Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1891
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 886
ALFRED N. WARREN

Alfred N. WARREN, of Harrison Township, will form the subject of this sketch. He is a native of East Hartford, Connecticut, and was born August 8, 1835. He is a son of Nathaniel and Sarah (BIDWELL) WARREN, natives of the same town. The family trace their ancestry back several generations in this country, and find its origin to be in England. Our subject's parents were reared, lived, labored and died in East Hartford, the father passing away when eighty-five years of age, and the mother, who was born in 1800, died in 1885. The father, at an early day, was a shoemaker, but later in life turned his attention to agriculture. The grandfather of our subject was also a shoemaker, as well as a tanner by trade. Alfred N. was reared to farm life until he was sixteen years of age receiving a common school education in the public schools of his native State, and at that age worked one year at painting clock dials in a clock factory. After this he engaged at the carpenter trade, and after having mastered it, spent one year in Connecticut working at this trade, but in the spring of 1857, saw visions of the new West, and came to Harrison County, Iowa, arriving April 28. That was thirty-four years ago, and this has been his home ever since. He at once took up a pre-emption of one hundred and sixty acres on section 14, where he still makes his home. However, he did not locate at once on this land, but hired out to Henry OLMSTED to do carpenter work, or whatever there was to be done about the premises. The never-to-be-forgotten hard times came on and there was not any great amount of work in erecting new buildings, so our subject concluded to open up his farm, so in March, 1858, he erected a house upon his claim, and January 22, of the same year, he was united in marriage with Miss Anna Eliza STOW, this being the first marriage in Harrison Township. She was born in Cheshire, Conn., in 1840, and is the daughter of Alfred and Mary STOW. After their marriage our subject spent two years at farming, and in 1860, his services as a carpenter were in more of a demand, and he has turned his attention in that direction from that time to this. He is a thorough mechanic, ranking among the best in his trade. His farm he has improved with the passing years as he could find opportunity, and has succeeded in making a pleasant and valuable home. Mr. WARREN has always taken an active part in everything that has tended to the upbuilding and general welfare of the county.

Politically he is indentified with the Democratic party, and well remembers when he was the only voter in Harrison Township who voted that ticket. He was the first Township Clerk, and was Trustee of the township for a number of years, as well as member of the School Board for over twenty years, ever manifesting great interest in educational matters.

He belongs to the Masonic fraternity, and is a member of Hospitable Lodge No. 244, A.F.&A.M., Ark Chapter No. 89, and is Past Master.

Mr. And Mrs. WARREN are the parents of twelve children�Charles H., a resident of Pender, NE; Frederick W., died August 19, 1861, his being the first death in the township; Mary e., wife of Lewis KING, a resident of Woodbury County; Ada L., at home; Louis H., a resident of Dunlap; Arthur L., at home; Pearl G., Edward R., Rose L., Gilbert S., Bertha L., and Harriet B. The last six are all living at home, besides the others already named.

Mr. WARREN is a man who has won the admiration of a large circle of friends of his manly, upright and honest course of life.

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