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Licking County
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BIOGRAPHIES
Source:
Centennial History of City of Newark and Licking County, Ohio
by E. M. P. Brister
- Vol. II -
Publ. Chicago - Columbus: by The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co.
1909
 
A B C D E F G H I J K L M
N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

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  ROBERT JOHN OWEN, following the occupation of farming as a life work, was born May 31, 1844, on the farm which is now his home and which is pleasantly located on Burg street, aout three miles north of Granville.  He is a representative of that valued class of Welsh-American citizens who have done so much toward developing and upbuilding this portion of the state.  His parents, John R. and Ann (Jones) Owen, were both natives of the north of Wales, born in Montgomeryshire.  The father's birth occurred in 1811, while the mother first opened her eyes to the light of day in 1816.  John R. Owens was a young man of about twenty-one years when, in 1832, he crossed the Atlantic to New York.  After working there for six years he returned to Wales and brought his parents and his future wife and her parents to the United States.  He then worked for three years longer in New York and in 1841 came to Licking county, Ohio.  In the meantime he had carefully saved his earnings until his capital was sufficient to enable him to purchase fifty acres of land and a horse and he traded his watch for a wagon. From time to time he added to his property as his financial resources increased until his holdings aggregated about five hundred acres.  He had one hundred and seventy-five acres in the home place, one hundred and fifty-five acres adjoining, one hundred and forty-four acres in Newark township and twenty-two acres in McKean township.  His landed interests were the visible evidence of his live of well directed thrift, industry and careful management.   He could justly be called a self-made man, deserving all the praise that that term implies.  He had started out empty handed on coming to America and had worked in a distillery in Waterville, New York, and also as a farm hand, but he was imbued with the laudable desire to achieve success and make a comfortable living for his family and as the years passed by his carefully directed labors gained for him a place among the substantial citizens of the county.  After becoming a naturalized American citizen, he stanchly supported the republican party, believing its principles were most condusive to good government.  He was also a member of the Welsh Calvanistic Methodist church and served as one of the elders at Granville.  His life was upright and honorable, winning for him the favorable regard of all with whom he came in contact.  He died in Newark township in 1882, while his wife reached the advanced age of eighty-eight years, dying in 1904.  Their family numbered four children: Robert J., of this review; David, who is living in the same neighborhood; Thomas D., who is represented elsewhere in this volume; and Dr. John J. Owen, a practicing physician of Philadelphia.
     On the old home farm Robert J. Owen was reared and has always resided here with the exception of two or three years passed in Newark township.  He owns and occupies the old home place of one hundred and seventy-five acres and devotes his energies to general farming and stock-raising.  He knew that labor was the source of success and had been trained to habits of diligence, enterprise and business integrity.  As the years have gone by he has carefully managed his farming interests and is now meeting with success in the cultivation of his crops and also in raising stock.
     On the 17th of February, 1870, Mr. Owen was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Harries, who was born in Carmarthen, Wales, Feb. 27,  1849, and during her infancy was brought to America by her parents, the Rev. David and Margaret (Lewis) Harries, also natives of Wales.  In their family were seven daughters and one son.  The father was a Presbyterian minister and his last charge was in Chicago, where he remained for eighteen years.  During that time he was instrumental in erecting a beautiful house of worship known as Hebron church. 
     Unto Mr. and Mrs. Owen have been born five children, of whom three are living: John Charles, who is with the Central Ohio Paper Company of Columbus; David Harries, teller in the Commercial National Bank of Columbus; and Robert Dwight, a student in the Ohio State University.  Those deceased are Robert Wellelyn and Margaret Annette.  The family attend the Presbyterian church of Granville, of which Mr. and Mrs. Owen are members, and Mr. Owen is an elder.  He exercises his right of franchise in support of the principles of the republican party, but has never sought nor desired office as a reward for party fealty, preferring ever to give his undivided attention to his business interests, which, capably conducted, have brought him signal success.
Source: Centennial History of City of Newark and Licking County, Ohio by E. M. P. Brister - Vol. II - Publ. Chicago - Columbus: by The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1909
– Page 421
  THOMAS D. OWENS, who owns and operates a large farm in Newark township, this county, and is a descendant of that excellent type of Welsh character which has done so much in the direction of uplifting the moral tone of our civilization and developing our commercial enterprises, was born in Granville township, Apr. 17, 1848, a son of John R. and Ann (Jones) Owens, natives of Wales, who entered into rest here at the ages of seventy-one and eighty-seven years, respectively, Mr. Owens having departed this life in 1881, his wife surviving until the year 1904.  At the age of twenty-one years he left his native land for the United States, landing in New York city, where for a period of ten years he was employed, and, having been a man of modest habits, he saved the greater portion of his earnings, and in course of time had accumulated sufficient means with which to purchase a farm, and, upon coming to Granville township, this county, he bought fifty acres of land, which he kept under cultivation all his life.  In his family were four sons, namely: Robert, who resides on the home place in Granville township; David, who also lives there; John, a practicing physician of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Thomas D.
     Thomas D. Owens was reared on the old homestead, acquiring his knowledge of the art of agriculture under the supervision of his father and his education in the district schools, and under the parental roof he remained until about thirty-seven years ago, when he located on the farm he now cultivates in this township., where he has since resided.  His farm originally consisted of one hundred and sixty acres, in the harvests of which he met with such splendid success as to enable him acres, in the harvests of which he met with such splendid success as to enable him recently to add an additional one hundred and seventy acres to his farm, the entire tract being provided with all necessary improvements by way of buildings and fencing, and here, while he carries on general farming and stock raising to some extent, he makes a specialty of the dairy business., which is perhaps the most lucrative department of the enterprise.
     In January. 1882, Mr. Owens wedded Hannah Jones, a native of this township, and a daughter of Richard and Elizabeth (Evans) Jones, and to this union have been born four children, namely: Richard, Wilfred, Mary and Elizabeth, all of whom reside with their parents.  Mr. Owens devotes his entire attention to his various farming interests, in which he evidences considerable pride, and consequently he has not found time to devote to secret orders or fraternal organizations, preferring rather to devote what little Ieisure he can afford to the enjoyment of domestic life.  His theology is stoutly Calvinistic, believing the articles of the Westminster Confession of Faith to be a correct interpretation of the teaching of the Old and New Testaments, and he is a faithful member of the Second Presbyterian church, in which for a number of years he bas performed the duties of an elder.  Mr. Owens' daily conduct being in keeping with the tenets of his faith, he is a good and worthy citizen, and deserves the respect and confidence which have always been extended to him by the citizens of the township
Source: Centennial History of City of Newark and Licking County, Ohio by E. M. P. Brister - Vol. II - Publ. Chicago - Columbus: by The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1909
– Page 293

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