"RICHARD H. WARDEN OTTUMWA COURIER CITY EDITOR" 1887

WARDEN, CHUNN, ADAMS, ORD, KANE, GUEST, STREET, ASBOTH, PRETISS

Posted By: Mary E. Lanigan::VOLUNTEER (email)
Date: 6/24/2002 at 11:40:25

Source::
Portrait and Biographical Album of Wapello County Iowa by Chapman Brothers publishing of Chicago 1887.
Reprinted 1990 by Selby Publishing
3405 Zartman Road
Kokomo, IN 46902

"RICHARD H. WARDEN"
City Editor of the Ottumwa Courier.

Richard H. WARDEN and Miss Virginia C. ADAMS were
united in marriage in Ottumwa on the 26th of February 1851. Mrs. W. is a native of LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY; and the date of her birth was 20th of October, 1832. By the union with our subject she has become the mother of seven children, three of whom died in infancy. The living are GEORGE, NETTIE C., ANNIE, and CLARA C. Mr. W. is a Republican in politics, and active in all worthy publishing enterprises. He has been a member of the Common Council of Ottumwa and City Treasurer, and his fellow-townsmen in numerous ways have manifested for him their high esteem.

Mr. WARDEN has been a resident of OTTUMWA since the Spring of 1848. Besides being an able journalist, he is a practical printer, thus he is well fitted for duties of his present position, for it is a notable fact that the most eminent journalists of our country began life as printer boys, and thus obtaind an insight into the details of newspaper work more correctly than could have been secured in any other manner.

The subject of this history is a native of KENTUCKY, and first opened his eyes to the light in the city of MAYSVILLE, on the 8th of March, 1826. He is the son of Richard and Elizabeth (CHUNN) WARDEN, and when but 8 years old removed with his parents from his native state of KENTUCKY to CLAREMONT County OHIO, where they located in the town of BETHEL, of which they remained residents for about three years, and where his father died in 1839.

Mrs. WARDEN subsequently removed to DECATUR COUNTY, IND; and married COL. JOHN KANE of WILLIAMSBURG, OHIO. She subsequently returned to OHIO and died in WILLIAMSBURG in 1874.

Richard H. WARDEN learned the printers trade at BATAVIA, OHIO, in the office of ANDREW M. GUEST and worked as a journeyman until the spring of 1846. He then took charge of the CLINTON REPUBLICAN at WILMINGTON, OHIO, which was owned by DAVId FISHER, the member of Congress from the Second Ohio District. In this capacity your WARDEN was employed until 1848, and then corossing the MISSISSIPPI RIVER, came to OTTUMWA. Soon afterward in company of J.H.D. STREET, he established the DES MOINES, COURIER, with which paper he connected as Editor and Publisher until December 20, 1856. He then sold out, determined to change his occupation, and engaged in the hotel and mercantile business.

Mr. WARDEN had been carefully trained in principles of honor and rectitude, and was a young man of more than ordinary ability. After coming to this section his excellant personal traits of character received ready recognition and he was at once taken into the confidence of his fellow-townsmen.

In April of 1849, he was appointed postmaster Of Ottumwa, which office he occupied for a period of four years and two months. During the progress of the late war, in August 1862, he enlisted as a Private in Co. E. 36th IOWA VOL INF, was elected First Lieutenant and mustered in KEOKUK, IOWA. His regiment subsequently became part of the 7th ARMY CORPS under GEN. E.O.C. ORD.

Lieut WARDEN participated with his regiment in the YAZOO EXPEDITION, battles of HELENA and LITTLE ROCK, and various other monor engagements. In December of 1863, he was sent home on recruiting service, and was engaged until April 1864, during which he enlisted 165 men. While in the service, he was aide-de-camp to Gens.
ASBOTH and P'RETISS, being also Assistant-General of the 2nd Brigade, 1st Division of STEEL'S ARMY Corps. From June 10 to December 04, he served as Post Adjutant at LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS, and was soon afterward, on account of dangerous illness in his family, he resigned his commision and returned home.

After the close of his military services, Mr. WARDEN returned to OTTUMWA, being appointed ASSISTANT ASESSOR of INTERNAL REVENUE, and was connected with the REVENUE SERVICE for ten years. Since 1869 he has been continously with the OTTUMWA COURIER, either as editor, business manager, or city editor. He has been associated with the press of the state longer than any other editor now engaged upon an IOWAN NEWSPAPER. His ability as a Journalist is unquestioned. He is a terse and forcible writer, fearless in his denuncition of wrong and courageous in maintaining the right.