Martin Warren - Warrensburg, Mo. - American Revolutionary War Veteran Graves on Waymarking.com

Near the East Entrance and about ten paces away from the Union Memorial, one can honor the grave of the founder of our proud city, Martin Warren. This pioneer served as a Private in the Virginia Continental Line during the American Revolutionary War and his name can be seen etched in stone between the Holy Cross and the Sons of the American Revolution Emblem. Though people searching through the old cemetery off of Gay Street will discover another tombstone belonging to our city’s founder, his body was moved to Sunset Hill in 1915.

The namesake of our city belongs to a man born in Augusta County, Virginia back in 1763. The son of James Warren, Martin joined the Revolutionary War under the leadership of Captain John Daugherty and General George Rogers Clark at 18 years of age. Martin honored our nation proudly as he fought with George Washington in the legendary battle of Valley Forge. From 1781 to the end of the war in 1783, Martin served either in the militia or the regulars in the “Illinois Department” which mainly fought on the western frontier. Survival was vicious in the frontier as unpredictable guerrilla warfare often took the place of conventional warfare.

Following the war, our hometown hero married Sarah Dunbar who would give birth to their eight children (seven boys and one girl).

The Martins moved from either Maryland or Virginia into Kentucky and would later move to Missouri in 1816. Years later, in 1833, Martin Warren would finally settle in Johnson County, three whole years prior to any thought of placing a town in this location. His Revolutionary War service land grant entitled him to 80 acres of land which he took within the confines of present day Warrensburg. At the time, the acres consisted of nice quality timber and a prairie perfect for Martin’s occupation as a farmer. Martin proceeded to build one of the largest log houses in western Missouri with two main connecting rooms on the main level, each about 20 square feet apiece. Each room had large chimneys, one made of stone and the other created out of bricks while the upper level contained a hall, another room, and an attic. A separate 20 square foot building was created to the west of the main house and used as a kitchen as was customary at the time out of fear of fires.

It would appear that Martin Warren may not have been overly excited about the possibility of placing a town in this locale. When Martin was asked if he would be willing to sell some farmland in order to create a town in this vicinity, Warren is reported as saying either one or both of the following:

“I do not believe in starting any more one horse towns; but, (I) will give you what land you want on top of the hill. I will not ruin my good farm land.”
“(I) wouldn’t give up good farm land for another one horse town.” Either way, Martin Warren eventually gave in and sold the property up on the hill and Warrensburg received its official start on May 9, 1836.

At 70 years old, Martin Warren would marry again, this time to a lady named Ruth Cole. About a decade later, Martin would sell his farm to a prominent citizen named Benjamin Grover who would later have to be sued before all payments were made for the land and log cabin he had acquired. The entire conflict would not be resolved until after Martin Warren’s death at his son Thomas’s house on the Cliff Baile Farm (located 13 miles southwest of Warrensburg) on August 19, 1852.

PLEASE NOTE: This category is for American Revolutionary War Veterans only. Veterans of other revolutions are not part of this category.

I have allowed one entry for a grave of British solders, but it was an exception. Please only list graves for Colonial soldiers.

Simply visit the locations. Please provide as much information as possible. Pictures would be a great addition.