The record-union., 1898-06-26
WARREN'S STRANGE CAREER.
HE WAS WITH LAFAYETTE AT
BUNKER HILL.
Life Of q Pioneer Sac
ramentan Who Knew the
Heroes Of Long Ago.

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Heroes Of Long Ago.
The Record Union" is able this week
to furnish an interesting example Of the
old saying that There are heroes in
every village did we but know them"
A few leaves from the life of remark
able pioneer who once lived in Sacra-
mento might furnish the groundwork
for thrilling story of adventure and
patriotism.
The comparatively recent death of
the oldest white pioneer of California
revives many remarkable events in his
life. AS he spent some years in Sac
ranlento in the early days it will be in
teresting to recall some of the remark
able experiences that cluster about his
career.
Colonel l.. L. F. Warren is the re-
markable figure meant. He died at
the advanced age of 80 and was one of
the most interesting and cultured
characters that ever crossed the plains.
Though Colonel Warren was prob
ably the oldest military man in Amer
ica, having served as a guard of honor
to Lafayette at the laying of the
cornerstone of Bunker Hill monument.
he lived quiet life in a modest little
cottage on Howard street, San Fran
cisco.
He was the oldest editor west of New
York, and he printed an occasional edi-
ton of the California Farmer until
five years ago. Though this remark
able man was prominent writer and
lecturer nearly seventy years ago,
probably less than a score of people
know that such a character lived here
for nearly half century, and that his
modest residence was storehOuSe or
valuable historical relics and treasures
of art, which he had been collecting
for eighty years.
Colonel Warren's passion for curios,
and his capacity for prolonged mental
and physical eXertion had not been
dimmed by the long and active life he
led as a vigorous brain worker. Mar
velous feats of endurance characterized
his daily routine. Born at Brighton,
Mass, in 1905, he evinced a desire to
travel while quite a boy. He came to
California in 1S49 and was a merchant
in Sacramento from 1850 to 1853.
Sixty years ago he travelled in Europe
as a speaker with DR.. Chalmers.
In an interview with the writer
shortly before his death Colonel War
rem said that he was fortunate enough
during the last seventy years of his
life to be quite intimately associated
with such men as Webster, Clay, CAL
houn, Elihn Burritt and other repre-
sentative men. He carefully preserved
their letters and an autograph album
that had been in his possession since
boyhood. He preserved thousands of
stamps, coins, newspapers and other
rare collections, and visit to his home
was a revelation of patience. His
curos stood as monument of nearly
eighty years industry. At the ad-
vanced age of ninety he was still the
devoted custodion of millions of inani-
mate substances that surrounded him
in their labeled receptacles-
of boxes, chests, drawers, desks, book
cases, newspaper and music files and
| stands. The old man was careful Of
the safety of each old coin, pictures and
newspaper. He had thousands of pho
| tographs and autographs of illustrious
characters who were dead even before
the oldest people now living were born.
| The collector, guardian and owner Of
| these treasures was always temper
ate and healthy man, and his energies
were apparently unabated and his
memory -unimpaired until he died.
| Colonel Warren was an Orderly Ser
CANT and Guard of Honor to Lafay-
cite during the laying Of the corner
stone Of Bunker Hill in 1925. In 1923
he dug a cannan ball out of the ground
at Bunker Hill, and it is now among
his effects. He was prominent in agri-
cultural matters in Massachusetts
while the century was yet young, and
he bore medals of honor and certifi-
Gates from the Massachusetts, State
| Board of Agriculture, which show that
| he was a winner of prizes at Faneuil
| Hall as a boy In 1888 he won the
prize Of the Boston Horticultural So
ciety for raising the first tomatoes ever
produced in the State. He had wax
models of the specimens that won the
premium. He himself imported the
seeds from which they were grown,
| from Europe.
| Arriving in California before syste-
matte agriculture was known, he estab-
| lished an agricultural journal and be-
came the father Of husbandry on the
coast. For forty years he was a per-
sistent writer on agricultural matters.
| In 1853 he made the first sack Of flour.
ever manufactured in the State, and it
| is still preserved among his effects.
In an interview shortly before his
fatal illness the octogenarian told some
| interesting things about his career.
His manner was dignified and character
ized by the self-respect and rather
pleasing hauteur Of gentleman Of the
old school, whose manner compelled re-
spect.
"It has been my motto for the past
eighty years." he said, "to learn some
thing new and useful every day; to
eat only when I am hungry, to sleep
only when 1 feel tired, and to keep the
commandments rigidly; for the old
book says that the youth Of them that
keep the laws shall be renewed"
The aged Colonel said he never paid
any attention to conventional meal
hours, nor did he go to bed with the
chickens. He was diligent student,
an omnivorous reader, and an exhaust
less writer to the last.
II very frequently write and read un-
til 2 o'clock in the morning." he said.
without any appreciable fatigue or in
convenience. Sometimes I eat one meal
IA day, sometimes three or four, accord
ing to the way feel. I also eat what
ever / crave, but have never INDUCED
in whisky or tobacco"
When interviewed he had been at the