John Owen

JOHN OWEN.

Hon. John Owen was born March 20, 1809, on the river Don, near Toronto, Canada. Came to Detroit in 1818 with his mother, crossing Lake Erie in the steamer Walk-in-the- Water. He attended school under the patronage of Lemuel Shattuck, a very worthy man, who, unfortimately for Mr. Owen, was compelled on account of ill health to return to Concord, Massachusetts, in 1821, and Mr. Owen was obliged to give up school, but through Mr. Shattuck's recommendation obtained a situation in the drug store of Dr. Chapin. He continued as clerk imtil the autumn of 1829, when he became a partner, and remained in this position until the death of Dr. Chapin, in December, 1838. He conducted the business alone until March, 1842, at which time he admitted Theodore H. Hinchman, as a partner under the firm name of J. Owen & Co. The wholesale business of the firm continued to increase in importance until 1853. M' Owen then sold his interests and retired from trade, but not from business; for, through his desire to aid his friends, he had become interested with Gordon Campbell in establishing the Detroit Dry Dock, and with Capt. Arthur Eklwards, in vessel interests, and meanwhile had been a director and president of the Michigan Insurance Company's Bank, and president of the Detroit and Cleveland Steam Navigation Company, beside being associated in other financial enterprises.

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His connection with the Methodist church dates from 1823, from which period he has been a modest but liberal contributor, and has ever been regarded as one of the chief pillars of that denomination. His time and money in the giving, has not been confined to his own church, but all Christian and benevolent enterprises have been the recipients of his kind generosity.

As printed in Chronography of notable events in the history of the Northwest territory and Wayne County (1890). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JOHN OWEN.

A strong and noble character was that of the late John Owen, who exerted an emphatic influence in connection with business and cii'ic affairs in Detroit during the entire course of a long and significantly successful career. The greater part of his life was passed in this city and he gained success through his individual ability and application, ever standing exemplar of that integrity of purpose which figures as the plumb of character and makes for objective valuation in connection with the varied relations of life. He was a financier of marked astuteness, served as treasurer of the state at a critical and climacteric period, was one of the leading bankers of Detroit, and had other capitalistic interests of distinctive importance. His strength was as the number of his days and he was summoned from the mortal life in the fulness of years and honors, his death occurring at his home in Detroit on the 20th of March, 1892.

Mr. Owen was born near the city of Toronto, Canada, on the 20th of March, 1809, and he was a child at the time of his father's death. In 1818, when he was nine years of age, his mother removed to Detroit, where he soon afterward began to attend school in the old University building, on Bates street. The financial resources of his mother were very limited and while thus attending school he defrayed the expenses of his tuition by services rendered to his preceptor. When but twelve years of age he secured a position as errand boy in the drug store of Dr. Chapin, one of the pioneer physicians of Detroit, and he remained with the doctor for several years, making himself so indispensible that when he was only twenty years old he was admitted to partnership in the business, without the investment of capi- J tal other than his services and his proven 1 integrity of character. Later the firm became ( J. Owen & Company, the concern being a lead-, ing one of the order in the city and holding a j representative patronage. In 1853 Mr. Owen retired, from the drug business, and the well known firm of T. H. Hinchman & Son became the eventual successor of this pioneer house.

Through his well directed endeavors Mr. Owen had accumulated a competency, and his business acumen and mature judgment were shown in the extent and character of his capitalistic investments. He became largely interested in banking and lake marine navigation. He was one of the earliest and largest stockholders in the Detroit & Cleveland Steam Navigation Company, of which he was president for many years and with which he continued to be identified until the time of his death. He was also one of the principal stockholders of the Detroit Dry Dock Company, both of these great concerns owing much of their success to his administrative direction. He was the first president of the latter corporation, which was the direct successor of the shipbuilding firm of Campbell, Owen & Company.

During the financial stringency that followed the panic of 1857 Mr. Owen held the presidency of the Michigan Insurance Bank, and as has well been said, "The fact that the bank weathered the storms of that period was very largely due to the unbounded confidence which the business public had in his ability and integrity." Apropos of the same subject another appreciative article contains the following equally pertinent words: "His integrity and good name constituted the wall that prevented the financial breakers from overwhelming not only the bank but scores of individuals as well." Such statements as these indicate the character and reputation of this honored pioneer of Detroit.

That popular confidence and esteem were not restricted to local limitations as touching

Mr. Owen is further evidenced in the fact that in 1860, at the chmacteric period just prior to the outbreak of the civil war and when financial disquietude was in evidence throughout the entire nation, he was elected to the office of state treasurer, of which he remained incumbent from 1861 to 1865, covering the entire period of the war, and with utmost fidelity and discrimination did he administer the fiscal affairs of the state, protecting its interests and loyally upholding the hands of the general state administration in providing for the needs of the Michigan troops at home and in the field. In the first years of the war his personal credit and reputation, together with those of the late Hon. Henry P. Baldwin, who was chairman of the senate finance committee during a portion of the same period, were the prime agencies which enabled the state to successfully negotiate the loans which it was compelled to make.

