WARREN, Marcus Alexander
Commemorative and Biographical Record of Columbia, Sauk and Adams Counties, 
WI. Chicago: Ogle, 1901, p 241-242

Marcus Alexander WARREN, president of the 1st National Bank of Baraboo [Sauk 
County, WI], and one of the most prominent citizens of that vicinity, is a 
native of WI and has spent most of his life in Sauk County. He is the oldest 
son of Thompson M. and Catharine (McKENNAN) WARREN. Thompson M. WARREN was 
born in ME, but while a young man went to New York City and carried on a book 
store for some time. In 1845 he came to WI, locating at Mineral Point where 
he was joined by his brothers, Dennis and Andrew. They formed a partnership 
under the name of Warren Brothers, and did an extensive trading business in 
general merchandise and lumber with marked success. Andrew WARREN, the only 
survivor of this firm, now resides in Chicago [Cook County, IL].

After spending several years at Mineral Point, Thompson M. WARREN removed to 
Dane County. He entered large tracts of land near the city of Madison and 
engaged in farming on a large scale. He improved this property and it 
rapidly increased in value until he sold it at a good profit in 1867 and 
removed to Baraboo. Upon becoming a citizen of this place he displayed the 
same enterprising spirit which had characterized his previous ventures and 
began to exert himself toward the upbuilding and development of the town, 
which was then but a struggling village. Being of a speculative turn of mind 
and possessing considerable foresight, he did not hesitate to invest his 
means where more timid men would have held aloof, and continued to prosper, 
accumulating a large estate. Among the enterprises which he established may 
be mentioned Hotel Warren, built in 1877. It is a substanial 3-story stone 
building and continues to be the leading hostelry of the town. In 1886 he 
organized the 1st National Bank, of which he was president unitl his death 
and which has always been one of the most substantial financial institutions 
of Sauk County. After a long and useful career his death occurred 26 Feb 
1893, at the age of nearly 80 years. His widow is still a resident of 
Baraboo. She was born in Herkimer County, NY, and is the mother of five 
children: (1) Marcus A., (2) Minnie, Mrs. J. HOGGINS, of Chicago [Cook 
County], IL; (3) Thompson M., Jr., now deceased, a former ranchman of SD; 
(4) William A., cashier of the 1st National Bank of Baraboo; and (5) 
Isabel, Mrs. L. E. HOYT, of Baraboo [Sauk County, WI].

Marcus Alexander WARREN was born on the farm in Dane County, WI, 25 May 1857. 
He was ten years old when the family located in Baraboo [Sauk County, WI] 
and has therfore been a resident of that city for more than 30 years. After 
leaving the Baraboo high school he took a course at the State University in 
Madison. He assisted his father in various ways, acquiring a good 
understanding of business affairs, and in 1889 embarked in business on his 
own account, taking charge of the electric light plant, since merged into the 
Baraboo Gas & Electric Light Company. Upon the death of his father he was 
elected president of the 1st National Bank and has ever since been at the 
head of that corporation. Besides other valuable property [p 242], he is the 
individual owner of Hotel Warren. Believing that the precepts and principles 
of the Republican party embody the best interests of the nation, he gives 
that organization his hearty support but does not engage in active politics. 
Marcus Alexander WARREN was happily married 28 May 1888 to Miss Mary R. 
WILLOTT, a native of Boone County, IL, who has been a resident of Sauk County 
from early childhood. They are the parents of one daughter, Lucille. Mr. 
WARREN is a communicant of the Episcopal church and the social connections of 
the family are all that could be desired.

Contributed by Cathy Kubly