California Biographies, San Joaquin Valley

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

Source:
History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin 
Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from 
its earliest settlement to the present time.
Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M.
The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905
Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176


 JULIUS F. WARREN. Residing on a farm two miles south of Laton, Mr. Warren is now enjoying life, but 
in former days when the west was a wilderness, when '"cattle was king" and the cowboy reigned, he 
took a leading part in the life on the range, and can relate many stirring stories of those exciting days. 
Many a time has he entertained some of the most noted Indian scouts and chiefs at his campfire, but 
now all that has passed. The cowboy is almost extinct. Civilization has conquered the wilds, and where 
once roved bands of cattle are now villages and cities, and the screech of the locomotive has taken the 
place of the shrill whoops of the cow-punchers. 

Born in Alabama, December 16, 1861, Julius F. Warren is a son of Ellison Warren, who was a large 
farmer and sheep-raiser in Alabama. Prior to the Civil war he owned slaves, but after the war and the 
abolition of slavery he disposed of his plantation and removed to Texas in 1869, where he engaged in 
ranching until his death. His wife in maidenhood bore the name of Malza Sawyer. She was born in 
South Carolina and by her marriage became the mother of ten children. She is now deceased, passing 
away after taking up her residence in Texas. 

The third child in this large family was Tubus F. Warren. Reared on his father's farm in Texas, he was 
early made familiar with cattle, as the state at that time was a cattle country. His first trip was made in 
1880, when he assisted in driving nearly three thousand head from Texas overland to Wyoming. The 
trip was made in safety, although the Indians were bad and gave the party considerable trouble. The 
spring of 1881 Mr. Warren returned to Texas, assisted in the round-up and again made the trip over 
the same trail to Wyoming. This time he remained in Wyoming for five years, being in charge of a large 
cattle ranch most of the time on the Cheyenne river, south of the Black Hills. Subsequently he had 
charge of a ranch in Montana on the Little Missouri river, remaining there until the severe winter of 
1886-87, when out of sixty-one thousand head of cattle on the range he was able to bring in only 
fifteen thousand, the balance freezing to death. During these years Mr. Warren met many of the most 
prominent western characters, including Sitting Bull, Buffalo Bill (William Cody) and others. Theodore 
Roosevelt, now president of the United States, at one time was the owner of one of the ranches on 
which Mr. Warren was foreman and the ranch was visited by him and party. At this time it was not 
uncommon to see herds of buffaloes running wild on the plains, but now that noble animal is nearly 
extinct, with the exception of a few herds in captivity. The spring of 1887 witnessed Mr. Warren's 
arrival in California. Soon after he entered the employ of Miller & Lux, the big cattle firm of the state, 
and for several years continued with them, buying cattle in all sections of the state, Arizona and New 
Mexico. It was in 1897 that Mr. Warren decided to settle down and with the money he had saved he 
purchased his present ranch near old Kingston, where he engaged in the cattle business. 

In the city of Oakland was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Warren and Miss Lelia C. Somers, who is also 
a native of Alabama and a daughter of George and Ellen H. (Wolfe) Somers. George Somers is a native 
of Germany and came to the United States with his father, George Somers, who lived in Alabama, and 
there engaged as a merchant. He was known as Captain Somers and was a prominent man in Mobile, 
Ala. He went to Washington and from there to Oregon and then settled in San Francisco, where he 
lost heavily. He then removed to Sonoma county and settled near Healdsburg. and from there moved 
to Oakland, and in 1892 he came to Fresno count)-, where he bought one hundred and two acres, and 
now resides at old Kingston. To Mr. and Mrs. Warren have been born three children : Julius Clarence, 
Myrtle Harriett, and Edna Ellen, deceased. Fraternally Mr. Warren is a member of the Woodmen of 
the World, and in politics supports the principles advocated by the Democratic party. His life has been 
filled with many wild adventures. For years his associates were the roughest of men, and in those days 
it was customary to drink whisky as freely as water, but at that time he never drank a drop of liquor, 
which was very remarkable. Since locating in this county he has built up a substantial stock business 
and has also gained a wide circle of warm personal friends.