Never a seeker of public office, Mr. Owen accepted the same only when he felt that civic duty and responsibility obligated him to subordinate his own wishes for the public good, and in no position of trust to which he was called did he fail to accomplish much in the direction designated. In 1836, the year prior to the admission of Michigan to the Union, he held the office of alderman at large in Detroit, and in the same body he represented the First ward in 1844-5. I" 1839-40 he was a member of the board of education; from 1859 to 1870 he was commissioner of grades; and from 1865 to 1879 he was a valued member of the board of water commissioners. His interest in educational matters was of insistent type, and he was a member of the board of regents of the University of Michigan from 1 84 1 to 1848, — a period during which the affairs of the institution especially needed wise management and guidance. In his earlier years he served as a member of the volunteer fire department of Detroit, having been foreman of Company No. i in 1837, and from 1841 to 1843 he was president of the department society. In 1864, while state treasurer, he was also president of the Michigan Soldiers' Relief

Society, and he was one of the first directors of the Detroit College of Medicine, to whose upbuilding he largely contributed.

Reverting to the banking associations of Mr. Owen, it should be stated that he became the first president of the old National Insurance Bank, the immediate successor of the Michigan Insurance Bank, in which he had held the presidency up to the time of reorganization under the new title. In 1869 the National Insurance Bank and the First National Bank were consolidated, largely through the wish of Mr. Owen to retire from the office of chief executive, and he then became a director of the First National, with which he continued to be identified in this capacity until 1880, when he resigned, having disposed of his stock in the institution. At a meeting of the board of directors held on the 22d of March of that year, the president and cashier of the First National Bank presented to the board the following preamble and resolutions, which were unanimously adopted and which are consistently perpetuated in this sketch:

Whereas, The Hon. John Owen, after an official connection with this bank and its immediate predecessor of over forty-four years, has decided to retire from the directorship of this bank, to which he was first elected on March 3, 1869, be it

Resolved, That it is with deep regret that we, the officers and directors of this bank, learn of this determination on the part of Mr. Owen, and that we desire to place on record our high appreciation of his character, and to acknowledge the great benefits we have derived from his counsels, and the larger advantage to the bank for his faithful attendance upon the meetings of this board, and his ever watchful and careful attention to the interests of the bank.

Resolved, That we attribute no small share of the present prosperous condition of the bank and its freedom from losses to Mr. Owen's wise and disinterested advice in all matters pertaining to the administration of the bank's affairs during the eleven years he has been connected with it.

Resolved, That a copy of these proceedings and resolutions, under seal of the bank, be transmitted to Mr. Owen by the cashier.

with the best wishes of the board for his continued happiness and prosperity.

Dominated by the highest principles was the course of Mr. Owen's life in all its relations, and his benevolences and charities were unostentatious and ever admirably placed. He had been reared in the stem school of necessity and knew well the springs of human motive, so that he was kindly and tolerant in his judgment and ever ready to lend a helping hand to his less fortunate brother. He was trustee and treasurer of the Central Methodist Episcopal church for half a century and was one of the most prominent and influential laymen of that denomination in Michigan, while his financial support kept the affairs of his own church society on the safe credit side. He did much for the upbuilding and maintenance of the church at large and was long a trustee of Albion College, to which noble church institution he made liberal financial contributions both in his lifetime and by the provisions of his wall. As early as 1837 he served as president of a state temperance society, and he ever labored for the obliteration of the liquor traffic in whatever guise presented. He was trustee and treasurer of Elmwood Cemetery Association for more than forty years.

Concerning him another writer has said: "His benefactions have not been confined within denominational lines, but whenever time and influence and means could help solve social problems he has been ready to aid. His long residence in the city, his upright life and careful judgment, and the many services he has rendered the public, have made his name a synonym for character and worth."

It is scarcely necessary to say, in view of what has preceded, that in the sacred precincts of his home the true nobility of the man found its most perfect apotheosis. Thus at this time there is no desire to lift the curtain which veils with privacy every true home, the only reference to the domestic life of Mr. Owen being in the bare statements concerning his marriage and his children.

Mr. Owen married Miss Jane Cook, who was born in Detroit, a daughter of Hiram and Jane (Thorn) Cook. She survived her honored husband, as do also one son and one daughter, — Edmund J. and Lafayette are deceased; John, Jr., resides in Detroit; and Fannie is now the widow of George H. Lothrop, of Detroit. Mrs. Owen died on Sunday, March 22, 1908, of pneumonia, at the family home, 1750 Jefferson avenue.

As printed in Compendium of history and biography of the city of Detroit and Wayne County, Michigan (1909). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.