Bio of WARNER, Leon C. (b.1876), Hennepin Co., MN
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EXTRACTED FROM: History of Minneapolis, Gateway to the Northwest; 
Chicago-Minneapolis, The S J Clarke Publishing Co, 1923; Edited by: Rev. 
Marion Daniel Shutter, D.D., LL.D.; Volume I - Shutter (Historical); 
volume II - Biographical; volume III - Biographical

Vol III, pg 479-480
LEON C. WARNER
Leon C. Warner is a member of an honored pioneer family of Minneapolis that has
long figured conspicuously in connection with the hardware trade and his powers
of organization and executive force have enabled him to develop one of the
largest enterprises of this character in the city, which numbers him among its
foremost business men. He was born in Mower county, Minnesota, January 11, 1876,
and his parents were Frank R. and Ann Elizabeth (Greening) Warner, the former a
native of Geneva, Ohio, and the latter of Mazomanie, Wisconsin. In 1875 they
located at Grand Meadow, Minnesota, where the father engaged in the hard­ware
business until 1882, when he came to Minneapolis, joining his brother, Richard
L. Warner, who had entered business circles of this city in April, 1875, opening
a small tin shop at No. 338 Fifth street Northeast. The two brothers
consolidated their interests and shortly afterward a larger building was
erected, while in 1888 their rapidly expanding business again compelled them to
seek larger quarters and they removed to a new building at the corner of First
avenue and Fifth street. The partnership was continued until 1893, when Frank R.
Warner purchased the interests of his brother Richard, who left Minneapolis and
bought out a small business in Eden Valley, Minnesota, which he conducted until
1900. In the meantime the Minneapolis business was prospering under the
management of Frank R. Warner and in 1895 removal was made to No. 109 Nicollet
avenue, where he conducted his interests independently until 1897, when he
consolidated his holdings with the firm of Gardner & Davis, becoming a member of
the Gardner-Warner Hardware Company. He continued this association until failing
health compelled him to seek the more temperate climate of California. His
demise oc­curred on the 13th of December, 1900.
His son, Leon C. Warner, attended the public schools and following his
graduation from the East high school of Minneapolis he entered his father's
hardware establishment, with which he was connected from 1895 until 1897, when
he was made vice president of the Gardner-Warner Hardware Company, then located
at No. 304 Hennepin avenue. On April 1, 1901, Mr. Gardner purchased the
interests of the Warners. In May of that year the Warner Hardware Company was
incor­porated with Leon C. Warner as president and manager, while S. E. Kirk was
made vice president and R. L. Warner became secretary and treasurer. This
business was started at No. 11 South Fourth street, in a store nineteen by
ninety feet in dimensions, but the rapid development of the company's trade soon
forced it to seek more commodious quarters and in February, 1907, it moved into
its present fine building at No. 13 South Sixth street, where it is now
conducting one of the leading hardware stores in the city. On the 12th of
February, 1917, Richard L. Warner withdrew and his interest was acquired by his
nephew, Leon C. Warner, who is now the principal stockholder in the firm. He is
keenly alive to every new avenue opened in the natural ramifications of the
trade and in his business career he has been a persistent, resolute and
energetic worker, keeping his hand steadily upon the helm of his affairs and
manifesting at all times strong executive power.
On the llth of February, 1904, Mr. Warner was united in marriage to Mrs. Evelyn
L. Shelton of Minneapolis, and they have become the parents of two chil­dren:
Esther, who was born December 5, 1906, and is now deceased; and Leon C., Jr.,
born December 28, 1908. Mr. Warner is a member of the Civic & Commerce
Association and is also connected with the Minneapolis Hardware Dealers
Association, of which he has been president; the Minneapolis Retailers
Association, of which he has served as vice president; and the Minnesota Retail
Hardware Dealers Association. He is a prominent clubman, belonging to the
Minneapolis Athletic Club, of which he is now serving for the third term as
president, having been reelected February 13, 1923, and he is also a member of
the Minneapolis Club, the Mini-kahda Club, the Old Colony Club, the Travel Club
of America, the Rotary Club, of which he was president in 1915, and the
Interlachen Country Club, of which he was vice president for three years. He is
now serving as vice president of the Automobile Club and he is also identified
with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He is director and treasurer of
the Red Top Cab Company, organized in 1923 to operate taxicabs in the Twin
cities and they now have more than one hundred cabs in service. He worthily
bears a name which for many years has stood as a synonym for integrity,
reliability and enterprise in commercial circles of Minneapolis and his life
record is one in which notable business ability and the recognition and
utiliza­tion of opportunity are well balanced forces.