Chasing Our Tales - Charlie Dean Warren

Chasing Our Tales; Charlie Dean Warren

I am from Mineral Wells, almost. I suppose that's the way with lots of us around here. We are from here, sort of, but our ancestors aren't. Many of us graduated from high school here, but when we begin the task of Chasing our Ancestorial Tales, we have to go some place else.

I can't honestly say a single "great" ancestor ever came close to Palo Pinto County, except ol' Bob Routh the Texas Ranger, but I think he just probably spent the night traveling from Jack County to Brown County with his brood.

So, I am destined to Chase the Tales of others here in our county. And the tale I would like to be my first is that of a fine gentleman from a fine county family, Charlie Dean Warren.

Mr. Warren passed away a couple of weeks ago, and he left behind the most wonderful tale. His tale is one of a loving husband and father, a Christian man, a good person.

I learned that Charlie Warren built Indian Creek Baptist Church. It's a lovely little church on the west side of Mineral Wells; and right down the road north of the church toward the old dump is Indian Creek Cemetery. If you want to delve into the history of this county, that cemetery is certainly a place to begin. And in that cemetery you will find a lot of Warrens. Charlie's people.

Now, while I am not from around here, three of my grandchildren call Charlie Warren's daughter Aunt Joyce--because of a minor connection at best, and two of my other grandchildren are Warren cousins of the Brian-College Station connection...so even thought I am not from here, my gradnchildren have a Palo Pinto County connection, the Warren connection. And I am glad of that!

Charlie Dean Warren was born in Palo Pinto County on March 7, 1907. He was the son of Tim and Lula Morgan Warren, and he married Merle Flowers on October 31, 1926. Merle's parents were James Allen and Vada Tomerlin Flowers.

Charlie and Merle had five children, six grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren, insuring that their tale will go on and live and grow.

Tim Warren's parents were George Washington Warren and Kitty Lee Anna Cox.

Now if you want to hear a tale, those Warren greats did not consider their descendants too very much! The post-Revolutionary War Warrens seem to have made a conscious decision to name all the baby boys George Washington. Granted, it is a wonderful tribute to a great man, and granted it is a great name to bestow on a child, but really...They didn't expect us to want to trace them, I guess.

I have found a George Washington Warren in Arkansas, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Ohio, New York, and in aYankee Prison Camp in Rock Island, Illinois.

But Warren is a rather interesting and historical, as well as popular, name. The etimology of the name tells us that the first Warrens were probably those who worked with rabbits and other animals which were kept in, you guessed it, warrens! Apparently the Warren name comes from England, Scotland, and Ireland, as I have found many in each country, but the word warren is from middle English.

There was a Warren on the Mayflower,too. Richard Warren (1587-1628) married widow Elizabeth (March) Pratt in 1609, and immigrated on the Mayflower in 1620 from England to Plymouth, Massachusetts. Descendants of Richard Warren lived in New England, New York, Pennsylvania, and elsewhere.

There are at least three famous American Warrens, Chief Justice Earl Warren; Joseph Warren American Revolutionary War patriot; and Robert Penn Warren, novelist. And there are 134 Warrens listed in the DAR Patriot Index!

One of the best resources for Warren information I have found, is the website, "The Warrens of Kentucky" at http://www.inficad.com/~cingram/warrenk/warrenk.htm .

So, with many thanks to the Warren family, this new column has begun. If you have questions or comments, please send them to Chasing Our Tales, P. O. Box 61, Mineral Wells TX 76068 or [email protected].

Also, there is movement afoot to start a Palo Pinto County Genealogical Society. If you are interested, I'd like to hear from you!

I will try to address queries as there is space. Here is one:

"I am looking for information on my grandfather's family. Agustus Frazier born 1855 in Palo Pinto County had 1 brother, Robin, at that time." Claudtte Robinson Moss; email: [email protected]

Another query comes from Stacey Supina, [email protected]: "I am seeking information on the Supina family (a/k/a Sopino) in Strawn, Palo Pinto County. My great-great-grandfather was Michael Supina, who was married to Catherine (nee Vaselino). Michael immigrated from Czechoslovakia around 1890 and worked in mines in Colorado before relocating with his family to Strawn sometime around the turn of the century. Michael and Catherine had at least two sons, including my great-grandfather, Andrew Supina, who lived in Strawn and worked in the mines in the area in the early 20th century. Andrew married Yanina ("Janie") Bertha Janwecz (also used surname of Nowakowski) in Newcastle, Texas, in 1912. Andrew was killed in a mining accident in Arkansas in 1929, and I've been told there's a memorial to him in a Strawn cemetery that was paid for as part of the mine accident relief effort. Andrew and Janie had four kids: Mickey Andrew Supina, William George Supina, Steva Victoria Supina, and Frank William Supina, all of whom were born in Strawn. I have some dates, but very little information. I am trying to fill in the gaps in my data, so if anyone has any information, I'd greatly appreciate your help! Thanks very much."

If you can assist either of these folks, please email both them and me so that I can have your answers printed. Let us hear from you!

Until next time!