Warren, Abraham 1826-1913 & Julia A. Dutton Family

WARREN, DUTTON, BRONSON, HIGGINS

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 9/5/2021 at 14:55:13

WARREN, Abraham 1826-1913 and Julia A. Dutton Family

This story was taken from the ‘Rock Valley Records & Recollections’ book written abt 1976 in honor of the two hundredth birthday of our nation. It was a revision of history written by Eloise Warren Schaller in 1955. It was transcribed for this BIOS by Wilma J. Vande Berg of the Greater Sioux County Genealogical Society and some research notes were added.

ABRAHAM J. WARREN The Man Who Platted The Town of Rock Valley

My Father, Abraham J. Warren, and My mother, Julia A. (Dutton) Warren, were both born in Ohio where they attended Oberlin College and were married.

They came west and lived on a farm near Waterloo, Iowa, for many years, then moved to the city of Waterloo where my sister Ellen and I were both born.

His business was always buying and selling land, and my mother would always say they were ‘Land poor.’ The next move was coming to Sioux County in 1875, where we lived one year on a farm. The next move was to Luverne, Minnesota where my father had extensive interests. We owned the farm land prior to the building of the Milwaukee Railroad on which the town of Rock Valley is now located.

He had a great deal of pride in the platting of the town, planning of the trees and building of the early day stores. For some time we lived over one of these stores, and as always, he built, rented, and sold stores and houses including the Warren Hotel. Before Rock Valley had a water system I remember my father in a horse-drown wagon with barrels of water, watering each individual tree. Sites without cost for the building of schools and churches were freely given by my father.

My father passed away in 1913 at the age of eight-five years, and my mother in 1918. Both are buried in the Rock Valley Cemetery.

(Above is a revision of history written by Eloise Warren Schaller in 1955)

RESEARCH NOTES – added by Wilma J. Vande Berg

ANCESTRY.COM
Taken from a report on Ancestry.com (reporting done by others not verified by me)
Abraham J. Warren born May 21, 1826 at Lakewood, Cuyahoga, Ohio, died 17 Feb 1913 Rock Valley Iowa. His parents were listed as Isaac Edward Warren 1782-1867 and Amelia Bronson 1799-1837.

Julia Dutton born 22 Jan 1833 Pike Wyoming New York died 7 Mar 1918 at Storm Lake Iowa buried in Rock Valley Iowa. Her parents were Andrew Dutton 1789-1867 and Julia Higgins 1802-1886

Abraham and Julia had two children – Mary Ellen Warren 1868-1943 and Eloise D. Warren 1871-1957.
Mary Ellen Warren born 14 Sep 1868 Waterloo, Iowa died 12 Nov 1943 at Chelan Washington. She married Hubert Remley 1870-1952 and four children were listed – Miriam Remley 1899-1952, Milton W. Remley 1902-1961, Elizabeth Remley 1907-1976 and Richard Remley 1911-1984.

