James H. & Frank Warren
The James Harrison Warren family came to the Sharon community in Barber County in
1881, after having lived a few years in Hickory County, Missouri. Mr. Warren was a
native of Tennessee. He fought in the Civil War with the United States Army and
received his discharge while stationed near Lawrence, Kansas. He met and married
Annie Starkey in Missouri.
Their family consisted of daughters: Meta (Warren), Tennessee (McMurtrey), Ida
(Cunningham), Emma (Graham), Josephene (White), Karen (Ward), and one son Frank J.
The Warren family were prominent in the Sharon community for many years as farmers,
teachers, businessmen, and church members. Mr. Warren was one of the founders of the
Sharon Christian Church.
Their son, Frank, was born in Hickory County, Misouri, January 27, 1880. He was
one of the young teachers of Barber County for many years. He served as Deputy
County Treasurer of Barber County, then was elected to that office for two terms.
He married Cora Bragg in Medicine Lodge, December 20, 1905. Cora was associated
with her father, W.L. Bragg, in the Office of Barber County Register of Deeds as
his deputy at the time of their marriage.
Later F.J. Warren became a pharmacist and owned and operated the Warren Drug
Store in Sharon. In 1920 his family returned to Medicine Lodge, where he owned and
operated the Gem Drug Store until the time of his death in March, 1942.
The family of Cora and Frank included Franklin E. (M: Leona Carlson), Fay (M:
James E. Harper, deceased 1967), Faribe (M: Ray F. Henry), Farine (M: Joseph J. Rigg,
deceased 1946; M: H. Dean Buell), and Farel J. (M: Marilyn Hosey, deceased 1978).
Cora Bragg Warren was born in Barber County, Eagle Township, January 6, 1886,
during the time of the Great Blizzard. Her parents were W.L. and Sabina Kinkaid Bragg.
After the death of her husband, Cora Warren was elected to the office of Barber County
Treasurer in 1944 and served in that office for ten years. She died in August, 1978,
at the age of 92.
While living in Sharon, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Waren made a home for the survivors of
his sister, Tennessee, and Marvin McMurtrey. They were Revecca (Oshel), Arloene
(McGee), Burnice (McGee), Naiomi, Grace (Wiseman), Genevera (Hursh), and Cecile (Chew).
At present the McMurtrey survivors are Burnice, Genevera, and Cecile.
Frank and Cora also opened their home to many other family members and are survived
by five children, twelve grandchildren, and seventeen great grandchildren.
The grandchildren are Imogene Harper (M: J. Russell Leach), R.W. Harper, Julie
Harper (M: Larry W. Arnett), Pamesla Harper (M: James H. Martin), Sara Harper (M:
Richard A. Whipple), Hannah Henry (M: William K. Watson, Jr.), Cora Henry, D. O'Brien
Buell (M: Lynn Stevens), Joseph J. Rigg (M: Paulette Barrett), Barbara Buell (M:Charles
H. Brown), Susan Buell, David R. Buell.
The great grand children are James Harper Leach (M: Jan Stafford), Timothy Frank
Leachy (M: Tamara Abplanalp), Randel Stephen Leach, James Lee Harper, Sara Leann
Harper, Particia Anne Harper, Daniel James Arnett, Jeffrey John Martin, Rebecca Sue
Martin, Michael James Martin, Patrick O'Brien Buell, Wendy Jo Rigg, Joseph Randall
Rigg, Joshua Warren Brown, Anne Kathleen Brown.
Source:Chosen Land - Barber County, Kansas, pg. 471