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Rh nary, and later, after some years of active life, he took a course of study in Columbian college, and also in its law school, Washington, District of Columbia, and was graduated from that institution in 1869. While he has since been a member of the bar of the District of Columbia, he has never been in active practice.

He came to Washington, when sixteen years old, and obtained a clerkship in the Judiciary Square hospital, serving in the position four months, when he was transferred to another branch of the service and promoted to a clerkship in the war department. In December, 1866, he obtained a clerkship in the treasury department; and six months afterward he was made deputy collector of Internal Revenue for the ninth district of Pennsylvania, having his headquarters at Lancaster, Pennsylvania. While in that city he studied law with Thaddeus Stevens, at that time congressman from that district. But his desire to perfect himself led him, after a stay of eighteen months, to return to Washington and pursue a regular law course. A good business opportunity soon after offering itself, he gave up the law entirely, and became a member of the real estate firm of Joshua Whitney and Company, continuing the business for himself, after Mr. Whitney's death. Mr. Warner founded the business of the B. H. Warner Company, and for years was its active head. He sold his interest in this firm in 1902. He also founded the firm of J. H. Chesley and Company which was afterward changed to Rudolph West and Company. Mr. Warner in 1868 traveled through the West as correspondent of the Harrisburg "Telegraph," and at various times he has been interested in newspaper enterprises.

He is a member of the Columbia and Republican clubs of Washington, District of Columbia. He is a member of the Presbyterian church and for some years has been chairman of the Presbyterian Alliance of the District. His reading has been chiefly law, history and romance; and he is fond of athletic exercise and especially of golf. The early associations of home and school and the circumstances of his life have all had an influence upon his character. He names as early spurs to effort, "necessity and ambition to improve my condition." Speaking in self-criticism he says, "I scattered my energies too much, and did not sufficiently concentrate my powers." To young people he offers this counsel: "Follow one occupation or profession; work hard and persistently. You will thus get more happiness and less worry."