“ANDREW J. WARE. That it is written with the power of self-reliant men to accomplish much for themselves in the world of affairs and to attain success without the aid of extraneous circumstances or influential friends is proved by the rise of hundreds of our foremost citizens from poverty to prosperity, from obscurity to opulence. In the list of residents of Corona who have achieved success by reason of persistence in spite of hardships, we mention the name of Andrew J. Ware, president of the First National Bank and secretary and manager of the Corona Lumber Company. His life has been an uplifitng force in the community, compelling attention by reason of it’s quiet sincerity and enkindling admiration through high-minded principles. Ever since in early boyhood he awakened to the true nobility of existence he has striven toward the attainment of life’s ideal and has cultivated patriotic principles and lofty purposes, realizing high aims alone redeem existence fro the commonplace and raise the individual into the brotherhood of the world’s best heroes.
A son of the late A.J. and Lucinda (Watt) Ware a native of Steubenville, Ohio born July 26, 1860, Andrew J. Ware was only four years of age when the family sought a new home in northeastern Iowa and settled in the small but thriving village of Waverly, where he was sent to the public schools until he had gained a fair education fitting him for business responsibilities. After the age of twenty he took charge of a farm owned by his mother and situated near Waverly, where he tilled the soil with more or less success and learned many lessons of patience in spite of discouragement and perseverance in the midst of obstacles. Finally he and his mother disposed of the property in Iowa and came to California, settling in Corona in 1892. From that time until 1896 he engaged in the confectionery business. After he sold out in the last-named year he engaged with the Newport Lumber Company as manager and in that connection acquired his first knowledge of the business in which he has been successful to an unusual degree.
Upon resigning from his association with the Newport Lumber Company in January of 1904, Mr. Ware organized the Corona Lumber Company and has since conducted it’s affairs as manager and secretary, in association with F.M. Enderly of Riverside as president. In addition to the management of the lumber yard, he has increased responsibilities since 1909, when he accepted the presidency of the First National Bank of Corona, in which previously he had officiated as a director and likewise for years had been a large stockholder. On February 2, 1910, Mr. Ware, H.W. Miller and F.W. Enderly organized the Perris Valley Lumber Company of Perris, of which Mr. Enderly is president and Mr. Miller manager. Mr. Ware is also president of the Corona Mutual Building and Loan Association. The present board of directors are A.J. Ware, F.W. Mueller, John P. Key, George E. Snidecor, R.L. Willits and G.P. McCorkle. When he came to California Mr. Ware was unmarried and some time afterward he returned to Iowa, where at Fort Dodge he was united with Miss Florence Markin in September of 1898. The benefactors of the Congregational Church, the charities of their district and the society of the town have had the benefit of their active interest and co-operation, as well as the many kindnesses they have done unconsciously.
Aside from the casting of a ballot in favor of Republican candidates and measures, Mr. Ware has taken no part in politics nor has he ever been willing to transfer his attention from business enterprises to the arena of public affairs. Acceptance of office would be foreign to his inclination. Yet he is intensely patriotic and deeply devoted to the welfare of Corona, where he has lived for many years, helping to solve her problems of upbuilding and advancement. His faith in locality is unwavering and he delight in its steady growth, unmarked by any boom, which he regards as detrimental, because the inflation of values is followed by a reaction as inevitable as it is serious. He regards the diversity of products as one of the greatest advantages of Corona, for there is something to sell year around and one season is almost as good as another. After the citrus fruits have been shipped, the many thousands of acres of alfalfa just to the north of town are putting forth their rich harvests. In addition the rock crushers and brick plants are running all year and utilizing the valuable deposits contained in the mountains. These varied industries give Corona a foundation as solid, in his opinion, as may be found anywhere in the entire country, while the outlook for the future is most promising.”
Source: History of Riverside Co. California, by Elmer Wallace Holmes, Historic Record Co., Los Angeles, CA, 1912, pages 550-2
