Unknown County GaArchives Biographies.....Warren, Kittrell 1786 - circa 1837
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 February 3, 2005, 1:20 am

Author: J. H. Campbell

KITTRELL WARREN,

  An elder brother of Hon. Lot Warren (formerly a member of Congress from
Georgia, and for a number of years Judge of the Superior Court,) and General Eli
Warren, a most amiable and talented gentleman, and a lawyer of high
respectability, was born in Burke county, in this State, October 17th, 1786. His
father, Josiah Warren, removed near Bear-camp church, where he received most of
his education, and in his eighteenth year the family settled in Lauren a county,
on the Oconee river. In his twenty-second year he married Mrs. Floyd, daughter
of Aaron Low, of Jefferson county. His wife was a woman of ardent and consistent
piety. She soon discovered that her husband was the subject of strong religious
impressions. These impressions, of course, she cherished with much assiduity and
prayer. As he labored with his hands to support his family, he was accustomed to
stop by the road side on his way to his field, fall upon his face before the
Lord, and pour out his supplications with strong cries and tears. At that
period, churches were "few and far between." The nearest to Mr. Warren was some
fifteen miles. Now and then, ministers would travel and preach through the
destitute regions. Brethren Manning and Bates were on one of those excursions of
mercy and love when one anxious sinner, at least, listened to the words of
truth. Mr. Bates' text was, "Behold, I bring him forth, that ye may see that I
find no fault in him." Towards the close of his sermon, he paused and, in an
impressive manner, exclaimed, "But he, will come again the second time, without
sin, unto salvation." Mr. Warren was just then enabled to have a believing view
of Christ, enthroned in majesty and glory, and something inwardly whispered,
"Have you an interest in this Jesus?" His whole soul was immediately lit up with
holy joy, and though it was succeeded by harassing doubts and fears, yet the
good hope, through grace, which then sprang up in his soul never forsook him.

  He went forward to the church most convenient to him, and was baptized by Rev.
Charles Culpepper, at the meeting next ensuing after his conversion. The family
altar was immediately erected in his house, which was never neglected
afterwards, he was also wont to lead in prayer and praise in the assemblies of
the saints, in his vicinity.

  In 1817, he emigrated to Alabama, and settled near the confluence of the Coosa
and Tallapoosa rivers. He united with a church in the neighborhood, attended by
Rev. Isaac Suttles. In May following, having to return to Georgia on business,
he left his new home in Alabama, and rode some thirty miles, when he learned the
negroes of the settlement through which he was passing expected to have a
religious meeting that night. At his own request, he was conducted to a retired
spot n a field, whither they were in the habit of repairing to escape the
persecutions and mockery of the Indians, who were numerous and very hostile to
religion. Here he read to them from his traveling Testament, and gave them such
instruction and exhortation as their situation seemed to demand. Bidding them an
affectionate farewell, he rode on a few miles, lay down by the road-side and
slept sweetly, though in a country infested with robbers, and rendered dangerous
by the bands of treacherous Indians, lurking about in every direction. "The
wicked flee when no man pursueth, but the righteous are as bold as a lion."

  The next year he removed to another part of Alabama, where he began to
exercise more in public, and where he was soon licensed to preach. This liberty
was given him by Mars' Hill church, which desired his services. Mr. Warren
possessed a heart of large and expansive benevolence. The orphan and widow were
always to him objects of tender solicitude. Were they poor, he sent food and
administered consolation to the one, and made judicious arrangements for the
education of the other. Such was the confidence reposed in him by his neighbors,
that he was made the umpire of many a difficulty. He possessed a happy faculty
in reconciling differences thus submitted to him. While he resided in Alabama,
in company with his wife, he visited a sick young lady, whose life was despaired
of by her physicians. Being called upon to pray for her, he did so in a most
fervent manner. Her disease at once took a favorable change. She speedily
recovered, and two years afterwards joined the church, dating her conviction
from that prayer.

  In 1827, when he settled in Clark county, Alabama, there was no Baptist church
in the vicinity. Many young people, grown up to mature years, had never heard
the gospel from the lips of a Baptist minister. Being soon invited to preach at
Clarksville, the county-town, he consented to do so, and was about this time
ordained by Messrs. Bussey, Travis and Whatley. His zeal prompted him to search
out the most destitute places. Such he found at a salt manufactory, where the
people were understood to be more depraved and abandoned than any others in all
the western wilderness. Here, also, the gospel was made the power of God unto
salvation. A great revival was the result of his labors under God, and many
souls were hopefully converted.

  A lady of character and wealth, who had always shown great kindness towards
Mr. Warren and his family, made them a visit on one occasion, as she said, "for
the purpose of inviting his daughter to attend a dancing party at her house."
Instead of giving his consent for his daughter to attend, he at once published a
lecture on dancing, which he based on this text, "Wo to them that chant to the
sound of the violin, and invent to themselves instruments of music like unto
David." The lady and her family were so offended at the preacher's faithfulness,
that they withdrew from their accustomed attendance upon public worship for
months. At length, however, she was stricken with a painful and lingering
disease. In this situation, she became deeply anxious about her soul, and must
needs send for Mr, Warren to instruct and pray for her. In this instance,
likewise, his prayer prevailed. She rose from her bed of sickness, rejoicing in
hope, and was soon baptized into the fold of Christ.

  Having returned to Georgia and settled in Houston county, several years ago
Mr. Warren was called to rest from his labors. The time and manner of his death
are alike unknown to the writer.

  The substance of the above sketch, as far as it goes, was prepared for this
work by his widow; but in the midst of an unfinished sentence she breaks off
suddenly, for she too is smitten by disease. The end of her journey is just at
hand! She breathes one more prayer—a mother's prayer for her orphan children—
oh! what a prayer was that! and then sinks sweetly into the arms of death. That
prayer is registered in heaven, and it is hoped may yet be prevalent for those
on whose behalf it was offered.

  Since the foregoing was written, additional facts concerning this good man
have been ascertained which ought not to be withheld. His early opportunities
for education were exceedingly limited; yet his fondness for books was such
that, after he attained to manhood, and even after his marriage, he prosecuted
his studies with such diligence and perseverance as to make him a good English
scholar, and in the course of years to furnish him a most valuable amount of
information. He ever proved himself a friend of education within the sphere of
his influence. It was a habit with him upon leaving home, even for a day, to
assign to his children a certain amount of reading, upon which they were
invariably examined upon his return, the good effects of which are discernible
in their characters to this day. This rule was particularly enforced when they
were left at home on the Sabbath day. No family of children, perhaps, were ever
more faithfully cautioned as to the society they should keep. In all which
efforts for the good of his children he was cordially seconded by his excellent
wife.

  He came to his death rather mysteriously in about 1837 or 1838. It was during
one of those years that he attended one of his preaching appointments, a few
miles from his home. His wife started with him to meeting, but stopped on the
way on account of the illness of a brother's child. He went on, preached as
usual, and started on his return alone. That evening he was found lying in the
road, in a dying condition, and speechless. It was thought at first that his
death was caused by a fall from his horse, (he was on horseback,) but as there
were no bruises upon his person, many supposed he died from apoplexy, he being a
person of full habit. His surviving children are Rev. Elijah Warren, Rev. E. W.
Warren, and Kittrell Warren, attorney at law.


Additional Comments:
From:

GEORGIA BAPTISTS: HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL
BY
J. H. CAMPBELL,
PERRY, GEORGIA.


MACON, GA.: J. W. BURKE & COMPANY. 1874.

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1874, by
J. H. CAMPBELL,
In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.





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