372 



THE I BRIG AT ION AGE. 



batteries and the loss was terrible, three- 

 fourths of the detachment being- killed or 

 wounded. The fascine which Warren car- 

 ried was struck by a cannon ball, and 

 though not seriously injured, he fell, 

 stunned by the concussion and lay several 

 hours unconscious. In later years Con- 

 gress recognized the bravery of those who 

 took part in this affair and awarded the 

 survivors medals of honor. 



When he was mustered out of service, 

 Mr. Warren returned to his native town 

 where he accepted employment as super- 

 intendent of a stock farm. He remained 

 here until the spring of 18R8 and became 

 an expert in the work of grading and 

 ditching, milling, blacksmithing and car- 

 pentering. At the age of twenty-three Mr. 

 Warren decided to go west. For several 

 months in 1868 he worked as superintend- 

 ent of construction on the line of the Chi- 

 cago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway, 

 and in June of the same year, on an urgent 

 request from Mr. A. R. Converse, he went 

 to Cheyenne to take charge of his general 

 store in that frontier town. At that time 

 Cheyenne was a place of tents, cabins and 

 shacks. The terminus of the Union Pa- 

 cific had been moved westward and there 

 was a general feeling that the existence 

 of the place was but a matter of a few 

 months, and that it would soon become one 

 of the many ''dead cities of the plains," 

 marking the advancing line of the rail- 

 road. Mr. Warren did not share in this 

 feeling and he decided to make Cheyenne 

 his permanent home. During the thirty- 

 one years which have since elapsed he has 

 been one of the most essential fatctors in 

 the business and political life, not only of 

 the city of Cheyenne, but of the state of 

 Wyoming. 



In 1871 Mr. Warren became a partner 

 with his employer, the firm for six years 

 being Converse & Warren, when he pur- 

 chased Mr. Converse's interest. A few 

 years later the business was enlarged and 

 incorporated under the title of the F. E. 

 Warren Mercantile Company, which now 

 conducts one of the largest mercant le 

 establishments in Wyoming. B-tvreen 

 1873 and 1880 Mr. Warren devoted muc' 

 time to raising sheep and cattle. During 

 this time he was a member of the stock 

 firms of Guiterman & Warren. Miner & 



Warren and Post & Warren. In 1883 he 

 organized the Warren Live Sr,ock Com- 

 pany, which is now one of the most exten- 

 sive sheep owners in the west. In addition 

 to his mercantile and live stock interests 

 Mr. Warren is identified with the Electric 

 Light Company, the Cheyenne Gas Com- 

 pany, and has extensive real estate inter- 

 ests in Cheyenne. 



During his thirty-one years residence in 

 Wyoming Mr. Warren has tilled accept- 

 ably a number of positions of trust and 

 honor. In 1872 he was elected a city 

 trustee Before he was thirty he was 

 elected to the Territorial Legislature, 

 serving as president of the upper house. 

 In 1884 he declined the nomination for 

 Congress unanimously t<-ndered him by the 

 republican party of Wyoming. For six 

 years he was treasurer of the territory. In 

 1885 he was elected Mayor of Cheyenne, 

 and while holding that position was ap- 

 pointed Governor of Wyoming by Presi- 

 dent Arthur. One of the first tes's of 

 Governor Warren's executive ability was 

 the anti-Chinese riots at Rock Springs in 

 1885. By prompt and decisive action to 

 protect the Chinese residents of Rock 

 Springs and Evanston he was warmly com- 

 mended, not only by citizens of Wyoming, 

 but by the people and government of the 

 United States. Mr. Warren continued to 

 act as governor under the Cleveland ad- 

 ministration until in his report he strongly 

 criticised the policy of Land Commissioner 

 Sparks, when he was removed. He was 

 reappointed by President Harrison in 

 1889, and in 1890 was elected governor at 

 the first state election held after Wyom- 

 ing was admitted to statehood. 



At the meeting of the' first state legis- 

 lature Governor Warren and ex-Congress- 

 man J. M. Carey were elected United 

 States senators. Both were sworn into 

 office December 1. 1890, and their terms 

 decided by lot, Mr. Warren drawing the 

 short term which expired March 4, 1893. 

 In*1895 Mr. Warren was again elected to 

 the senate receiving the unanimous vote 

 of the republican members of the legis- 

 lature. 



