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Hon. Judge Calvin Averill Warren 1807-1881

The Late C. A. Warren Brief Sketch of His Life - Action of the Quincy Bar Hon. Calvin A. Warren, an old citizen and prominent member of the bar, well known in this city and the old military tract, died at his residence in this city, after a lingering illness, at 6 o'clock yesterday morning. The deceased had been ill for several months, and death was not unexpected. For some time past his recovery was regarded impossible.

The following facts concerning the life of Mr. Warren are obtained from P. H. Redmond's History of Quincy:

Hon. Calvin A. Warren was born in New York, in 1807, [son of Benjamin Warren and Esther Reynolds. Descendants of Richard Warren of the Mayflower and many other Mayflower families] and first saw the light of day in a Court House, his father being sheriff of the county; which, considering the events since transpiring, and the ardor with which he has devoted himself to the law, to say the least, forms a singular coincidence. Receiving a common school education, at an early age he entered a printing office in the capacity of "devil," and continued in that position until he perfected himself in the art, and was rewarded with a case. Soon after he obtained employment in the Spectator office, at Poultney, Vermont, and there for several months worked side by side with Horace Greeley of the New York Tribune. While following the vocation of printer, Mr. Warren devoted himself also assiduously the study of law, and in 1828-9 retiring from the case, he proceeded to Hampshire, New York, and assumed the editorial management of the Hampshire Sentinel and Farmer's Journal. Here he remained until 1830, when in connection with his brother, A.[Ansel] Warren, he published the Palladium at West Troy, New York. An uncompromising democrat, he soon after removed himself to Ballston Spa, Saratoga County, and established another paper in the interest of that party; but the entire establishment being destroyed by fire, in the following spring, he associated with one of the proprietors of the Spectator, and established a paper at Belchester, New York. In 1834, after a varied career in the newspaper business, he entered Transylvania Law University at Lexington, Kentucky, where he graduated with high honors in the latter part of 1834. He received his first diploma the same year from the Supreme Court of Ohio, and commenced the practice of law at Batavia, in that state, with Thomas Morris, (father of Hon. I. N. Morris, late of this city, and afterwards United States Senator from Ohio,) as a partner. [Calvin would marry Viola Morris his first wife, daughter of Thomas Morris]. Resolving to seek a home further west, in 1836 Mr. Warren (came) to this city, and after practicing law one year, removed to Warsaw, where he remained until 1839, when he returned to Quincy, and formed a law partnership with James Ralston, which continued some two years. Almeron Wheat, Esq., then associated with the firm, which then flourished under the style of Ralston, Warren & Wheat. Upon the dissolution of this firm, Mr. Warren associated with Hon. O. C. Skinner, continuing with him until that gentleman was elected Supreme Judge when he formed a partnership with George Edmonds, Jr., of Hancock County. This partnership lasted for several years when Mr. Edmonds, moving to Hancock county, Mr. Warren associated with Hon. Alexander E. Wheat. An almost unprecedented career of success attended this firm, and they were engaged in most of the celebrated cases that transpired in our courts during a number of years.

Returning to the time Col. Warren lived in Warsaw we find that he owned one-third of all the land on which the city now stands; also owned and controlled the first hotel and livery stable and started the first brickyard there. He also conducted a large store, supplying not only the citizens of Warsaw and the surrounding country, but also the Indians for many miles around, with goods, ammunition, etc. About this time he also chartered a steamer at Cincinnati, and loading it with assorted cargo, made a successful trip around to Warsaw. Buying a large farm, he also managed that, but several bad seasons blasted his hopes in this line.

In 1855 he returned to Quincy and embarked in manufacturing, building an extensive furniture factory near the site where the Union Passenger Depot now stands. Scarcely was this completed than it was destroyed by fire, involving a loss upon the owner of $30,000. Not discouraged however he at once proceeded to replace the building consumed and immediately erected the large building occupied by Harris, Beebe & Co., (which was burned last summer) on Fifth and Ohio streets. Here he resumed the manufacture of furniture, but the crash of 1857 coming on, the enterprise proved unsuccessful.

Since that time the deceased has been entirely in the practice of the law. After retiring from the firm of Wheat & Warren he associated himself with Charles M. Gilmer, the firm being Warren & Gilmer. The past few years his health prevented him from taking an active part in the trial of cases, and he has confined himself principally to office business. The last few months he has been confined to his house by the illness which proved fatal.

