The Owen Family of Greene County, Missouri

CHARLES BAKER OWEN.

Capt. Owen is the son of Solomon H. and Mary E. (Bushong) Owen, and was born in Marshall county, Tennessee, February 28, 1827. At the age of about nine years his parents came with him to Greene county, Mo., and the father entered land four miles north of Springfield.

Charles Baker grew up on the farm, and received his education in the neighborhood schools. When he arrived at manhood he began trading in stock for himself, and at the age of twenty-seven was made deputy under Sherifi" Sam. Fulbright. In April, 1855, he went on “Pool's Gold Hunt” out to Kansas, on which the party made quite a trip, killing plenty of game, but finding none of the metal which is heavy to get, but light to hold. They were gone about four months. In September, 1856, Mr.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JOHN S. OWEN.

The name of the late John S. (Sol) Owen needs no introduction to the readers of this history, for he was widely known in Greene county for many years, being a worthy representative of one of our best pioneer families, and he was highly regarded by all who knew him.

Mr. Owen was born September 22, 1857, near Wilson's Creek, this county. He was a son of Capt. C. Baker and Ellen (Yarbrough) Owen. He was a grandson of Col. Sol Owen, who settled the old Owen farm in 1837, on which place our subject's death occurred. The parents of our subject were both born in Tennessee, from which state they came to Greene county, Missouri, in an early day, when they were children, the father being twelve years of age when he came here. Here he grew up and helped develop the farm. When the Civil war came on he enlisted in the Federal army and became captain of Company D, Twenty-fourth Missouri Volunteer Infantry, which he commanded in a praiseworthy manner for three years. Later he served four years as sheriff of Greene county. He was a farmer and stock raiser. He was a strong Democrat and a leader in his party.

Captain Owen was twice married, first to Ellen Yarbrough, mother of our subject. The only other child by this union was Stephen A. Douglas Owen, who died in January, 191 5, on his farm on the James river, this county. The mother of our subject died when he was a small boy. Later Captain Owen married Caroline McCroskey, an aunt of C. W. McCroskey, the present superintendent of schools of Greene county. A sketch of Professor McCroskey appears in this volume. Eight children were born to Captain Owen and his second wife, all of whom are living but one.

John S. Owen of this sketch grew up on the home farm and he was educated in the rural schools, however, educating himself for the most part, and was an excellent example of a self-made man. When twenty-four years of age he started in life for himself on a farm of one hundred acres, which was a part of the old Owen homestead. He prospered and at the time of his death owned two hundred eighty-seven and one-half acres, which valuable place is now in possession of our subject's widow and children. Mr. Owen carried on general farming in a very successful manner. He was never much of a trade, for being a great home man, did not like to be absent from his family. However, he handled many mules, of which he was an excellent judge. This farm is known as the "Old Judge 'Sol Owen place."

Mr. Owen of this sketch married, on April 28, 1881, Sarah M. Rose. She was born in Greene county, Missouri, near the Wilson's Creek battleground, on October 16, 1859. She is a daughter of Reuben O. and Lucy A. (McElhaney) Rose. Mr. Rose was born in Tennessee, from which state he came to Greene county, Missouri, devoted his active life to general farming and died on his farm near Wilson's creek in March, 1880. His wife was also born in Tennessee, and she is still living on the old homestead here, and, although now advanced in years, is well preserved — in fact, looks many years younger. She has always looked for the silver lining in life's clouds and is the possessor of many admirable characteristics. Mr. Rose was owner of the old Rose flouring mill, well known in the former generation in this part of the country. To Reuben O. Rose and wife fourteen children were born, ten of whom are still living. Mrs. Owen received her education in the public schools of her community.

Eleven children were born to our subject and wife, namely: Charles B., born April 5, 1882, married Evelena Murray, a farmer and stock man of Polk county, Missouri; Jerome B., born November 22, 1883, married Olive Murray, and they live on a farm in Greene county; Abbie E., born April 13, 1885, died September 10, 1886; Rose H., born December 3, 1886, married Charles Reichle, a machinist in the Frisco shops, and they live in Springfield; Joseph C, born March 1, 1889, married Amelia Helbig, and they reside on the home farm; Robert F., born October 1, 1890, died July 24, 1891; Wilda (Nora) A., born April 8, 1892, lives at home; Sarah E., born January 10, 1894, married Clarence Robertson, who is engaged in the banking business, and who resides at 468 South Grant street, Springfield; Savanna F., born February 3, 1896, is living at home; John Sol, Jr., born 1880

August I, 1897, is living at home; Hollie M., born February 5, 1899, is living at home.

