Frank Manly Warren

**Frank Manley Warren Sr.** was a prominent American businessman from Oregon who made his fortune in the salmon canning industry. The community of Warrendale, Oregon, the site of one of his canneries was named after him. He died in the sinking of *Titanic.*

## Biography

Warren was born on May 10, 1848, in Ellsworth, Maine, and came to the Oregon Territory with his parents, Francis M. Warren and Elizabeth Dyer Warren, when he was 3. The family lived on a donation land claim in Rainier, Oregon. Francis Warren was a member of the Oregon Territorial Legislature in 1857. When Frank Warren was 9, the family moved to Portland. When he was 15 he worked for Wells Fargo; he also worked for Ladd & Tilton Bank. In 1866, Warren was a member of The Pioneer Base Ball Club.

Warren founded the Warren Packing Company, a salmon canning business, and was considered a pioneer of the salmon canning industry on the Columbia River, building his first cannery at Cathlamet, Washington, in 1869. He later built a cannery in Warrendale, which was also the site of a state-run fish hatchery in 1889 and 1890.

Warren married Anna Sophia Atkinson, the daughter of pioneer missionary George H. Atkinson, on October 8, 1872. They had four children, Frank, Frances, George, and Anna.

The Warrens were members of the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Portland. In the 1890s the Warrens were active members of the church and their patronage helped acquire the land and complete the church building next to the South Park Blocks. Frank Warren was on the board of trustees of Pacific University, which was co-founded by Anna's father.

It is said, that by the time of the sinking of *Titanic,* Warren was a millionaire.

## *Titanic*

Frank and Anna Warren boarded *Titanic* at Cherbourg and were traveling First Class. They were returning from a three-month trip to Europe to celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary and were the only First Class passengers who orignated from Oregon. The couple had taken occupation of cabin D-37.

On April 14, both were enjoying the Orchestra playing music in the First Class Reception Room at 10 P.M. Half an hour later, at 10:30, they had retreated to their cabin. Frank had a walk before going to bed on the previous days, but this time the temperature had dropped enough to go to sleep early.

At 11:40 they were asleep when a grinding noise awoke them. Frank didn't think much of it but Anna was concerned. They overheard a steward in the hall saying an iceberg had been hit. Frank got up, dressed and went out on his wife's request to check if anything had happened. He was enjoying thist little trip, as he returned with a piece of ice which was handed to him. Mr. Warren was totally convinced that the ship would be safe with her watertight bulkheads. They still felt too excited to return to their dreams and started chatting with the victualling crew.

At some point William Parr of the H&W H&W Guarantee Group rushed past them towards the stairs and the Warren's tried to get information out of him but he had no time to waste on them.

They had spent a long time there when suddenly the Captain's orders arrived from a steward, that all passengers should get to the Boat Deck immediately and ought to be wearing lifevests. They did so and grabbed the lifejackets from their cabin and went topside. Arrived there, they met up with Helen Østby who lost her father and the Astor pair.

Anna Warren survived after Frank Warren helped her onto a lifeboat 5 and then stepped back onto the ship. That was the last time she ever saw him.

If Frank Warren's body was recovered from the shipwreck it was never identified. An account of Anna's experience was printed in the 'Morning Oregonian' on April 27, 1912.

## Memorials and legacy

There is a cenotaph for Warren in River View Cemetery in Portland. Anna died in 1925; she is buried in River View Cemetery. An *Oregonian* article at the time of Mrs. Warren's death states that after the *Titanic* disaster she suffered from ill health.

Warren's son Frank M. Warren Jr. (1876–1947) also worked in the salmon packing industry, and was president of the Port of Portland, a director of Portland General Electric, and a member of the Oregon State Fish Commission. Warren's other son George worked for the Warren Packing Company as well.

## Homes

Francis Warren's house was located at SW Salmon Street and 9th Avenue in downtown Portland; today the parking structure for the Heathman Hotel is located at the site. His son Frank's home was next door.

Frank Warren owned what is now known as the George Earle Chamberlain House, built in 1893, after signing on as a trustee for his friend, wealthy banker David D. Oliphant. Governor George Earle Chamberlain bought the house in 1904.

After moving from 9th and Salmon, Frank Warren Sr. moved to a home designed by Whidden & Lewis at 969 SW St. Clair Avenue (originally 215 W St. Clair Street) in Portland's West Hills. Anna was living there at the time of her death. Another Frank M. Warren House is located at 2545 NW Westover Road, it is now a bed and breakfast. It was designed by Joseph Jacobberger and built in 1904 for Frank Warren Jr.