In the persons of this gentleman and his estimable wife we have the exemplification of the true spirit of the pioneer and a demonstration of genuine stability and courage, for they came to the reservation country carrying a rake and a hoe and making the trip on foot. Their fine ranch is situated about one mile northeast from Peck and is embellished with substantial improvements and bears annually abundant crops of all the cereals, including corn, the place being one of a half a dozen on the reservation that will produce that fine grain. .Mr. Warlick has shown commendable pluck and skill and has now the reward of his labors in this goodly home and estate.
Lawson W. Warlick was born in Calhoun County, Alabama, on May 5, i860, being the son of Lawson and Polly (McGinnis) Warlick, natives of North Carolina. The father was born in North Carolina in 1826, was impressed by General Lee into Confederate service although a strong Republican. He died in 1873. The mother was born in 1827 and died in 1862, being of Scotch extraction. When Lawson was two years old his parents removed to Dallas, Gaston County, North Carolina, that being the old home place of the father. There he grew to manhood and received his education. Later he learned the art of the engineer and also the business of operating a planing mill.
When seventeen he went to western Kansas and wrought in the round house on the Kansas Pacific at Wallace. Then he fired some time and at the age of twenty-three he took his first orders on the Denver, Texas & Fort Worth. When twenty-six he returned to North Carolina and remained two years. On April 16, 1889, Mr. Warlick came to Lagrange, Oregon, and thence to Long valley, Idaho, where he took a piece of government land.
Proving up on it in two years, he returned to Lagrange and labored in the sawmills for six years. It was 1898 that he came to the reservation country and settled on his present place. Fifty dollars was the sum of the earthly possessions, with the rake and hoe mentioned above, of Mr. Warlick and his wife when they footed it to their land. They are now well to do.
On October 9, 1887, Mr. Warlick married Miss Lanie, daughter of John and Barbara (Kiser) Smith, the wedding occurring in North Carolina. Mr. Smith was born in North Carolina and his ancestors for generations back were pioneers and land owners there. Mrs. Smith was also born there and came from an honorable pioneer family. Her father was impressed in the Confederate army although he was a staunch Republican. Mrs. Warlick was born on January 13, 1872, and has the following named brothers and sisters: Maggie, Thomas, Luther, Lizzie, Charles. Mr. Warlick has the following brothers and sisters: Rubertus, Abraham, Mary C, deceased, and one half sister, Martha Candis. One child has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Warlick, Bessie.
Mr. Warlick formerly belonged to the Firemen’s Brotherhood. He is a staunch Republican and votes the ticket straight and is a zealous supporter of Republican principles. He is a zealous worker for good roads and schools and does much labor for these worthy ends.
Back to: Nez Perce Biographies
Source: An Illustrated History of Northern Idaho, Embracing Nez Perce, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone Counties, Western Historical Publishing Company, 1903