Mr. Owen was a public-spirited man, always ready to give his support to any good movement in his community. He was a deputy sheriff of this county, serving under Sheriff John Day, serving the full two years very creditably. In 1896 he was elected sheriff of Greene county on the Democratic ticket, and served two years in a very creditable manner. Like his father before him, he was loyal to the Democratic party. Fraternally, our subject was an active member of the Knights of Pythias and was buried by that order. He also belonged to the Modern Woodmen, the Woodmen of the World and the Royal Arcanum. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, South. His wife and children also belong to this church. The death of Mr. Owen of this review occurred October 24, 1899.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

J. S. OWEN.

Mr. Owen is the son of C. B. and Sarah E. Owen, and was born in this county September 11th, 1857. He received his education at Drury College, and since leaving school has been engaged in farming. He was married April 20th, 1881, to Miss Sarah M., daughter of Eeuben A. M. Kose. Their union has been best with one son, Charles B. Mr. Owen and his brother, Stephen, own two hundred and eighty-six acres of fine land. It is the old Owen homestead, and one of the best in the county.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected.

STEPHEN A. D. OWEN.

Xo industry is so vital to the well-being of the nation as agriculture and nothing is so vital to agriculture as the soil. Prom its treasury it has been estimated that we draw annually about eight billion and three hundred million dollars, and its possibilities are as yet only partially realized There are still in this country millions of acres which have never felt the plow, while those which are now under cultivation can, by the application of sc.ent.hc principles, be made to produce many times the present value of their products. How to use and not abuse this great resource is the most important problem which faces the farmer of today— one worthy of the best efforts of our profound and learned scientists; for upon its solution depends the future prosperity of the nation. One of the alert and wideawake agriculturists of Greene county of a past generation was the late.Stephen A. 1). Owen, of Wilson township, a schon of the prominent old * >wen family of this locality.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

Stephen A. I). Owen grew to manhood on the home farm, where he assisted with the general work and in the winter months he attended the old subscription schools, obtaining a meager education, which has since been properly supplemented by wide miscellaneous reading. When he was forty-six years of age his father died and our subject became possessed of a finely improved and valuable farm of two hundred acres from the old homestead, a part of which lies across the line in Christian county. Here he carried on general farming and stock raising in a manner that indicated he was fully abreast of the times of modern husbandry.

Mr. Owen was twice married, first, on April 28, [883, to Lula L. White, a daughter of Hardy and Tampey White, formerly of the state of Tennessee, from which they emigrated to Greene county, Missouri, in an early day. She was one of three children, being the youngest, and her death occurred March 18, 1888, leaving three children, namely: Alfred Wilson, Charles Baker, and Horace Preston, all living in Greene county. Our subject was married on February 17, [894, his last wife being Rachael Ann Payne, horn April 6, 1858. a daughter of Lewis and Margaret Payne, natives of Tennessee and Virginia, respectively. The father came to Greene county, Missouri, when live years of age. His father was the second white man to settle in Greene county. He found only Indians and a few Spaniards in these parts. Our subject's second marriage was without issue.

Politically. Mr. Owen adhered to the principles of the Democratic party since reaching maturity, but never sought public office, being content to devote his attention exclusively to his pleasant home and his extensive farming operations. However he served as constable four years. His death occurred at his home.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JOSEPH LEWIS OWEN.

Scientific methods of farming disseminated through the medium of the agricultural schools throughout the country have come as a great blessing to those pursuing agricultural calling. Vet the farmers in the early days of this country had no such advantages. They Had to depend upon their own judgment, their own foresight, their own intuition, as it were, to overcome many- a perplexing problem in farming. And yet their success was more often than not almost phenomenal; and we can pardon the veteran tillers of the soil who yet remain among us if they look askance upon our never methods. Joseph Lewis Owen, a creditable representative of the well-known old Owen family of Greene county, who owns a fine modern farm of large acreage in Wilson township, is making a pronounced success as a general farmer, employing such of the progressive methods as are consistent with this locality and climate, and his well-cultivated land and comfortable home would indicate to the observer that his efforts have been well rewarded.

.Mr. Owen was born near what is now Battlefield, in the above named township and county. May 7, 1880. He is a son of Capt. C. Baker Owen and Nancy Caroline (McCroskey) Owen. Captain Owen was a native of Tennessee, born in.Marshall county, February 28, 1827. He was a son of Solomon H. Owen, a native of eastern Tennessee, and of Welsh descent. Baker Owen was nine years old when he was brought by his parents to Greene county..Missouri, in 1836, his father entering four hundred acres of land from the government, four miles northwest of Springfield. He continued entering land until he owned about two thousand acres. He owned large numbers of slaves. He became one of the most extensive farmers and stock men in this section of the state, and remained on his farm until 1N74. when he was seventy-seven years of age, when he removed to Springfield. His family consisted of six children, named as follows: Susanna A.. George II.. Pleasanl I' Charles Baker, Jesse W., and William S.

