Warren, John

DEATH OF EX-WARDEN WARREN.
After a Brief Illness This Leading
Citizen Departs, Full of Years.
LIVED A NOBLE, USEFUL LIFE.
John Warren is dead! This sad announcement on Tuesday afternoon caused a feeling of grief in many hearts in Acton. For more than seventy years Mr. Warren has resided here, and to no family in this section has more general or more genuine esteem been vouchsafed. In his death this community loses an honest, upright, useful consistent Christian citizen.
For some time it has been seen that he was failing, but not until about two weeks ago was he confined to his bed. Since then he has gradually weakened, and on Tuesday afternoon tired nature gave way and peacefully he fell asleep and passed to his reward.
John Warren was born in the village of Kingussie, Inverness-shire, Scotland. in July, 1825. He was the son of James Warren and grandson of Robert Warren, miller of Inverness-shire. His mother was Barbara Cameron, daughter of John Cameron, farmer of Aitinlia, Strathspey, Inverness-shire. Mr. Warren's parents with their four children came to Canada in 1832, and settled on lot 29, Con. 5, Esquesing, the homestead at present occupied by Mr. James L. Warren, the eldest son, on the 7th November of the same year. On arrival in Esquesing the family lodged with Mr. Paul Kennedy, Jr., for a time, and here that hearty hospitality which new settlers are so free to extend was enjoyed.
The advantages for securing an education in those early days were very limited, and for four years Mr. Warren received his tuition at home. In 1836 the first school was opened in a little log house that had been used as a carpenter's shop. A teacher was employed - Mr. Charles Duncan, from Nova Scotia - for three months in the winter, for which each pupil paid $1.50 per month, and the teacher "boarded round." He attended this school for five quarters during the winter months, and in the spring and summer endeavored to improve his mind by reading such books and literature as were then obtainable. In 1840 a log school was built, and this was replaced with a frame school in 1852. It was known as Gordon's School, and to-day forms a part of the Clarridge homestead at Gordon Hall. A fine brick school now houses the pupils at the corner of the fourth line, and is known as Bannockburn.
On the 4th February, 1858, Mr. Warren married Helen, the daughter of John and Elizabeth McDonald, who came from Inverness-shire to Esquesing in 1843, and settled on lot 25, Con. 3, Esquesing. Seven children blessed their union, all of whom, with Mrs. Warren, survive, excepting one daughter, Miss Jessie, who died some years ago. They are James L. Warren, on the homestead; Mrs. W. H. Stone, Toronto.; Robert D. Warren, proprietor of the Georgetown Herald and Manager of the Canadian Baptist; Dr. A. C. Warren, Toronto; Councillor John M. Warren and Miss Barbara at home.
Mr. Warren always manifested a lively interest in public affairs, and was for many years a member of Esquesing Township and Halton County Councils. He was first elected to Esquesing Council in 1868, and for nearly thirty years served the community in a public capacity, filling the offices of Deputy Reeve, Reeve and Warden of the county. After serving faithfully his term as Warden he retired, and the past five or six years he has enjoyed well-earned rest, from active public life. He was an earnest supporter of the Liberal party.
Deceased was a man of consistent Christian character, and he held very decided opinions upon all moral questions. He was brought up a Presbyterian, and esteemed highly this strong church, but differed from it upon the question of baptism, and for many years has consequently supported the Baptist Church. He was an able exponent of Bible truth and an appreciated teacher in the Sunday School. For forty years Mr. Warren was a prominent and energetic worker in the temperance cause, and through all the vicissitudes of this vexed question he was strong and consistent in its support. He was a charter member of the first temperance society organized in Acton and was for years associated in this movement with such well-known men as John Speight, Edward and Benjamin Nicklin, Edward and James Moore, Robert Warren, John Cameron, Jas. and William Brown and others. He was a good man.
The funeral will be held this afternoon at 3 o'clock from the residence to Fairview Cemetery.