Francis E. Warren was born in Hinsdale, Massachusetts on June 20, 1844. During the Civil War he enlisted with the Company C, 49th Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, eventually advancing to non-commissioned officer. His service was highlighted by the award of the Congressional Medal of Honor. Warren also served as a Captain in the Massachusetts Militia. In 1868 he moved to Wyoming, and over time operated various businesses from real estate to livestock and promoted the first lighting system in Cheyenne. Politically active, he was a city councilman, territorial legislator, chairman of the Republican Territorial Central Committee, territorial treasurer, and mayor of Cheyenne. Warren was appointed Territorial Governor of Wyoming by President Chester A. Arthur. He served from February 28, 1885 to November 11, 1886 and served a second term when appointed by President Benjamin Harrison from April 9, 1889 to October 11, 1890. After Wyoming was granted statehood on July 10, 1890, Warren was elected Wyoming's first State Governor. He resigned on November 24, 1890 to become Wyoming's second United States Senator. Warren was serving in the Senate when he died November 24, 1929.

Warren was married to Helen Marie Smith (1871-1902) and Clara LaBaron Morgan (1911 - his death). He had two children (Helen and Frederick).

The Francis E. Warren Collection

Records of Governor Francis E. Warren’s first term as Territorial Governor of Wyoming feature the usual topics associated with the office. Notable issues include the Chinese massacre at Rock Springs, railroad routes, women’s suffrage, Indians, and livestock matters. Many petitions for pardons and appointment records are included.

Records also document an incident at Almy, where Chinese victims were robbed. Surviving documentation includes a report of the Chinese Consul at New York to the Chinese Minister, and a letter from a U.S. State Department official to the U.S. District Attorney for Wyoming regarding a complaint from the minister. Records from Governor Warren’s second term are somewhat more extensive. Correspondence deals with topics such as statehood, arid lands and irrigation, livestock, legislation, the territorial insane asylum, militia, game and fish, publicity for Wyoming, penitentiary, resignations, women’s suffrage, a fish hatchery, mining, Yellowstone Park, the education of deaf and blind students, and various requests and invitations.Appointment records and petitions for pardons make up a fairly significant portion of this collection. Indian and military affairs records deal with abandoned military reservation lands, relief for and complaints against Indians, rumored troubles, a bridge across the Wind River, Shoshone Reservation populations, and general reservations matters and conditions.Since Governor Warren only served about six weeks as Wyoming’s first state governor before moving on to the U.S. Senate, there are few records documenting this brief term. A small amount of correspondence deals with some of the topics mentioned above.

Gubernatorial Papers finding aids:

• 1st Term Territorial
• 2nd Term Territorial
• 3rd Term State

Additional Resources

• Francis E. Warren Papers, 1867-1974, Acc.#00013, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
• "Francis E. Warren: A Massachusetts Farm Boy Who Changed Wyoming" by Kerry Drake, Wyohistory.org essay