From History "Portriat & Biographical Records of Shelby and Moultrie Counties, Illinois Dictonary; Section: Wilkinson Bros. Page 370-371. (1891)
Michael Hoblican Warren, Public citzens, who are broad enough to take an interest in the affairs of the community in which they live and suffeiently, shrewed and farsighted to force opportunties for its improvement, are the richest hertiage of any community, and Moultrie County is not poor in such.
Among her sons who have thus shown the nobility natures and their ability to forward the welfare of the county, we are pleased to mention Michael H. Warren, a retired farmer and Notary Public residing at Arthur.
Our subject has been a resident of this county since May 19, 1859, and is by birth a Virginian, being born in Harrison County, that State, August 9, 1820. His parents, Abijah and Sarah (Shields)Warren, being natives of the Old Dominion, remained there until about 1840, when they removed to Athens County, Ohio, and made their homes at Nelsonville. About a year after their migration, Abijah Warren passed from earth and in 1844 the family returned to Virgina. In 1858 the mother came to Illinois and settled in Jonathan Creek Township, Moultrie County, upon a raw prairie farm. There she made her home and cared for her children until 1865, when her death occured. There were nine in the family, all of whom grew to mature years and all became residents of Illinois.
Michael Warren was reared to farm works, but after he attainted his majority he learned the trade of saddery and harness-making and pursued this calling until he came to Illinois in 1859, when he purchased land in Jonathan Creek township and carried on a farm for some years. In the meanwhile he had purchased more lands---some eighty (80) acres--upon which the west half of Arthur is now located. He early foresaw the necessity for a good system of transporation to bring Moultrie County within reach of the great markets of the world and was liberal in his gifts to secure the locations through Arthur of a railroad, giving some twenty (20) acres to the railroad to secure this end. He purchased one hundred and sixty (160) acres on Section 25, Lowe Township, but has made his residence in the village of Arthur since 1873. He opened the first mail bag which was thrown off at this station, as he was then acting as Deputy Postmaster. The receipts of the office was then $12 per annum. During the Cleveland Administration he had the position of Postmaster.
Michael Hoblican Warren was married in 1848 in Barbour County, West Virgina to Eleanor A Bartlett, daughter of Daniel Bartlett. This lady is a native of Virgina and is the mother of thirteen (13) children, all of whom reached the years of maturity. They are as follows; Sarah J, wife of A.H. Dolin; Winfield S., who resides in Nebraska; Sarah Elizabeth, who married C.W. Fleming; Millard F., a Druggist at Arthur; Americus F., a carpenter; Mary Margaret, the wife of S.H. Dehart; Caroline Virgina, the wife of Daniel Evans of Nebraska; John D., a harness maker at Arthur; Martha; Rosa A., who was the wife of D.M. Huckelberry, and has died, leaving one child Lily, the wife of William Preble, a barber at Arthur; Eva Lee and Mamie.
Michael H. Warren has, since coming to Illinois, affilated with Democratic party, through while in Virgina he counted himself a Whig, though not a voter became unmarried, for in Virgina an unmarried man could not vote. He has here held some position of trust and responiblity, having been County Surveyor for seven years and Justice Of Peace for twelve (12) years.