Benjamin Warren was born in December of 1857 in Lufkin, Angelina Co. Texas. He was the only son and oldest child of William Champion and Elizabeth Wade Whitaker. He grew up in Nacogdoches Co. near his mother’s family. They lived in Douglass, Texas. When his father died Benjamin was only 8 years old. As he grew he took on more and more responsibility. Then when he was 15 his mother re-married to John Sitton. Apparently Benjamin was educated. Josephine was a very proud lady and I don’t think she would have wanted her son to grow up without knowing how to read and write.

On December 12, 1878 Benjamin married Josephine Susan Black born in 1856. She was the daughter of H. Augustus Black and Sarah Emily Armstrong. Benjamin and Josephine set up housekeeping in Douglass. Their first child, a son, was Ramsey Clark whom was named after Josephine’s uncle. There were seven children all together, four boys and three girls, Hershel Ernest being next to the youngest. There is great mystery about Ramsey. I don’t remember anyone ever talking about him, however, he was on the census in 1880 in Nacogdoches; he is also on the census for 1900. After that there is no information that we have been able to find. He was 19 in 1900, by 1910 he would have been 29 and not likely to still be with his parents; whether he died or just moved away is unclear.

Benjamin was a carpenter. There is a building on the town square in Nacogdoches, two story, which is said to have been built by a Mr. Ben Whitaker; possibly our Benjamin Warren. This building housed the family upstairs and downstairs they did some carpentry work that included making caskets. It was one of the first brick buildings in Nacogdoches. This building is still standing and houses a flower shop downstairs. In 1892 Benjamin, Thomas Temple and C. Putman formed a partnership to sell lumber wholesale. That partnership was dissolved by the next year and Thomas Temple became sole owner. This later became the Southern Pine Lumber Co.

In 1900 the Whitaker family are found in Parker Co. Texas. Shortly thereafter they moved farther north to Bennington, Oklahoma where Benjamin built a hotel. Josephine worked hard taking care of the rooms and cooking for their visitors. This is possibly where they were during the years between 1905 and 1915. More research needs to be done here. When World War I started Josephine and Benjamin saw their third son go off to war. It was a trying time as there was very little mail and they didn't hear from him. Fortunately he came home alive but not in very good health. They evidently moved around during the second decade because we know they lived in Carter Co. Oklahoma for a while.

By 1924 they were in Sulfur, Oklahoma where they owned a dry goods store. He and Josephine both worked in the store. Benjamin is now close to 55 years old and not doing much carpentry. In December 1924 Benjamin and Josephine purchased a dairy farm in De Queen Arkansas, where Benjamin and three of his grandsons worked along with some hired hands. Then Josephine became ill and Benjamin took her to Dallas, Texas to live with their daughter Ella, the eldest of the four girls. Josephine regained her health but they stayed in the Dallas area with Ella. Benjamin died in 1928 at the age of 71. Josephine died two years later in 1930 at the age of 74. They are both taken to Ardmore, Oklahoma, Rosehill Cemetery, where they are buried.