John Warren

Elijah Warren, older brother of Benjamin Edward, brought his young wife, Elizabeth Street, their two year old son John W. and six week old daughter, Paulina Ann, from Tennessee and settled in Dallas County in the autumn of 1870.  The long trip was quite an undertaking for the blond, eighteen year old mother of two.  In addition to the usual hardships of travel by wagon train, she was beset by the fear of Indian raids.  Having heard that Indians had a particular liking for blond children, she slept at night with her blue eyed babies in her arms.

During their residence in Dallas County, the Warrens became the parents of five more children.  The first of these was a daughter, Mary Lualice (Molly).  Her fifteen year old uncle, Benjamin Edward Warren, named her after three of his sweethearts; Mary, Alice and a third, Lucinda, who became his wife the following year.  Douglas, Edward, Walter and Clifton also were born in Dallas County. 

In 1882, the mother suffered with chills and fever, so severely that a change of climate seemed advisable.  For this reason, the family spent the next five years on a farm near Fayetteville, Arkansas.  This was the birthplace of the last child, Benjamin Franklin.

In 1887, the family returned to Texas, this time to the Keller Community in Tarrant County.  They lived on a farm west of Keller, designated as “The Point”, where a wedge of the cross timbers extended onto the prairie. 

The daughter, Mary Lualice, then fifteen years of age, went to the village to do some shopping.  In one of the stores she met a clerk, young Billy McCain, who fell in love with her at first sight.

Soon the family moved to Fort Worth where the father established a grocery business at the corner of Weatherford and Terry Streets and a residence on Elm Street, a choice area for homeowners of the early 1890’s.

Fifteen miles of country roads did not hinder the courtship of Billy McCain and Mary Lualice.  They were married at the bride’s home December 18, 1890.

During the years in Fort Worth, the eldest son, John, was employed by the city’s transit system.  From there he went to Waco, where he operated the first electric trains in that city and later became superintendent of the street railway system.  He held this position until retirement in 1920, at which time he returned to White Settlement in Tarrant County.

Elijah Warren, remembered by his descendents as a man adept in the art of recovering from financial losses, farmed briefly in Bosque County before returning to Keller where he lived on land about a mile north east of Bourland Cemetery, known later as the McCarty Farm, owned now by the Molder and Stegall families.

A well worn Bible now in possession of a granddaughter, Mrs. Leslie Carter, holds the following hand written record of births, deaths and marriages.

1)      John William, born September 8, 1868 and died in 1944.  He married Lida Curtis on June l, 1893.  Their children are:

a)      Twins, Curtis Elijah and Cleaber Street, born September 3, 1896.

b)      Twins, Ethel and Esther, born May 14, 1900.

c)      Johnnie Belle born in 1915 and died at a young age.

2)      Paulina Ann, born September 4, 1870 and died January 16, 1915.  She was married to Ollie Wright in 1893.  Their children are:

a)      Sadie Lucille, born August 10, 1894.

b)      Lizzie Belle, born July 2, 1896.

c)      Ollie May, born June 11, 1898.

d)     Douglas Morton, born April 15, 1902.

e)      Twins, boy and girl who died in childhood.

3)      Mary Lualice, born December 5, 1872 and died November 12, 1929.  She was married to James William McCain on December 18, 1890.  Their children are:

a)      Derrill, born September 5, 1892 and died June 26, 1956.  He was married to Ellen A. Taylor on February 14, 1914.

b)      Ota Belle, born April 10, 1897.  She was married to Frank Leslie Carter on June 10, 1926.

c)      Jewell Pauline, born August 13, 1900.  She was married to Claud L. Green on March 29, 1919.

d)     Floyd L., born August 17, 1903 and died December 19, 1966.  He was married to Katherine Slentz on January 1, 1934.

e)      James William, Jr., born January 4, 1906.  He was married to Frieda Mae Wilson on July 15, 1923.

4)      Douglas Morton, born August 4, 1875 and died September 27, 1875.

5)      James Edward, born December 13, 1876 and died June 23, 1952.  He was married to Pearl Blankenship August 3, 1898.

6)      Walter Pratt, born July 31, 1879 and died September 8, 1951.  He was married to Annie Houghton on August 19, 1898.  Their children are:

a)      Gertrude, born September 3, 1899.

b)      Charlie Bryson, born February 12, 1902.

Walter’s second wife was Ethel Nelson and his third wife was Mrs. Allie Cobb Wilson.

7)      Oliver Clifton, born October 18, 1881 and died February 1941.  His first wife was May Jarvis, married July 3, 1907.  His second wife was Gertrude.

8)      Benjamin Franklin, born March 19, 1885 and died June 9, 1960.  He was married to Lucy Rupard.  Their children are:

a)      Lois Ward

b)      John

Elizabeth Street, born February 29, 1852, passed away August 27, 1916.  She was buried in Bourland Cemetery.  Her husband Elijah, born January 16, 1850, and daughter Mary Lualice (Molly) McCain died in a car-street car collision November 12, 1929.  Both were buried in Bourland Cemetery.