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- WILLIAM M. WARREN - William M. Warren has been a resident ofIllinoissince 1833 and of Sangamon county for a half century. Asanagriculturist, lawyer and banker he has been prominently identifiedwiththe business life of the county and New Berlin owes much to hisactiveefforts in its behalf. In his business relations he isprogressive,energetic and straightforward, and he stands today as oneof the strongmen of his community, strong in his honor and his goodname, in hisfinancial position and in the regard of his follow men. Heis now livinga retired life and the rest which has been vouchsafed tohim is indeedwell merited.
Mr. Warren was born in Scott county Kentocky May 27, 1828, and isofEnglish descent,the family having been founded in Virginia at anearlyperiod in the colonization of the new world. Barton Warren wasborn inVirginia in 1692 and was the father of William Warren, whosebirthoccurred in the same state in 1747. He in turn was the father ofWilliamM. Warren, who was born in Virginia in 1775 and was thegrandfather ofour subject. The father, William B. Warren, was born inScott county,Kentucky in 1802. William Warren removed from the OldDominion toKentucky shortly after the Revolutionary war. He settled inWoodfordcounty and there reared his family. His son, Judge William M.Warren, wasreared there and became a lawyer by profession. A man ofmarkedindividuality, of strong mentality and of earnest purpose, hewondistinction at the Kentucky bar and served on the bench of thecourt ofappeals. William B. Warren, the father of William M. Warren,was a man ofsuperior education and he, too, became a member of thebar. He practicedlaw in his native city for a number of years and hiscomprehensiveknowledge of the principles of jurisprudence and the ablemannor in whichhe handled litigated interests gained for him aprominent place as alegal practitioner. He was married in Kentucky toMiss Ann Price, who wasborn in Georgetown, Scott county, and in 1833he removed to Illinois,locating in Jacksonville, where he continued inthe practice of law. Atthe time of the Mexican war he became a soldierand served as major ofthe first regiment known as Hardin's Regiment,and succeeded to thelieutenant colonelcy at Hardin's death. He waselected and served asclerk of the supreme court of Illinois, being thefirst to fill thatposition under the constitution of 1849. He spenthis last years inJacksonville, this state, where he died in 1865. Hiswife survived himfor nine years passing away in 1874.
William M. Warren was the oldest in a family, of four sons andsevendaughters, of whom two sons and two daughters are yet living.Hisbrother, Phil Warren, is now living retired in Springfield. Two ofhissisters, Mrs. Thomas Booth, a widow, and Mrs. V. M. Kenney, areresidentsof New Berlin.
William M. Warren was a lad of about five summers when he came withhisparents to Illinois. The period of his minority was largely passedinJacksonville and he acquired the greater part of his educationthere. Inearly life he studied surveying and when but sixteen years ofage servedas deputy surveyor continuing in the position for severalyears. In I853he removed to Sangamon county, where he purchased atract of raw land,which he broke and improved, developing an excellentfarm of four hundredacres, upon which he lived for fifteen years. Hewas elected and servedfor two terms as county surveyor here anddischarged the duties of theoffice in connection with the managementof his farm. In 1868 he locatedin New Berlin, where he began thepractice of law and for twenty yearsfollowed that profession, securinga large clientage, which connected himwith much of the importantlitigation tried in the courts of the county.During that time Mr.Warren also became identified with bankinginterests. He establishedthe W. M. Warren Bank in 1877 and conducted itwith success until 1898.He made it one of the sound financialinstitutions of the county anddid a very extensive business in thatline. In all of his undertakingshe has prospered and yet the secret ofhis success is not hard to find.He has led a life of industry anddiligence, and his labors have beenguided by sound judgment, keendiscrimination and strong purpose.Moreover, he has ever been honorablein his relations with his fellowmen and business integrity is always oneof the safest foundations uponwhich to build business success. As hisfinancial resources haveincreased, Mr. Warren has likewise invested inproperty and has erecteda number of business houses and residences inNew Berlin, thuscontributing to the improvement of the town as well asto his personalprosperity.
Mr. Warren was united in marriage while in Jacksonville in I849 toMissPriscilla Hitt, a native of Bourbon county, Kentucky who wastherereared. They had two children: Margaret J., the wife of O'BannonSmith,who is cashier of the State Bank of New Berlin, and they havetwochildren, Priscilla W. and O'Bannon; and Agnes, the wife of GeorgeW.Fraker, of Spray, North Carolina, by whom she has two daughters,Margaretand Priscilla. Mr. Warren lost nine children in infancy andearlychildhood, and his son William B. grew to mature years andmarried erecalled to his final rest. Sallie died in early womanhoodand John F. diedat the age of twenty six years. In 1896 Mr. Warren wasalso called uponto mourn the loss of his wife, who passed away in thatyear and was laidto rest in Island Grove cemetery. She was a mostestimable lady, who hadindeed been to him a faithful companion andhelpmate on life's journeyand her loss was deeply deplored, not onlyby her immediate family butalso by many friends throughout theCommunity.
Mr. Warren has always been identified with the Democratic party andhetook a very active part in local politics at an earlier day. Hewaselected and served as supervisor and was chairman of the board forsixyears, acting in that capacity at the time the state house wasbuilt. Hehas, however, never been an aspirant for public office, buthis worth andability have led to his selection for local offices. Forten years hefilled the position of justice of the peace and thendeclined to servelonger. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity, whichhe joined inJacksonville, and later he became a charter member of thelodge at NewBerlin. He acted as its first master and has repeatedlybeen itsrepresentative in the grand lodge. His life has been inconsistentharmony with teachings of the craft, which include honorablemanhood,mutual helpfulness and kindness. Through seventy years he hasbeen aresident of the county and naught is said against his character,for hislife has been one Of uprightness and honor. His personalcharacteristicshave won for him the regard and friendship of thosewith whom he has beenassociated and no history of Sangamon countywould be complete withoutmention of William M. Warren, a most honoredresident of New Berlin.
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1828 - Yes, date unknown
