Clay County Biographies

WILLIAM F. OWEN

~ farmer and stockman ~

The Owen farm is Sni-a-bar and Fort Osage townships, is an attractive piece of property of 160 acres, the greater part of which is rich, bottom land. The residence sets on a sloping hillside, the site commanding a view of the entire farm.

Every improvement on the place has been placed there by William F. Owen, the proprietor, since he purchased the farm in 1892 from the ALMA OWEN estate. A pretty residence surrounded by shade trees is the family home; good barns and two large concrete silos are necessary adjuncts to the farming operations.

Mr. Owen raises Shorthorn cattle and does general farming. He was born January 3, 1862 in McLain County, IL.

His father, Alma Owen, was born in Tazewell County, IL., August 5, 1833 and died at his home in Sni-a-bar township, Jackson County, in March, 1907. He was a son of EDWARD OWEN, a native of Vermont, of Welsh extraction.

Edward Owen married a MISS SOWERS of Scotch-Irish descent and he was a pioneer in Illinois. In 1836, the parents of Alma Owen moved to Caldwell county, Missouri and remained there for 2 years, then returned to McLean county, IL., where they resided for 3 years and soon went to Marshall county, IL.

When Alma Owen befame of age, he went to McLean County and learned engineering and milling and followed this trade for several years. Nov. 28, 1858, he was married to SABETHNA BARNHOUSE, who was born in Darke County, OH, Oct. 13, 1840, and died March 16, 1919. She was a native of PA.

Mrs. Owen had two brothers: JACOB BARNHOUSE & NELSON BARNHOUSE, who fought with the Union forces in the Civil War. Alma Owen had 4 brothers who served with the Illinois regiments in the same conflict, viz: LEE OWEN, NETHI OWEN, BERONI OWEN & FRAZIER OWEN.

Alma Owen came to Jackson county in Nov. 1866. He first purchased 120 acres of land and improve the tract in later years with one of the then finest homes in the county. The farm which he purchased was the old RAGLAND property which had been allowed to revert to almost a wilderness during the civil war period.

At the time of purchase there were only 20 acres of the land suitable for cultivation. He accumulated several hundred acres of land but met with reverses in his later days through being too willing to give his name as security for debts for some of his friends. Forced to liquidate the debts of those whom he had befriended, he lost all of his large estate, excepting the home place of 160 acres.

Six children were born to Alma & Sabethna Owen as follows: CHARLES H., of this review; MRS. IDA BAXTER, living at Woods Chapel; IRA, living on the old home place; MRS. CELESTIA PATTERSON, Idaho; FRANK, died in Idaho.

William H. Owen received his education in the Owen district school and has always been a hard working, industrious tiller of the soil. He purchased his present place which was formerly the old ROBERTS farm in 1892 and has made a success of his work and is rated as one of the most substantial and enterprising agriculturists and stockmen of the country.

Mr. Owen was married in 1887 to MISS LIZZIE FLYNN, daughter of PATRICK & MARGARET FLYNN, deceased, of Jackson County. Mr. and Mrs. Owen have one son, DUWARD L., living on the home place.

He was born in August, 1888, and is married to EMMA HAGAN who has borne him four children: namely: LEE, aged nine years; LOUISE, six years old; and twins, FRANCES & FAY, aged two years.

Mr. Owen is independent in his political beliefs. He served for six years as director of the Owen school district. He is a member of the Brotherhood of American Yeoman and is popular and well liked in his home neighborhood being esteemed as a broad minded and excellent citizen.

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This page was last updated June 18, 2003.