WARREN ONAN

An Old-Time Resident of Cattaraugus County

Col. Warren Onan died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. C. H. Sikes of Moorhead, Minn., Tuesday afternoon, Apr. 26^th, aged 91 years. He had been practically helpless for several years, but seemed as well as he had been at any time during the past year, when suddenly, without a moment’s warning, the spark of life went out. The funeral service was held on Thursday afternoon, at the Sikes home.

Col. Onan was born in Lancaster, Pa., July 20, 1818. His parents were James and Mary (Collins) Onan, natives of Ireland and Delaware respectively. James left home when he was 21 years old, starting for America to seek a new home for his father’s family. On the way he was impressed into the British Navy. After serving three years he escaped from the ship at Rio Jane[iro] hiding in the mountains, three months later he took ship for America staying at Key West for about a year, after which he joined his father’s family in Tompkins Co., N.Y.

After James was impressed into the British service, his father, Alexander Onan, left Ireland for America, settling with his family in Dryden, N.Y., where he bought a large tract of land and engaged in farming on an extensive scale, besides giving to each of his children a large farm. His children were, Samuel, Alexander, Charles, John, James, Elizabeth, Mary, and Sarah.

From Tompkins county, James went to Philadelphia, Pa., where he was married, and engaged in the manufacture of boots and shoes; he also lived some time at Lancaster, Pa., where Warren was born, then returned to Tompkins Co., later on settling in the town of Ischua, Cattaraugus county, where he engaged in farming. He died in 1858, his wife in 1868. They were buried in the Pierce burying ground in that town. He was a prominent Free Mason of his day. Marcus H. Onan of Sabin, Minn., is the only survivor of the family of eight children, of which Warren was the eldest. Another brother, John, died a few days ago at Cadiz, this state.

Warren attended school until he was 21 years old, and then began farming for himself. When he was about 25 years old he sold his farm and went into the lumber business on the Allegany river, which he followed until 1860. On the breaking out of the war of the rebellion, he raised a company of 104 men, going with them to Washington. He was appointed second lieutantant, his regiment being part of the Eleventh corps. He was later detailed as brigadier quartermaster for the second division of the corps., then to chief of ambulance and quartermaster of the second division; later on as quartermaster and commissary of the Twentieth corps hospital, which gave him the rank of colonel, which position he held until the close of the war. He was wounded while in Georgia, and had a severe attack of typhoid fever. He was in the battles of Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Ringold, Dalton, Kenesaw Mountain, and the battles fought enroute to Atlanta with Sherman in his march to the sea.

After the war he came to Allegany and engaged in the oil business some three years; he was associate county judge for four years, justice of the peace 12 years, coroner six years, besides many local offices, serving as postmaster for 10 years.

In June, 1879, he went to Minnesota as agent for the New York Mills Land Co., settling at Moorhead. He took up a soldiers’ homestead in Ransom Co., N. D., which he improved. He did a general land business for the Northern Pacific Railway Co., was city justice of Moorhead for four years, and generally interested in the history and growth of the city. In 1842 he was married to Miss Margaret Austin, a native of Scotland, who died a few years ago.

Col. Onan was a Republican in politics; a member of the G.A.R.; and a member of the I.O.O.F. He was an earnest advocate of temperance. His daughter Elzora (Mrs. C. H. Sikes) will be remembered in Ellicottville as the telegraph operator here some 35 years ago. Mr. Onan was an uncle of James Moffit of this village; whose mother was a daughter of James Onan.

From: The Post; Ellicottville NY, Wednesday, May 4, 1910
Source: Photocopy of newspaper obituary with correspondence dated 30 Sep 1996 from Mark H. Dunkelman
Note to reader: The New York Mills mentioned in the next to last paragraph is the town of New York Mills, Minnesota.

Transcribed byDavid W. Onan II on 15 Oct 1996
revised for web page on 21 January, 1999