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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
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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 |
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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 |
NOTES: |
