George Stewart Warren was born 16th September 1828 in Athens County, Ohio, the second child and first son of George Warren and Sarah Stewart. He has a twin sister (see George Warren record), a set of twin brothers, three more sisters and another brother. In 1839 or 1840 he moved with his parents, brothers and sisters to Henry County Iowa. The children ranging in years from 12 years to a new months. This would not have been an easy journey as we know it now. There was only transportation by wagon over little used trails or they could have come by an easier route down the Ohio River and at its entrance to the Mississippi they could have ferried up the Mississippi River to where the town of Burlington now lies. Only a few mile inland from there is where they settled. Iowa was not yet a State but known as Iowa Territory and there would be land to clear and undoubtedly their first home would have been from longs. Just as he would have again in future years. Probably much of Georges life would have spent in log cabins as he was of an adventurous nature and he would more further west in time. Remember establishing a home in new country wold not have been easy and stores and supplies were not at the corner grocery. His mother Sarah had eight children and there was food and clothing to provide, possible much of it done by hand. Did she shave to wave it? Material was sold in the lager cities by this time but it was expensive and there were no large cities this far west. But love of family kept her going and until sometime in 1842 when her husband George became ill and shortly died and near the same time her oldest daughter also became ill and died, it must have seemed like the end of everything to her. But life must go on and with the help of her brother Alexander Stewart who helped her settle the estate with the help of her older son George S. she kept the family together. George was 14 years of age by now and could take over the tasks of the farm and help his mother in many ways and his younger brothers were growing old enough to be of some help. By 1850 tales of Oregon Land and Gold in California must have been the talk of the neighbours and young George must have been thinking of new adventure and new lands because, in Dec 1851, he sold a plot of land that had been given to him when he married the Previous December to Louisa Emily Baxter. This is sold to Charles R. Truesdale. In September of 1851 his first son was born, William Fletcher, and in the spring of the next year they were making final plans and would soon leave with all that they could take with them. The parents of Emily would be going along with other members of them, Tompkins and Stewarts, so they would not be traveling along. There had been many plans an supplies to think about. Oxen and horses to buy and wagon to prepare for the long journey, not even sure how long it would take them nor the privations and dangers they would come upon. It must have been a sad farewell for their friends and relatives, some of whom they would never see again. They would have left Marshall or Wayland as it is now known, going northwest across the state of Iowa to Council Bluff. Here the father of Emily would become ill and have died adding to the burden the family had to bear. He is reported to be buried in Council Bluff. From Council Bluff the way was long and the trail hard, there were streams and swollen rivers to cross, mountains and deserts, rain and heat to expected but unknown to them at this time. The journey would last three or four months or perhaps longer. From Council Bluff they would follow the Platte River to Fort Kearney now in Nebraska and possibly meet with larger trains, from Independence, Missouri. Still following the Platte River, then the North Platte they would pass Chimney Rock still in Nebraska, on to Fort Laramie in Wyoming and further still to Independence Rock, Wyoming. They were barely half way to Oregon, but each landmark was getting them closer to their destination. Last Summer I visited Independence Rock in Wyoming and as I stood there in the cold early morning with a sharp wind blowing and a feeling of snow in the air, I could imaging I saw, in the distance, a wagon train approaching. The oxen were beginning to quicken their steps in anticipation to clear cold water from the Sweetwater River which flowed near by, and perhaps a few days of rest for their weary feet. This was a land mark they had long been looking for, having heard of it from the last Fort or from the gold field miners returning home again. Many with less money than they had when they left before. Children would have time to play and wade in the river and mothers could catch up on their laundry and baking, preparing for the many miles ahead. The men could hunt for there was plenty of deer and other animals in this area. This they could cook and dry for the rest of the journey. Names and dates would be carved and the older boys daring the others as to who could climb the highest. This was the sign post for trains coming after and many a heart gladdened when they saw their friends had arrived this far. Now many of the carvings are obliterated by time and thoughtless ones who have carved their own names over the tops of others. But time was passing and there was still a long way to go, for me and for those who came this way so long ago. For them it would soon be fall and storms would be coming or they would by the time they reached Oregon. From Independence Rock they followed the Sweetwater River South West toward Fort Bridger in Wyoming then turning Northwest they would come to Fort Hall in Idaho Territory, not yet a state, always traveling a little west. Here they would follow the Snake River to Fort Boise in Idaho with Oregon Territory near by and in a few weeks they would arrive at Oregon City, where some of the family would remain, while others went on to other parts of Oregon and California. George and Emilys first daughter, Sarah Frances, was born 26 of December 1852 near now Grants Pass Oregon. Edna E. was born 17 Nov. 1854. Was it Oregon or California? Next came Laura Alice, my grandmother, 17 October 1856 in Yreka, Siskiyou county Calif. What was it that brought them here? Thomas S. was born 15 February 1858. Were they still in California? On the 11th of November 1859 Florence Emily was born near Salem, Marion County, Ore. What took them back to this area? Were relatives living there at the time? Martha Ann Warren was born 1863 or 64 in Scott Valley, Siskiyou county Calif., then in 1866 John Hamilton Warren was born and now the 6 August 1868 Willis Grant was born in Eagleville, Modoc county, Calif. Another move had been made. George S. Warren applied for Homestead land in Surprise Valley and they must spent at least part of their time there, improving the land. And by 10 May 1884 they obtained title to the land. Five more children had been added to the family by then. Lotta May born 22 Nov. 1871, Sylvester Judd in 1872-3, Birdie Georgia 1875-6, Charles Stewart 1878 and Ruth Ellen (Called Dolly) 10 October 1881. Were they all born in Eagleville? From the Great Register of voters in Modoc County Calif., #18 George Stewart Warren (the only record having his full name) age46, born in Ohio, farmer residing in Surprise Valley, registered April 24, 1875 and cancelled Aug 2, 1886. (This was the year they went to Tulare Co. Calif) Also in the same register #74 William Fletcher Warren 24 born in Iowa farmer. Resident Eagleville. Register 24 April 1875. And #2942 Charles Warren teamster born in Calif Resident of South Fork and Registered Oct 2nd 1886. Sarah Frances Warren married 20 Feb 1869 and in the 1870 census I found her in Butte co, Hamilton twp, Calif. listed with some of the children. Frances Ryan 16 born Oregon John Ryan 26 born New York Laura Warren 14 born Calif. Florence Warren 11 born Oregon Martha Warren 6 born Calif John Warren 5 born Calif Grant Warren born Calif age 2 In the census for Yolo County I found a George Warren age 44 a laborer born in Ohio. I did not find Emily in either county, had she gone to Oregon to visit and why were the children living with their older sister? In the 1860 census they are living in Scott Valley, Siskiyou Co. Calif.: George Warren 31 born Ohio E. Warren 24 b Illinois W. T. Warre 10 born Iowa A. L. Warren (Alice Laura) 4 born Calif. Thomas 3 born Calif. Florence 8 months born Oregon. Here there is no mention of Edna, so she must have died before this time and since Thomas is mentioned in the 1860 census but not in the 1870 he must have died before 1870. When and where did either of them die? Many questions are left unanswered at this time. ________________________________________________________________ The best thing to hit the Internet in years - Juno SpeedBand! Surf the Web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER! Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up today!