Owens, Edward

OWENS

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 6/29/2021 at 23:18:11

History of Warren County, Iowa from Its Earliest Settlement to 1908, by Rev. W. C. Martin, Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois, 1908, p.795

EDWARD OWENS
Edward Owens is one of the representative citizens of Warren County whose time and attention has been principally devoted to agricultural pursuits and in his chosen calling he has met with most excellent success, now owning three hundred and fifty-six acres of land on sections 15, 17 and 18, Richland Township, where he makes his home. He was born in that township on the 1st of June 1861, and is a worthy representative of one of the pioneer families of the county.
His father, Thomas Owens, was a native of Wales, born in 1823, and was a child of only nine years when he came to the new world. He first located in Ohio, where he grew to manhood upon a farm, and continued to make his home there until 1848, when he came to Iowa and entered one hundred and twenty acres of land in Warren County. The following winter he worked in Des Moines but in 1851 returned to Ohio, where he remained a year or more, and then again came to Warren County, locating upon his farm. Here he wedded Miss Mary Ann Parks, a native of Ireland, born in 1827, who came to America with her parents in 1844 and located in Ohio, where she continued to make her home until 1852, when she came to Iowa. She is a sister of John Parks, whose sketch appears on another page of this volume. Selling his first property Thomas Owens bought other land and engaged in farming east of Hartford for fourteen years, at the end of which time he purchased ninety-two and a half acres of land where his son Edward now lives, later adding to it until he had two hundred and twelve and three-fourths acres. Here he made his home until called to his final rest on the 1st of May, 1891, and his wife survived him until September 19, 1904, when she too passed away.
Edward Owens is one of a family of three children and his sister Hannah resides with him on the home farm, which they now own. His brother John Owens, born in 1858, died December 18, 1873. Our subject was pro­vided with good school privileges, attending the public schools, while later he pursued a commercial course at Drake University, and attended the Highland Park Preparatory school, and Drake University. He was engaged in teaching school for five winter terms but with that exception he has always followed farming and stock-raising, now making a specialty of hogs. He also raises good horses and shorthorn cattle, having a herd of fifteen full blooded cows and a registered bull, bred by Frank Morris. At the death of his father he took charge of the farm and has since built fifteen rods of woven wire fence upon the place, which is perfectly hog tight. He has made many other useful and valuable improvements and has bought an adjoining tract of land, so that he now has three hundred and fifty-six acres, which he keeps under a high state of cultivation.
Mr. Owens is a prominent Odd Fellow and was a charter member of the lodge at Hartford which he assisted in establishing, but he now holds member­ship in Palmyra Lodge, in which he has filled all the chairs and has served as district deputy. He is also a member of Carlisle Canton and has served as noble grand. On national issues he supports the Democratic Party but at local elections he votes independent of party ties, supporting the men whom he believes best qualified for office. He has served as assessor, township trustee and township clerk, being the present incumbent in the last named office, and his official duties have always been faithfully and satisfactorily discharged.