OBITUARY of Abraham J. Warren
COL. A. J. WARREN
Died Monday, Was 84 Years Old
Col. A. J. Warren, one of the pioneers and for almost half a century a resident of Rock Valley and vicinity, died at his home Monday noon at the advanced age of eighty-four years. Mr. Warren was taken sick about three weeks ago with an attack of the 'grippe but his condition was not at first considered serious. Later other complications set in and it was evident that at his advanced age he had little chance for recovery.
Mr. Warren was a familiar figure on our streets and he will be greatly missed. He had lived here ever since the town was platted and before. In fact it was Mr. Warren who owned the land where Rock Valley now stands, who laid out the wide and attractive streets of our city, who planted the trees and cared for them and who has always had the best interests of the town at heart. His work here stands as the best monument that can be erected in his memory.
The deceased was born at Rockport, Ohio, in 1829. There he spent his early life and grew to manhood. He came west in 1856 and settled at Waterloo, Ia. He was married a year later. This union was blessed with two daughters, Mrs. Eloise Schaller of Storm Lake, Ia., and Mrs. Ellen Remley who lives in the state of Washington. In the year of 1869 Mr. Warren came to Lyon county and later to Sioux and for forty-four years he has lived in Rock Valley and vicinity where he had large investments in land and other property.
The deceased was a man who was highly respected and widely known. He was always ready to help with any improvement for the town and country. In many instances he seemed to take as much interest in public affairs as in his own private business. For years he served as a member of the school board and as a member of the town council, and for a term he represented Sioux county in the state legislature where he served his state and district that elected [him] to this position of honor and trust, in a most creditable manner.
He leaves to mourn his aged wife, two daughters, and one brother, three other brothers and two sisters having preceded him to the land beyond several years ago. Funeral services were held from the Methodist church in this city Wednesday at 9:30 a.m., conducted by Rev. C. H. Young, pastor of this church, and interment was made in the Valley View cemetery. The services were largely attended by numerous friends who desired in this way to show their great respect for the deceased and their sympathy for the bereaved relatives. During the funeral services all the business places in town were closed out of respect to the deceased.
Source: Rock Valley Bee, February 21, 1913. Followed by Resolutions of Respect passed at a special meeting of the town council.
* * * * * * * * * *
"In the midst of life we are in death." This truth is again forcibly impressed upon our citizens in contemplating the demise of A. J. Warren, a highly respected citizen, which occurred at his home in Rock Valley February 17, 1913.
The deceased was born at Rockport near Cleveland Ohio July 29th, 1828, aged 84 years, 6 months and twenty-seven days. He formed the acquaintance of Miss Julia Dutton of Oberlin Ohio, which ripened into affection, and culminated in their marriage in February 1857. Two children were born to them, to bless and brighten their home life. He being a man of an ambitious nature, turned his face westward, where the opportunities were more golden, in securing a home, and acquiring a competency, and located at Waterloo Iowa, when in the spring of 1869 he came to northwest Iowa and located on a farm in Lyon county, and endured the hardships and privations of pioneer life. When the Milwaukee railroad was surveyed through here, in 1879 he platted and laid out the town of Rock Valley, and contributed much to the material growth and development of the town and immediate community. Many people of moderate means were enabled to secure for themselves a home through his aid and generosity. He was active in the municipal affairs of the town, and was a valuable member of the town council for several years, and was also a member of the board of education. In 1892 he was elected a member of the twenty-fourth general assembly and represented his constituency with marked ability.
The dust from the pinions of time has been falling for three score years and ten, on the events of his now completed life. The city council drafted resolutions of respect and the business houses closed during the funeral services, which occurred at the Methodist church Wednesday at 9:30 A.M., conducted by the pastor, Rev. C. H. Young, in the presence of a large concourse of neighbors and sympathizing friends, who came to pay the last tribute of respect of the community. Many floral tributes adorned his casket. He was laid to rest in Valley View cemetery.
He is survived by an aged companion, a brother, Sherman Warren of Humansville, Mo., two daughters--Mrs. Ellen Remley of Cashmere Washington, who was unable to attend the funeral and Mrs. Eloise Schaller of Storm Lake Iowa, who attended the funeral. The community extends sympathy to the relatives in the loss they have sustained. Peace to his ashes, rest to his soul.
Source: Alton Democrat, February 22, 1913.
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OBITUARY of Julia Dutton Mrs. Abraham J. Warren
FORMER RESIDENT CALLED
Mrs. Julia Dutton Warren, a former pioneer resident of Rock Valley, died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. George Schaller, at Storm Lake Iowa, Thursday, March 7th. The remains, accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Schaller, were brought to Rock Valley Monday for burial beside her husband, A. J. Warren, who preceded his wife to the Great Beyond some five years ago. Upon their arrival the remains of the deceased were taken to the Valley View Cemetery where short services were held at the grave, conducted by Rev. Douma of the Methodist Church of this city. For one hour during the services the business houses of Rock Valley were closed out of respect to the departed. Many beautiful floral tributes were in evidence.
The subject of this sketch was born at Portersville, N.Y., January 22nd, 1833, and passed from this life at the advanced age of eighty-five years, one month and fifteen days. It was there that she spent her early life and grew to womanhood. Later the family moved to Oberlin, Ohio, where she was united in marriage to Mr. A. J. Warren. She and her husband came west in 1856 and settled at Waterloo, Ia. A few years later they removed to Luverne, Minn. and shortly afterwards they came to Lyon County and then to Sioux. For almost half a century (forty-five years) Mrs. Warren was a resident of Rock Valley and vicinity. She was here before the town was laid out, and may truly be said to have been a pioneer who had passed through all the hardships incident to pioneer life.
After the death of her husband five years ago, she went to the home of her daughter, Mrs. George Schaller, where she has since resided. Last fall her health began to fail, and she gradually followed the inevitable decline of old age until the final summons came and she passed peacefully on to her reward.
She was a woman of a very kind disposition and was always inclined to see the good qualities in her friends, and looked upon the bright side of life. She was universally loved by all who knew her.
Besides a sister she leaves to mourn, two daughters, Mrs. George Schaller of Storm Lake, and Mrs. Hubert Remlay of Cashmere, Washington, who have the sincere sympathy of many friends in their bereavement.
Source: Rock Valley Bee, March 15, 1918.