The deceased was highly esteemed for his many excellent qualities and had many warm friends not only in Quincy but in the country surrounding the city. He was a member of Bodley Lodge A. F. & A. M.. The funeral will take place from the Presbyterian church Thursday afternoon at 3 o'clock.

Action Of The Bar.

The members of the Bar assembled in the Circuit Court room yesterday afternoon at half past two o'clock for the purpose of taking suitable action on the death of the Hon. Calvin A. Warren. The meeting was called to order by Hon. Wm. Marsh, and on motion Hon. O. H. Browning was chosen chairman and O. P. Bonney secretary.

Remarks upon the life and character of the deceased were made by Hon. O. H. Browning and Hon. Almeron Wheat. On motion of Hon. Alexander E. Wheat a committee of three was appointed to prepare and report resolutions expressive of the grief of the Bar. The chairman appointed Hon. Alexander E. Wheat, Hon. Wm. Marsh and Hon. John H. Williams who reported the following resolutions which were adopted.

RESOLUTIONS:

Resolved, That we have received with profound grief the announcement of the death of the Hon. Calvin A. Warren, and entertain a deep sense of the loss we have sustained in the death of one so long known to the community and especially to the profession of which he was a distinguished member, for his high legal attainment and for the eminent ability with which he discharged the duties of the important offices with which his name had been honorably associated.

Resolved, That as an expression of our respect for the deceased and of our sorrow for his loss we will wear the usual badge of mourning for the accustomed time.

Resolved, That we deeply sympathize with the bereaved family of the deceased in the great affliction which, in God's Providence, has been visited upon them.

Resolved, That the secretary of this meeting transmit a copy of these proceedings to the family of the deceased, and a copy hereof be, by the Chairman of this meeting, presented to the Circuit Court of this County at the next March term thereof, with the request that they be spread upon the records of said court.

On motion of Hon.. B. Arntzen it was agreed that the bar would attend the funeral in a body, and that the members would assemble in the Circuit Court room one-half hour earlier than the time which shall be chosen for the services at the church and proceed there from in a body.

A committee composed of Hon. A. E. Wheat, Hon. B. Arntzen and C. M. Gilmer was appointed on behalf of the bar to confer with the family, and with the power to act in all matters pertaining to the funeral.

Motion to adjourn carried, and the meeting adjourned.

The text here is an excerpt from The Quincy Herald February 23, 1881.

Calvin A. Warren is buried in Woodland Cemetery, Quincy, Illinois.

It is believed that Calvin Warren was married three times, first to Viola Morris, then Harriet W. Frierson [nee Robbins] and finally to Ann[Wady Ann] Boswell. His children included Addie who was born about 1841, Ruth born about 1843, John born about 1845[Harriet's three children brought to the marriage], Charles Ashley Warren, Atty. Chicago, Illinois, born about 1852 [mother Harriet W. Robbins], and Hon. Judge Henry Lucien Warren, born 1837 [mother Viola Morris] first lawyer in Albuquerque, New Mexico.



Quincy Daily Whig, February 22, 1881, Page 8

[Note: large portions of the image I received is unreadable - please refer to the original microfilm copy for complete text]

Death of the Hon. Calvin A. Warren in This City.

His Eminent Success at the Bar of Quincy.

His Early Life as Printer and Publisher.

The Hon. Calvin A. Warren, one Quincy's well-known citizens, died at his residence in this city this morning at 6 o'clock. His death was not unexpected, for he had been confined to his home for a long time and his condition have little hope of ultimate recovery; but the event, however anticipated, will be a source of profound sorrow. It removes a worthy and estimable citizen, and deprives the bar of the city of a member whose eminent ability and versatility in the law gave him exceptional prominence.

