Owens, Arthur

OWENS

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 6/23/2021 at 12:39:14

Source: History of Warren County, Iowa, by Gerard Schultz and Don L. Berry, The Record and Tribune Co., Indianola, Iowa, 1953, p.329

ARTHUR OWENS
Arthur Owens, eldest son of Hugh and Eliza (Elliott) Owens, was born in a log cabin near Jackson, Ohio, Nov. 2, 1858.
His father's parents, who lived near by, had left their native Wales and come to America in 1834. Hugh Owens was born in Wales and came as a boy with his relatives to the new world. Their sailing vessel met with storms and was also becalmed, causing the crossing of the Atlantic to occupy nine weeks. On this long ocean voyage the supply of food became nearly exhausted and was being rationed. The sailers, reduced to a few crackers a day, were giving their share to the children when at last the glad cry of "land" was heard; the crew and passengers were nearly starved, but the perilous journey was over and a new life begun.
Hugh and his brother Tom came west to Des Moines and lived in the Carlisle community in an early day, but returned to their Ohio home after speculating in Des Moines lots, and in land. Eventually three of the brothers, Tom, Hugh and John Owens, were all farming east of Carlisle. In December, 1852, Hugh O. married Eliza Elliott, a daughter of Thomas and Amelia Helphenstine Elliott. Mr. Elliott was an Englishman born in 1797 at Stonehouse Manor, Stonehouse, Gloucestershire, and died in Ohio 92 years later. His brother, the Rev. John Elliott, the venerable Vicar of Randwick for 75 years, a postgraduate of Oxford, lived to the age of 100 and gave his last public address at a teacher's convention at the age of 96. The Elliott ancestryhad lived at Stonehouse for hundreds of years and are known in English and Scottish history. In this branch are included a number of writers, poets, preachers and teachers. Another brother, the Rev. Charles Elliott, was the first rector of St. James, Picton, Nova Scotia, and founded five other churches in that area. The father, John Elliott Sr., was a teacher and poet, Thomas Elliott, father of Eliza Owens, left England and sailed from Bristol for New York in 1817. In 1820 he married a young lady of Virginia, Miss Helpenstine, whose grandfather had founded Winchester, Va., and whose family were patriots in the Revolutionary war. Major Peter Helpenstine had been given a grant of land in Ohio for his services, by the government, and this young couple, unaccustomed to hardship, sought to occupy this land. They did pioneer in that state and raised a large family. Hugh and Eliza Elliott Owens and their six children, Mary, Hannah, Arthur, Ellen, Walter and Henry, lived near both parental homes, and family ties were closely knitted. However, in 1870 their westward move began and they resided a year in Illinois near Mrs. Owens' brother, the late R. A. Elliott, legislator, of Monmouth.
In 1871 the family moved to Iowa and settled east of Carlisle. Hugh Owens died in 1874 leaving the widow and six children. The eldest son carried much responsibility and early learned to manage and provide, which proved practical training for his long and useful life. Skill with gun and ax as well as agriculture was well understood by the men of the family; zest for living has always been a family trait, and the relatives were all congenial. A sister Mary, the late Mrs. James Rees, also resided here. These industrious Iowa pioneers took time out for some expert hunting and fishing. Later a gun club was formed which provided wholesome sport and practice at shooting matches. Arthur Owens was a good wing shot, and as a young man he could hit the pin-point center of a bull's eye target at 20 paces. Plenty of wild game still abounded, and the subject of this sketch brought down his share of wild fowl: turkey, ducks, geese, quail, prairie chickens, pigeons and other game which provided meat for many a pioneer dinner.
From a scholarly background Arthur Owens inherited a desire for education and love of learning and as a boy he attended the pioneer schools of that period. Sept. 11, 1881, Mrs. Eliza Elliott Owens and her three sons left their rural home and moved to the present home in north Carlisle where the eldest son still resides at the age of 94. The three daughters had married, were in homes of their own, and rearing fine families. In 1892 Arthur and his brother Walter started the saw-mill business which they operated in this vicinity for 20 years, furnishing lumber for homes, barns, county bridges, coal mines and other building purposes throughout this part of the country.
