Captain Henry Ernest Warren, one of the most successful merchants and best known citizens of Richland, Missouri, is a man of seemingly inexhaustible activity and along many lines of endeavor has done much good. He was formerly president of the board of managers of the Federal Soldiers Home of St. James, being himself a veteran of the Civil war, and also is vice president of the Pulaski County Bank of Richland. A descendant of an old colonial family, he was born on a farm near Newmarket, Jefferson county, Tennessee, June 29, 1844, a son of Charles W. and Susan (Armstrong) Warren. He is a greatgrandnephew of General Joseph Warren, who was killed at the battle of Bunker Hill in the war of the Revolution. His great-grandfather, a brother of the General, was a captain in the Continental lines and served under General Washington. He later settled in Virginia and his son, Charles W. Warren, grandfather of our subject, was born in the Old Dominion. The latter came a pioneer settler of Jefferson county, Tennessee, the town of Warrensburg being named in his honor. In early life he was a merchant but after his removal to Blount county he engaged in farming and also ministered to the people as a circuit rider of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Charles W. Warren, father of our subject, was born in Blount county, Tennessee, October 7, 1809. He was brought up as a farmer and obtained his education in the primitive schools of his native state. In 1866 he came to Missouri, taking up a homestead near the present town of Richland. He cleared and improved his land and devoted his energy to its cultivation until his death in 1892. He was a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal church and by political persuasion a democrat. He married Susan Armstrong, who was born in Greene county, Tennessee, in 1809, and who died in 1878. To them were born three children': Henry E., our subject; Mary J., the wife of Robert C. Parrott, a farmer of Granger county, Tennessee; and Jacob A., a real-estate dealer of Webster, Missouri.

Henry Ernest Warren was reared on his father's farm and obtained his education in the country schools and Holston Seminary at Newmarket, Tennessee. In 1863 he enlisted as a private in the Federal army, joining the Ninth Tennessee Volunteer Cavalry, and he was promoted quartermaster sergeant in 1863. In 1864 he was made sergeant major, was afterward commissioned first lieutenant and was mustered out as captain in 1865. He participated in the battles of Little Piney Mills, Morristown and Greenville, Tennessee, and with Stoneman's cavalry was in the southwest Virginia campaign.

On the removal of his parents to Missouri in 1866 Captain Warren secured a position as deputy circuit clerk of Pulaski county, serving about one year, and then he became a clerk in a general store. In 1869 he established a mercantile store at Richland, which he has successfully conducted ever since, having now been in business for about forty-five years. He is conceded to be the leading merchant in Pulaski county, handling a stock of dry goods, carpets, crockery, groceries, clothing, furnishings and shoes. His business is housed in a brick building and the store is equipped with modern fixtures. His stock is complete and up-to-date and one of the largest between St. Louis and Springfield, in any place situated on the Frisco railroad. Captain Warren is thoroughly acquainted with the best business methods and by determination, industry, honesty and close application has built up an establishment which is a credit to his ability and to Richland. He is up-to-date and progressive and readily adopts the latest methods in order to give satisfaction to his many customers who come from a wide territory. He is always obliging and has trained his employes to be polite and kind to those who patronize him. His goods are of good quality and he contents himself with a fair profit, so that no advantage can be gained by going to the large cities to trade. By building up such an extensive business he has contributed to the growth of Richland, as much money is brought to the city by means of his store, which circulates in the town and increases its prosperity. Moreover, he is a large property owner and at present serves as vice president of the Pulaski County Bank of Richland, of which he was one of the organizers.

Captain Warren was married March 4, 1869, to Miss Charlotte R. Gibson, a daughter of Judge Samuel Gibson, of Camden County, Missouri. She died in 1889, leaving six children. Etta A. is the wife of Joseph Armstrong, a journalist of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. "Charles W., who is associated with his father in the mercantile business, married Florence Brock, a daughter of David Brock, of Richland, and a niece of Major Brock now retired, of Macon, Missouri, statistician under President Harrison. Marie is the wife of Harry L. Dodd, a traveling salesman of Enid, Oklahoma. Henry E., Jr., cashier and bookkeeper in the Warren store at Richland, married Florence Lingsweiler, a daughter of Edward Lingsweiler, president of the Pulaski County Bank of Richland. Monta is the wife of Charles Mahew, a wealthy real-estate operator of Enid, Oklahoma. Vina married Robert S. Yost of the Garden Advertising Company of St. Louis. In May, 1890, Captain Warren married Miss Minnie L. Tyree, a daughter of James I. Tyree, M. D., of Cartersville, Missouri. To this union was born one daughter, Mabel E., who is a student of the Emerson School of Elocution at Boston, Massachusetts. The family have taken a leading part in the society of their city and are highly appreciated at any social gathering. They entertain frequently and participate in charity, club and church work.