John De Witt Warner

Who was John De Witt Warner?

John DeWitt Warner served as a Congressman for the 13th District of New York State from 1891–1895.

Born on a farm near Reading, New York, Warner moved with his parents to Big Stream, New York, and later to Rock Stream, New York. He completed preparatory studies and attended the district schools and Starkey Seminary, Eddytown, New York. Warner graduated from Cornell University in 1872 and from Albany Law School in 1876.

Prior to attending law school, Warner taught at the Ithaca and Albany Academies for four years. Upon graduation, he began practicing law in New York City. He was elected as an Alumni Trustee of Cornell in June 1882. Warner was president of the American Free Trade League from 1905–1909, and served as special counsel for the dock department advising on terminal work in 1911 and 1912. He served on a commission to revise the New York banking laws in 1913.

Warner was a charter member of Cornell's Chapter of Delta Kappa Epsilon and a member of the Irving Literary Society. He wrote the lyrics for the Cornell song 1875. He was one of the founders of the National Sculpture Society and served president of the Art Commission of the City of New York.