Owens, John

OWENS

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 6/29/2021 at 23:19:01

History of Warren County, Iowa from Its Earliest Settlement to 1908, by Rev. W. C. Martin, Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois, 1908, p.834

JOHN OWENS
John Owens, owning and operating three hundred acres of well improved land on section 1, Allen Township, was born in Jackson County, Ohio, April 2, 1836, his parents being John and Hannah (Manuel) Owens, both of whom were natives of Wales. They were married in that country but subsequently emi­grated to the United States, taking up their abode in Stark County, Ohio, where they resided for three years. On the expiration of that period they removed to Jackson County, Ohio, where they made their home until called to their final rest. The father was an agriculturalist by occupation and had a good farm in that county. His family numbered nine children, of whom our subject was the fifth in order of birth.
John Owens remained under the parental roof until he had attained his majority, and in 1863 purchased his present farm, comprising three hun­dred acres of land on section 1, Allen Township, before the railroad was built. He erected a substantial and commodious dwelling, also built good barns and outbuildings, fenced the fields and as the years passed by developed a model farm property. In addition to the work of general farming he also raises good graded stock, feeding cattle, hogs and horses, and is well known as a prosperous and enterprising agriculturist of the community.
On the 1st of April, 1865, Mr. Owens was united in marriage to Miss Rebecca McElroy, a native of Ohio. They have become the parents of eight children, namely: one who died in infancy; Robert, who passed away when eighteen years of age; Archibald, who follows farming in the state of Washington; Elmer, Frank and Bertha, at home; William, of Washington, who married Bertha Hackleberry, by whom he has one child; and Clayton, who
wedded Miss Edith McCall and assists in the operation of his father's farm.
In his political views Mr. Owens is a staunch Democrat where national questions and issues are involved, but casts an independent local ballot. He served as township trustee for one term, acted on the first primary board in Iowa and has been a delegate to county conventions. He is a Master Mason, belonging to the lodge at Carlisle. A resident of Warren County for more than a half century, he is well and favorably known here and has witnessed and participated in the work of development that has transformed this from a barren district into one of the rich agricultural districts of the Union. Mrs. Owens is a member of the Brethren Church.