George Henry Warren

WARREN, PARKER, GARDNER

Posted By: Jeanie
Date: 5/18/2005 at 12:39:02

George H. Warren.

Among the younger class of men whose names appear in this book is George Henry Warren, who was born in Withingham, Vermont, on the 18th of December, 1844. His parents were Linus Austin Warren, a well-to-do farmer, and Sophronia Parker, both industrious, religious and much respected people. They had five children, three boys and two girls, and strove to bring up all of them carefully, early instilling into their tender hearts the pure principles of christianity. George was the fourth child. His paternal grandfather, Deacon James Warren, moved from Conway, Massachusetts, to Withingham at an early date, settling in the wilderness, and residing in that town until old age, dying at Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts, where he lived a short time. The maternal grandfather of George H. was Captain Samuel Parker, of Whitingham, a revolutionary soldier, who, was detailed for special service under General Washington, with whom he was a favorite. Both the Warren and Parker families were remarkable for their strength and longevity.

Mr. Warren had a pleasant home, affectionate parents, a love for books and an opportunity to gratify it. He preferred mental to physical labor, and for that reason some of his bucolic associates called him “lazy,” and that annoyed him; it was, perhaps, the sole grief of childhood years. He had so much literary ambition that at fifteen he was prepared to teach, and commenced his first district school. For three years he taught during the winter and studied in the summer.

At eighteen he entered the old and famous academy at Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts, paying his way by teaching a part of each day, while carrying on a regular and full course of studies. At nineteen, owing to mental overwork, his health began to decline, and he gave up the idea, fondly cherished, of going through Brown University. He became teller of the Shelburne Falls National bank, and soon afterwards cashier of the same. Prior to this period he had been looking to the law as his profession, but relinquished this hope and made up his mind to be a banker.

In the winter of 1868 he resigned his position in the bank at Shelburne Falls, came to Tama City and carried on a private banking business until October, 1871, when the First National Bank of Tama City was organized, of which institution he has since held the position of cashier, and has managed its business with a great deal of clerical and executive ability.

Since 1874 he has give a great deal of attention, and all the energy at his command, to the development of the water-power on the Iowa river at Tama City. He is deeply impressed with the importance of encouraging manufactures at the west, as a hand-maid of railroads in embracing the true interests of all classes. The water-power enterprise, started here in 1874, has proven a grand success, several manufactories being already in operation. In 1875 he formed the Union Plow Company, which bids fair to become one of the most successful enterprises in the interior of Iowa.

He joined the Freemasons in Massachusetts in 1867, and took the chapter degrees at Tama City, in 1870.

He has been a member of the Baptist church since ten years of age, and has been accustomed from youth to make every business enterprise, project or charge of any kind, a subject of especial prayer. He is convinced that his petitions have been answered, and evidently believes his Heavenly Father regards the minutest as well as greatest interests of the trusting one’s life. He is a Sunday School worker and aims to make himself useful in many ways.

Mr. Warren married his wife at Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts, on the 14th of April, 1866, she being Miss Kate Louise Gardner, only child of Joseph W. Gardner, a celebrated cutlery manufacturer of England, and is a man of wealth and high standing. Mrs. Warren is the mother of two children.

From the History of Tama County, Iowa. by Samuel D. Chapman. Printed at the Toledo Times Office. 1879. Pages 169 to 171.