The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1908-08-24
Bachelor So Good Nad That He Can Fix Automobile and CT
JOHN HENRY WARREN
Oldest Employee Of the National Elk
press Company Passes Away

Oldest Employee Of the National Elk
press Company Passes Away.
On Saturday afternoon, at 3:45 o,
clock John Henry Warren passed
peacefully to his rest after a some
what protracted Illness. The obse-
fuies will consist of twilight ser.
vice at the house, 1913 School street.
on Tuesday at 5 and the burial In the
family lot, lakewood cemetery, Troy,
N. Y, Wednesday, August 26, 1908.
Mr.. Warren was born in the city
of Troy, Sept 49, 1910, and was the
oldest employee of the National Ex-
press company, having entered its
service at the age of eleven, in the
Office of the founder, Capt. Il. II. Vir-
gill as an errand boy. His active life
was passed with the company, with
out break, and in various capacities,
until his retirement on an annuity
five years ago, so that he saw almost
the beginnings and growth of the ex.
press business for a period of fifty
seven years prior to his death. Truly
a record unique in length and a life
showing the promise of his youth full
filed, as Captain Virgil was won't to
express II, when he referred to the
boy in whom he took an interest and
taught as one OF his own.
An interesting coincidence is the
fact that his first run as messenger
was between Troy and Bennington,
his final residence when he located,
after years of railroad transportation
service, and this when Mr.. Warren
was mere youth. His first promo
ton was to route between Troy and
Rutland over the old Rutland and
Washington road, the throughline in
those days. After a time this was
changed to what was lately the Ben
nington e. Rutland. In his early
manhood he took the through-run be.
tween New York and Montreal, via
Burlington and st. Adams. This was
Geiorc his marriage to Miss Elyira A.
Kinsman daughter of noted Rut.
land county family, in 1865. Contln-
uing this leading position with the
express company, Mr. and Mrs. War
ren's home for twelve years was in
Burlington
Many will recall the genial fine
looking express messenger they saw
on the throughtrains during this per-
iod of more than quarter-of-a-cen.
fury. Everybody knew him, and his
acquaintances comprised hundreds OF
railroad officials and travellers over
this line (now the New York Cen.
trad, between the metropolis and
Montreal.
A biographical sketch, published
many years since, says; During Mr..
Warren's twenty seven years service
on the road, he was never in an acct.
dent and the company did not lose a
dollar by his carelessness."
In May, 1881, Mr. Warren located
in Bennington as agent, succeeding
the veteran expressman, Martlus G.
Selden, in the old Office, 113 North
street. This was pleasing to both.
They had long been close friends IN
transportation interests. Mr.. Sell
den had been a stage.driver for |.
and S. Weeks, the only survivor OF
the clan now being Melvin Wads-
worth (aged 95), resident of the Gill
Odd Fellows Home, Ludlow, Yer
mont. Moving TO town the home
stead OF Prof. Isaac Durham became
that of the Warren family. III Ben.
nington Mr.. Warren has seen the ex.
press business greatly increase, long
since requiring enlarged quarters in
a new location and his business life
is well known. The writer has ship
ped and received thousands of pack.
ages, and never did one get lost nor
go astray; and those outgoing were
sent TO every part of the globe.
Although deprived of many educa.
tional advantages, Mr.. Warren wrote
a hand that was copper-plate IN ap.
pearance, and was well-informed
The biography, before mentioned,
states that, from the boy In the of.
flee of Captain Virgil he has not been
out of the employ of the company au
hour, and during that time hos not
lost six months by vacations or sick.
ness" This possibly accounts for all
ments during the five years period of
his retirement.
Mr.. Warren is survived by his wife.
and three children: Mrs. Carrie w.
Goldsmith of Boston; William Kins.
man, of Troy, N. Y, and George Hen.
~ of Rutland The last named has
been express messenger over his
fathers second route for more than
rs years.
Mr.. Warrens long public life. his
cordial manner, his genial greeting,
and Astounding integrity endearod him
to a very wide circle outside his i'm.
mediate family, and his death will be
generally regretted. His father, Heu-