Warner, Mason Young

John Stewart (1785-1857) of Dundee, Scotland, emigrated to the United States with his family in October 1823. The family settled on a farm near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, then began it’s journey to Oregon Territory in 1853. The Stewarts traveled to St. Joseph, Missouri, by steamboat, then bought oxen for the trip to Oregon. Their wagon train, which included members of the Warner family, became known as the Lost Wagon Train of 1853. The Stewart family eventually reached the Willamette Valley and settled near Fall Creek.

Agnes Stewart (1832-1905), daughter of John Stewart, taught in the first schools in Springfield (1855), Lowell (1856) and Fall Creek (1857). She married Thomas Warner on Sept. 9, 1859. One of their five children was Mason Young Warner (1868-19??).

Mason Y. Warner married Celia A. Hyland (1871-19??) on Sept. 9, 1894. Celia Hyland was born near Junction City, Oregon, in 1871, and taught school at Lowell until shortly after her marriage. The couple lived in Lane County all their lives, except for a short time spent in eastern Washington. They had three children, Ivan, Claire and Erma.

Ivan Warner (1896-1973) served in World War I, then managed supermarkets in Cottage Grove, Lebanon, and Dallas, Oregon, before moving to Yachats in 1965.

Erma Warner (1906-19??) became a model in Los Angeles. She worked in several different cities, and in New Guinea and Manila during World War II. She later retired to Los Angeles.

Claire Warner (1898-19??) graduated from the University of Oregon with a degree in history and taught school in Tillamook, Oregon. She was the author of several books, including South of the Sunset (New York, 1936) and Builders of Timberline Lodge (1937). She served as Assistant State Director for the WPA Oregon Writers Project, and helped edit the resulting Oregon guide book. During World War II, she served as a WAC for two years, and wrote Soldiers of the Air (1941-1942), a series of radio dramas for the Army Recruiting Service which were broadcast on radio station KOIN, Portland, Oregon. After the war she did public relations work for the Blue Cross Hospital Plan.

From the guide to the Mason Y. Warner papers, 1859-1954, (Special Collections and University Archives, University of Oregon Libraries)