WARREN Warren is situated in the north-east part of Jo Daviess county. Its settlement commenced over 30 years ago. It is surrounded by a fine farming country. The soil is well watered, is of a rich black loam, deep and enduring, and surpassed by none in the west. Forty bushels of wheat to the acre have been raised at various places in the surrounding country.
Warren was incorporated a city by act of incorporation, in 1856. Extensive improvements are contemplated by the corporation and citizens.
In 1850, there were but four houses in Warren. Now there are more than 200. There are two church edifices here, one Methodist Episcopal, and one Free Will Baptist, and meetings are constantly held by members of other denominations.
There are three good schools and academies, two hotels, twenty stores, grain warehouses, lumber, coal, and railroad depots.
Warren is an important railroad centre. The great Illinois Central railroad, the Mineral Point railroad, connecting with the city of Mineral Point, the centre of the great mining district of Wisconsin, and the southwestern branch of the Milwaukee railroad,, soon to be finished, all connect at Warren, the last two terminating here.
Warren lies west from Chicago 146 miles, by railroad, only distant eight hours' ride, and from Milwaukee about 125 miles, and but a few miles of railroad yet unfinished, when the connection between Warren and the two largest and most flourishing lake shore cities in the west will be completed.
Galena is distant 25 miles, with which flourishing city it is connected by the Illinois Central railroad.
With these advantages, Warren bids fair to become a place of great business importance in a short time. Matthew Marvin, Postmaster. (Hawes' Illinois State Gazetteer..., 1859)