Captain Owens, father of our subject, grew to manhood in Greene county and here devoted his life to farming and stock raising on a large scale. On September r8, [856, he married Sarah E. Yarbrough, and two children were born to this union. John S.. and Stephen A. D. After his marriage Captain Owen settled on a farm on the James river, however, he had previously spent a number of years engaged in buying and selling livestock, and, like his father before him, he became one of the most progressive agriculturists in Greene county, owning a vast estate on either side of the James river, aggregating over nineteen hundred acres. He cleared and improved about one-half of the entire tract, leaving a large portion of his land in timber and he kept large herds of various kinds of livestock on his large pastures. The first wife of Captain Owen died in the spring of 1862, and on January 31, 1865, he married Nancy Caroline McCroskey, to which union eight children were born, named as follows: Charles J., Rachael M., Margaret S. E., Alwilda M. J., George I) Francis \Y., W. E., and Joseph L. (subject of this sketch).

Captain Owen was a Democrat and was influential in local public affairs. lie was elected sheriff of Greene county in iSjo. and was reelected in 1874, serving two terms of two years each. He took a conspicuous part in the local military affairs during the Civil war. In May, 1861, he organized a militia company of Home Guards in Wilson township and was elected captain, but when his company was consolidated with another, he being the junior of the two captains, resigned and became a first lieutenant. When General Lyon's army- marched out from Springfield on the night of August 9, 1861, to attack General Price and McCulloch on Wilson's creek, Captain Owen was appointed one of the guides; and he led the division under Col. Franz Sigel to the Confederate camp, he took part in the battle on the following day. The Union forces having retreated to Rolla, Phelps county. Captain Owen and his company were enrolled in United States service there, and was commissioned by the governor of Missouri as first lieutenant in the regular army. He saw considerable active service, was in a number of skirmishes in the southern part of the state and later fought against General Marmaduke in that part of the state and was also in minor engagements in Tennessee and different parts of his own state. At Columbus, Kentucky, his company did guard duty on the ordnance boat "General Grant." and later was with General Sherman on his march through Mississippi; was with General Banks on the Red river expedition, also at the occupation of the city of Alexandria, and the battle of Pleasant Hill, Louisiana, where his regiment lost all of its officers except the major, one captain and one lieutenant, in killed and wounded. and lost one-third of the men. His own company lost one-half of its number in killed and wounded. This company was in severe skirmishes, fighting from April 9th to May 16th, when the battle of Yellow Brow was fought. Later Captain Owen was in battle near Mineral Point, Missouri. He was sick in the Federal Hospital at Memphis, Tennessee, nine weeks. He was mustered out of the service in St. Louis, October 14, 1864. Soon thereafter he returned home and engaged in farming until his death.

Joseph L. Owen grew to manhood on the home farm and there he worked during the summer months and attended the district schools in the winter time. He has always lived on the old homestead, he having taken the old home place proper in the settlement of his father's estate, and he is owner of one of the choice farms of this part of Greene county, consisting of three hundred and twenty acres, two hundred acres of which is under cultivation and he is carrying on general farming and stock raising in a highly successful manner. He has carefully rotated his crops and otherwise skilfully managed the old farm so that it has not only retained its original fertility but the strength of soil has been increased.

Mr. Owen was married November 10, 1901, to Kate McConnell, a daughter of John and Nannie ( Aven ) McConnell, both born, reared and educated in Christian county, Missouri, and in that county Mrs. Owen was born January 25, 1883, and there grew to womanhood and received a common school education. Her father's death occurred June 3, 1909, but her mother is still living in Christian county. Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. McConnell, namely: Lindsay is the eldest; Mrs. Maggie Avery, wife of Ed Avery, of Christian county; Lucy is the wife of James Stewart, of Greene county; Gracey is the wife of Herbert Avar) and they live in Christian county; Ross also lives in that county; Bertha, wife of Will Gooch, resides in the same county Kate, wife of Mr. Owen, of this sketch; the other three children died in infancy.

To Mr. and Mrs. Owen three children have been born, namely: Rosco died in infancy; Clarence, born Februarv 7, 1903, and [name withheld], born October 12, 1909,are at home.

Politically, Mr. Owen has voted the Democratic ticket since attaining his majority. Mrs. Owen is a member of the Christian church. They are among the popular young people of this part of the county.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.