Dec. 20, 1893, Arthur Owens and Bushie Nette Long of Indianola were united in marriage at the home of the bride's father, William Long, pioneer Warren County settler and stockman. Her mother, who died in 1871, was Frances Brown Long, a sister of the late Mrs. Mary Welch Tufts of Summerset. Miss Long was a well-known teacher for several years, educated at Simpson and at Central college and taught a few years in Carlisle previous to her marriage. Her jovial disposition and hospitable nature carried on the tradition of the Carlisle home, and the beloved Grandmother Owens continued to reside with the family.
Mr. Owens, who had attended since boyhood, united with the Carlisle Baptist church and served as Sunday school superintendent nearly 20 years. His wife, whose family were Indianola Baptists, remained a member here until her death in 1943, the 50th year of their marriage. He was a member of the Carlisle school board 27 years, and of the county board of education 12 years, has served as president of the board, and as a member of the town council many years. In 1948 he was guest of honor at a special meeting of Marble Masonic lodge, Carlisle and was presented a 50-year membership certificate — is a 32nd degree Scottish Rite and Shriner, has been a lifelong Democrat and at the presidential election Nov. 2, 1948, acted as Democratic judge at the polls on his 90th birthday, and enjoyed greeting old friends. Open house had been held at his home on Sunday so he would be free on election day.
He made his first airplane trip at the age of 89 when he flew from New York's La Guardia field to the Des Moines air, port, following a summer's visit at the home of George, his eldest son. He was greatly interested in the Carlisle centennial in the summer of1951 , and recalled having attended a national centennial celebration at the same spot in 1876. He recalls the excitement over Morgan's raid as the Confederate soldiers passed through Jackson, Ohio, in his childhood. When past 80 years of age, he was among those listed in Who's Who in Iowa.
His loyalty and devotion to family and friends have always been marked, and he often quotes: "He that careth not for his own is worse than a heathen." In the storehouse of memory, he treasures many fine poems and Bible passages: His favorite relaxation is good reading, and he has the faculty of retaining worthwhile information, being especially proficient in history and geography, although largely self-educated. At the age of 921/2 he was invited to be a contestant on the radio program "Town and Country Quiz" sponsored by the Amvets and gave a good account of himself by answering the Treasure Chest question. In April, 1952, the district court of Warren County was convened, Judge Stanley Prall, formerly of Carlisle, presiding, for the ceremony when Mr. Owens in a formal speech presented to the county the first good board sawed at the historic Parmelee mill on Middle river. It is very large, black walnut, and served as counter board at the pioneer trading post. It was hung in the courtroom as a symbol of our pioneer beginnings. With his youngest brother, H. L. Owens of Carlisle, age 83, he visits frequently, and early-day shooting and hunting exploits are relived; but lively discussions take place concerning current events in which both are vitally interested. Two of his sisters, Mrs. D. F. Sanders (Mary) and Mrs. Wesley Patterson (Ellen), both of Carlisle, lived to be well over 80 years, while Mrs. Cortez Lynch (Hannah) of Des Moines and Winterset passed away at 95.
The one daughter and three sons of this family are: Mabel Eliza (1894), widow of I. H. Shaffer, veteran; George William (1898), secretary New York Underwriters, Westfield, N. J.; Arthur Guy (1902), farmer, Carlisle; Frederic Charles (1906), who operates his father's 240-acre farm near town; four granddaughters: Shirley Shaffer Lettington, wife of Allen Lettington, Santa Barbara, Calif.; Lillian, Phyllis and Patricia Owens of New York and New Jersey; two small grandsons, Arthur Jr. and Georgie Owens of Carlisle; and one great-granddaughter, Michelle Lettington, of California.