JOSEPH BANER
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History of Menard and Mason Counties, Illinois, 1879, by Miller & Ruggles
Mason City Township
Page 785

JOSEPH S. BANER, Postmaster, Mason City. The subject of this memoir is an old, and, because of his hospitable and affable nature, together with superior intellectual culture and ability, a very prominent resident of Mason Co.; he was born in Warren Co., Ohio, June 24, 1824, where he spent his childhood, youth and early manhood; there he attended the public schools until 19 years of age, and was then engaged as Principal, for one year, in the Bellefontaine Academy; in 1849, he moved to Cincinnati, and, for several years, held the position of confidential clerk in an extensive commercial house, and was then admitted a partner, which relation continued until 1857, when he emigrated West and located in Allen's Grove Township, Mason Co., Ill.; he here engaged in farming until 1863, when he returned to Cincinnati and engaged in the commission business until 1866 ; he then returned to the West and located in Mason City, and for the three succeeding years was engaged in the dry-goods, drug and grocery trade, under the firm name of Warnock & Co.; he then engaged in the grain trade, in connection with farming, until 1874, when he was appointed Postmaster at Mason City, under the administration of President Grant, which office he now holds, having been re-appointed in 1878, by President Hayes; he has also been frequently elected to township and school offices and is a public-school advocate in heart and practice; being a fine scholar, a fluent speaker and public spirited, he has from his youth been more or less identified with the political questions and interests of the nation, receiving his first impetus in that direction from the illustrious and brilliant Gov. Corwin, of Ohio, with whom he was on intimate terms of acquaintance and personal association, and whom he took as his model political orator and patriotic statesman; in 1866, Mr. Baner was tendered the nomination for Representative in the Legislature, on the Republican ticket for this county, but he had not the five successive years previous residence necessary to eligibility; at the first election of the Legislature under the Constitution of 1870, he received the nomination for State Senator on the Republican ticket of this, the Thirty- Sixth Senatorial District, and canvassed the district against the Hon. A. A. Glenn, the Democratic candidate; the district was largely Democratic, but Mr. Baner carried the full vote of his party and much more in hi& home county; in 1876, he was before the Republican Congressional Convention for the nomination for Congress in this the Thirteenth District, and stood among the highest until repeated balloting settled into a dead-lock when he voluntarily withdrew his name that harmony and unity might prevail, which gave Judge Tipton, of Bloomington, the nomination and election. He and Miss Catharine Mullen were married in 1846 ; she was born in Warren Co., Ohio, and died at their beautiful home and residence in the northeast part of the town, in 1874; eight children were born to them, of whom only three are now living:  Sallie, Assistant Postmaster; Lydia (wife of N. S. Forsyth), and Frank, who is now attending the State University at Champaign.


Maintained by Mason County Coordinator Donna Mayer