In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1915) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
From History of Putnam County, Ohio : its peoples, industries, and institutions (1915), A Portrait and biographical record of Allen and Putnam counties, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of many prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all th (1896)
AVID F. OWENS is one of the enterprising and most successful young agriculturists of Monroe township, owning a fine farm which is eligibly located, the soil brought to a good state of cultivation, and the farm buildings of that style of architecture amply indicative of the solid and substantial character of the proprietor. John B. Owens, paternal grandfather of our subject, was a native of Whales who came to the United States when he was twenty-eight years of age. Soon after his arrival he married and settled in Trumbull county, Ohio. This was m an early day, and he possessed himself of a tract of new land, which was soon converted into a good home. He altenvard sold his property and removed to Guernsey county, Ohio, where the couple lived until their death. His wife was formerly Miss Elizabeth Strame, and both were prominently identified with the Methodist church. Mr. Owens, politically, was a Jacksonian democrat, and was a man of influence and respectability.
Our subject’s father, also named John B. Owens, was born in Trumbull county, January 26, 1817. After attaining to manhood he engaged in agriculture, but was also known as a most successful teacher, he having followed that profession for many years in Trumbull, Guernsey and Putnam county'-s. He was a man of rare intelligence, and pursued a wide course of reading, thus ever keeping fully
..jli abreast with the times. He was united in marriage to Miss Rachel Spencer, who was born in Guernsey county, February 1 6, 1832, being a daughter of John and Eliza (Sevin) Spencer, early pioneers of Guernsey county. Our subject’s parents were blessed with five children, as follows: Elizabeth A., wife of William
Fickle; Emma J., wife of William Gallispie; David F., the subject of this review; Amanda, wife of David Grant; and Ida C. The parents lived in Guernsey county until 1873, when they moved to Putnam county, settling in Monroe township, where they have developed a fine eighty-acre farm. They were industrious people and prominent in church and Sundayschool work. The father died February 15, 1890, and the mother still resides upon the old farm.
David F. Owens, our subject, was born in Guernsey county, the date of his nativity being Feburary 1, 1855. He was only nine years of age when his parents removed to this county, and he has ever since mude this place his home, following the vocation of farming. Febuary 16, 1881, he led to the hymeneal alter Miss Ida M. Gilbert, who was born in this township September 15* 1863. She is the daughter of Jacob and Martha A. (Butler) Gilbert, Mr. Gilbert being deceased. They were prominent and respected members of the farming community in which they lived, and consistent members of the Disciples’ Church, and both were teachers in the public schools.
The farm of our subject is a model one of 1 2 1 acres, and makes a most comfortable home. He is a strong democrat, and has been honored with positions of trust within the gift of the people. He has tilled one term of township trustee, and the second term of his incumbency of the office of township assessor is now being completed by him. He is socially very popular, and fraternally is a member of Gakwood lodge, No. 737, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, while both he and wife are charter members of Monroe grange, No. 376, of which he was the first master.
As printed in A Portrait and biographical record of Allen and Putnam counties, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of many prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all th (1896). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
DAVID F. OWENS.
Among those who are eminently entitled to a place in a work of this character is the gentleman whose name heads this paragraph, who has lived m Putnam county for many years and whose name will continue to adorn its annals long after he has passed to his reward. David F. Owens has performed well his part in the drama of civilization and has led a life that is exemplary m every respect. He has set an excellent example for the younger generation, for he has been a leader in his locality in all matters pertaining to Its improvement and progress. In a conservative manner, he has done wha he could to promote, not only the interests of himself and his family but the terests of the community as well.
David F. Owens was born on February i, 1855, in Guernsey county Syir ''""'- ' '' * °" ° J°h" Beaver and Rachel (Spencei )'
John B. Owens, the father of David R, was born in Trumbull county Ohio, on January 6, 1816. He grew up in Trumbull county, but later moved
978 PUTNAM COUNTYj OHIO.
to Guernsey county. He was reared as a farmer, but taught school for many 3'ears in Trumbull, Guernsey and Putnam counties. He was a man of unusual intelligence, for his day and generation, and was widely read. John B. Owens was. married on March 21, 1847, to Rachel Spencer, who was born in Guernsey county on February 16, 1832, and who was the daughter of John and Eliza (Sevin) Spencer, pioneers of Guernsey county. To this union were born five children, Elizabeth A., who married William T. Fickle, of Monroe township, Putnam county; Emma J., who married William Gillespie; David F., the subject of this sketch; Amanda, who married David Grant, of Continental, Ohio; Ida C., who married Judson Jones, of Palmer township. John B. and Rachel Owens lived in Guernsey county until 1873, when they moved to Putnam county and settled in Monroe township. They owned a splendid eighty-acre farm and were industrious farmers, prominent in church and Sunday school work. John B. Owens died on January 17, 1890, at the age of seventy-three years, and his wife died on March 26, 1895.
The father of John B. Owens was John B. Owens, Sr., a native of Wales, who came to the United States when twenty-eight years of age. He married Elizabeth Strame. After their marriage, they settled in Trumbull county, Ohio. Subsecjuently, he sold his property in Trumbull county and removed to Guernsey county, and here they lived until their death. John B. Owens, Sr., was a Jacksonian Democrat. He and his wife were members of the Methodist church. John B. Owens, Jr., was active in local politics during his life and served as township clerk and township trustee for several terms. He was a Democrat and prominent in the work of the Methodist church, as well as in the Sunday school.
David F. Owens was nine years old when his parents moved to Putnam county, Ohio. He was educated in the public schools of this township and on February 16, 1879, he was married to Ida M. Gilbert, who was born in Monroe township on September 15, 1863. She is the daughter of Jacob and Martha A. (Butler) Gilbert, well-known pioneers and prominent farmers of Putnam county, referred to elsewhere in this volume.
David F. Owens has one hundred and forty acres of excellent land in Putnam county, which he farmer until 1892, when he moved to Ottawa, Ohio. At this time he was elected county commissioner. He remained in Ottawa for six years, having served as county commissioner during that time. He then moved back to Continental, Ohio, where he now resides. His farming property is rented. Before his election as county commissioner, Mr. Owens had served four terms as assessor, two terms as township trustee and on the town council. He is not active in politics now although still a stanch Democrat. He is a director in the Farmers Bank at Continental and, aside from his banking interests, takes an active interest in civic improvement. Mr. Owens is not a member of any church. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias at Continental, and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks at Defiance He is a man held in high esteem by all who know him, of exceptional ability mentally, an excellent farmer, progressive in spirit and capable in all things to which he has ever applied himself.
As printed in History of Putnam County, Ohio : its people, industries, and institutions (1915). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Their biographies name David F. Owens: Bernard Anthony Ruhe (b. 1857)
The printed record stops around 1915. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.