Alva A. Warren, a citizen of Colton, was born in Oakland County, Michigan, July 21, 1836. His father, Z. J. Warren, a pioneer of Oakland County, Michigan, was born in New Jersey, August 31, 1801, and was for thirty years a teacher in the public schools. He also took a leading part in political matters, and held some important public offices. He moved from Michigan to Indiana, and front there to Illinois; then to Missouri; then to Iowa, and in 1852 he crossed the plains to California by ox team. He stopped in Nevada and Utah for seven years and reached California December 24, 1859.
His wife, Cornelia A. Pardee, was a native of New York. They had but two children, the subject of this sketch and a daughter. Our subject was married January 29, 1865, to Miss Betsey Parks, born in Yorkshire, England, April 20, 1845. Her parents came to America when she was but four years of age. This union was blessed with seven children, viz.: Ellenor and Mary E., twins, the oldest of whom died September 27, 1866; the youngest is now the wife of Charles F. Green; Olive Susan, Celeena M., Alva P., Christina I. and Charlotte G. Mr. Warren is an assayer by profession, and has traveled extensively through many States and Territories, but since his marriage has settled down to farming.
He owns land in different parts of San Bernardino County, and is giving his attention to general farming and stock raising. He lives on a ranch of 160 acres located one and one-half miles east of south of Colton. He has taken a leading part in the educational interests of his district, and has been a trustee for fifteen years. In 1888 he received the nomination of the Democratic Party for tax collector, but was defeated. He is a public-spirited man, and is ever ready to help along any enterprise which has for its object the good of the community. He is an honest and upright citizen, and has many friends.