Mr. Warren was born in New York in 1807. Receiving a common-school education, at an early age he entered a printing office, perfecting himself in the art of a compositor; and subsequently he obtained employment in the office of the Spectator at Salem, N. Y., where he worked for some months side by side with Horace Greeley, who won fame as the founder and editor of the New York Tribune. It was during his service at the case in a printing office that Mr. Warren commenced the study of the law. In 1828 he went to Hampshire, N. Y., and assumed editorial management of the Sentinel and Farmers' Journal, remaining two years, and then going to West Troy, N. Y., where he became associated with his brother in the publication of the Palladium. For several years afterward he was connected with the newspaper publishing business [unreadable section on my copy] at Batavia, in that state, having associated himself with Thomas Morris, father of the late Hon. I. N. Morris, of this city. In 1836 Mr. Warren came to Quincy, subsequently locating at Warsaw; returning to this city in 1839, which has since been his home. He first formed a law partnership with James H. Ralston, which continued two years, and at the end of that time the firm became Ralston, Warren & Wheat, by the admission of A__meron Wheat to membership. Upon the dissolution of the firm Mr. Warren became associated with the late hon. O. C. Skinner continuing with him until that gentleman was elected to the supreme bench of the state, when he formed a partnership with George Edmonds, Jr., of Hancock county, the Hon. A. E. Wheat succeeding Mr. Edmonds __ the firm a few years later. During the past few years Mr. C. M. Gilmer has been connected with Mr. Warren in the legal business. Mr. Warren at all times enjoyed the full confidence of the bench and bar in this city, and had a lucrative practice to which he was ernestly devoted. He was at one time an extensive land owner, having ___ to about one-third of the land on which the town of Warsaw now stands, and considerable farming property in the vicinity. In Quincy, in addition to practicing law, ____ was engaged at an early day in manufacturing, and erected a large furniture factory near the site of the present railroad depot, and also the large building at Fifth and Ohio streets, formerly occupied by Harris, Bebe & Co. and destroyed by the fire of last September. He was engaged in other pursuits at various times, but abandoned them all even ___ to give his exclusive attention to his legal business, in which he proved eminently successful. A man of unusual talent, ready wit and shrewd judgement he attained an enviable standing at the bar and achieved a reputation second to that of no other attorney in the city.

* Relationship with Joseph Smith Jr. of the Latter Day Saints Mormon History.

Judge Warren worked for Joseph Smith numerous times over the years. He and his son, Charles A. Warren Atty., can be found in many historical records of the time in Illinois history and Mormon history.

They have a long history together. Calvin was involved in many legal issues for Joseph Smith. Calvin filed the first bankruptcy in the United States for Joseph Smith Jr. Joseph Smith was agreeable to purchase a large amount of land from Calvin Warren and others who had all invested in this plan so Joseph could build on it for the Mormon's with consideration. The new city to be named Warren. Joseph backed out bankrupting Calvin Warren and other's.

As the tensions rose for the Mormon's one day by a mob Joseph and his brother, Hyrum Smith were killed at the Carthage jail.

1845, Calvin defended the accused murderer(s) of the brother's. As defense attorney, Calvin Warren told the jury: “If these men are guilty, then are every man, woman and child in the country guilty. The same evidence … could have been given against hundreds of others. It was public opinion that the Smiths ought to be killed, and public opinion made the laws.”  Calvin focusing comments like in his court hearings. After which he was accused of being part of the mob for which he was not.

Judge Calvin A. Warren was never arrested or tried in a court as a murdererof Joseph and Hyrum Smith.

While Calvin's comment's  at the trial may not have gained him points with the public hell always be remembered like this:

Warren's friend Henry Asbury, also a Quincy lawyer, wrote of him, "As a natural humorist and wit, has never had his equal at our bar. His mind and mental habits seemed to make it impossible for him to keep back a flow of wit and humor as from an inexhaustible fountain. ... If it was a laughing case, he always had them from the start."

C

CalCalvin wasvenvol ed in many legal issues for Joseph Smith. Calvin filed the first bankruptcy in the United States for Joseph Smith. Joseph Smith was agreeable to purchase a large amount of land from Calvin Warren and others who had all invested in this plan so Joseph could build on it for the Mormon's with consideration. The new city to be named Warren. Joseph backed out bankrupting Calvin Warren. As the tensions rose for the Mormon's one day by a mob Joseph and Hyrum Smith with killed at the Carthage jail. 1845, Calvin defended the accused murder(s) of the brother's. As defense attorney, Calvin Warren told the jury: “If these men are guilty, then are every man, woman and child in the country guilty. The same evidence … could have been given against hundreds of others. It was public opinion that the Smiths ought to be killed, and public opinion made the laws.” Calvin focusing comments like in his court hearings. After which he was accused of being part ofcthe mob. Calvin was never arrested or tried as a murderer for Joseph and Hyrum's deaths.