopal Church (1880) • Voorhies residence (1880) • C. Salmon residence (1880) • Howard residence (1880) • Jackson Sanitarium (1883) • “Elmwood” (1883) • East Side Savings Bank (1884) • Asbury Methodist Church (1884) • St. Louis Church (1884) • Monroe County Jail (1885) • Dubelheiss Block (1885) • Woodbury Block (1885) • Vicinus Block (1885) • Weis Block (1885) • Roman Catholic Church (1885) • Fire Station • Barry-Lindsay house (1892) • Corning City Hall (1893) • Monroe County Alms House • Methodist Church (1893)

Full List of Commissions: John Foster Warner

• Charles Williams residence (1884) • Bijou Dream (1890) • Granite Building (1890-93) • Soule house (1890-92) • House for John W. Oothout (1891) • Third Monroe County Courthouse (1891-96) • Alterations to the Harris-Spencer house (1892) • House for William H. Gorsline (1893) • Columbia Preparatory School (1896) • 42 Westminster Road (1897) • Alumni Gymnasium, University of Rochester (1899) • House for Judge William E. Werner (1899) • Eastman Building (1900) • Richard T. Ford residence (1901) • 25 Portsmouth Terrace (1901) • Henry A. Strong residence (1901) • Hillside Children’s Center (1901-06) • East High School (1902-03) • George Eastman house (1902-05) • Brick Presbyterian Church (1903) • Walter S. Hubbell residence (1903) • West High School (1903-04) • House for Newton Collins (1904) • Sibley’s (1904, 1911, 1926) • The Eastman Laboratory, University of Rochester (1904-06) • Gatehouse and Reservoir Pavilion (1906) • Alvah Strong Hall, University of Rochester (1907) • Ontario County Courthouse (1910) • Mt. Hope Mortuary Chapel (1910-12) • Richford Hotels • Lincoln Alliance Bank (1920s) • Aquinas Institute (1920s) • The National (1924) • Rochester Savings Bank (1924-28) • Edward Harris Building • Henry Clune house (1927) • Rochester Telephone Company • Richard Ford house (1929-30) • 60 Hawthorne Street (1932) • Harbor Refectory Building (1934) • St. Simon’s Episcopal Church (1934) • Alterations to the George Ellwanger house

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Works Cited

Brayer, Elizabeth. The Warner Legacy in Western New York: The Architecture of

Andrew J. and J. Foster Warner. Rochester, New York: The Landmark

Society, 1984.

J. Foster Warner Family Papers. 1906-1912. Rare Books and Special

Collections, University of Rochester.

“Major Warner Tells of Early Beginning As Pianist.” Rochester Democrat and

Chronicle. 5 June 1926: A-12.

Moranz, Jack. “Rochester Portraits.” Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. 8 April

1930: 13.

“Mt. Hope and Riverside Cemetery Records.” University of Rochester Rare

Books and Special Collections Database.

http://www.lib.rochester.edu/index.cfm?PAGE=3310

Reisem, Richard O. Mount Hope: America’s First Municipal Victorian Cemetery.

Rochester, New York: The Landmark Society, 1994.

Time Magazine. 14 June 1926.

Withey, Henry F. and Elsie Rathburn Withey. Biographical Dictionary of American

Architects, Deceased. Los Angeles: New Age Publishing Company, 1956.

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