This continues a series adapted from the book, “A Port Oneida Collection,” Volume 1 of the twopart set, “Oral History, Photographs, and Maps from the Sleeping Bear Region,” produced by Tom Van Zoeren in partnership with Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear. Here we have a look at the Richard & Katie Werner Farm, along M-22 just south of the bend by Thoreson Road.
As the children of Frederick and Margretha Werner (Ch. 6) came of age during the 1860’s 1890’s, most moved on to other areas. Several began farms across the county, in the Bingham area. The Werner Farm, meanwhile, became divided: daughter Margaret’s husband John Miller purchased the northern portion of the farm (where the buildings were), while son Dietrich (who went by “Richard”) bought 80 acres at the southern end for $400, and began the farm that now bears his name along M-22 just south of the bend by Thoreson Road.
Richard married an unwedded mother of two children, Catherina (Katie) Poertner. According to her great-grandson Gene Warner, Katie’s first child, August Warner, “was the product of an illicit affair,” presumably with a fisherman from North Manitou Island who was said to be “infamous for having affairs with girls on the mainland.” Four years later Ms. Poertner “had a second illegitimate child, my great-aunt Rachel (Warner). She eventually turned into a very attractive young woman, not looking much like her brother or mother, so might have been the product of a different affair.
