John E. Owen (1812-1869)

OWEN

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 9/3/2023 at 23:48:01

John E. Owen
(August 9, 1812 – February 23, 1869)

John E. Owen, deceased, was born in Rockport, New York, on the 9th of August, 1812, his parents being Noah and Elizabeth (Pixley) Owen. At the age of thirteen years he was apprenticed to a cabinet-maker,
with whom he remained until he attained his majority. Having completely mastered the trade, he then worked as a journeyman cabinet-maker in most of the principal cities of the Empire state, the last place being Phillipsport. New York. While there Mr. Owen was united in marriage, September 19, 1839, to Diantha Parker, who was born in Vermont, January 13, 1816, and remained with her parents until she became the wife of our subject. In early life she engaged in school teaching in New York. For a time Mr. and Mrs. Owen made their home in Stephenson County, Illinois, and from there removed to Rock Island, Illinois, where he worked at his trade, for four years. A year after locating there Mrs. Owen's parents came west by team and settled in Scott County, Iowa, being among
the pioneers of that locality. After spending four years in Rock Island our subject and his wife also located in Scott County, where he followed the carpenter's trade up to the time of his death, which occurred February 23, 1869. His upright, honorable life gained for him the confidence and respect of all with whom he was brought in contact, either in business or social life, and he well merited the esteem in which he was universally held. After her husband's death Mrs. Owen made her home with her children in Scott County until 1872, when the family came to Calhoun County, and she lived with her son, L. J. Owen, near Lake City, where he was engaged in farming upon land rented of Captain Fitch, In 1878 he bought eighty acres of land near Rockwell City, and upon that farm his mother lived with him until her death, which occurred in April, 1898. In the family were five children, two sons and three daughters, namely: L. J., who is still living on the farm near Rockwell City and is successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits; Emily A., born July 26, 1844: Francis H., born July 2, 1847, married and is now engaged in carpenter work in Rockwell City; May M., born August 9, 1850, married Reuben D. Smith and died, leaving four children; and Leclair J., born March 3, 1854, keeping house for her brother, L. J. The family is one of prominence in the community where they reside. [Source - Biographical Record of Calhoun County, Iowa, by S. J. Clarke, 1902, p.583]