Owen Family Newsletter

OWEN FAMILY NEWS

Volume 24, Issue 1 Published by Owen Family Association March 2009 Page 1 http//www.geocities.com/~owenfamily

My Ancestor EPHRAIM OWEN Born 1738 (By David Owen Jackson)

My oldest known ancestor is an Ephraim (or possibly Ephriam) Owen. As a family Bible, which I believe was compiled several INSIDE THIS ISSUE generations later, stated “Ephraim Owen, the son of Ephraim INSIDE THIS ISSUE Our Feature Article: My Ancestor Owen was born the beginning of the year of our Lord 1738 old Descendants of William and Ephraim Owen style”. Since all the other entries in the Bible have checked out, I Drucilla Echols Owen—Part 4 By David Owen Jackson C. Owen Johnson have been inclined to go with that entry. Pages 1, 4 Page 52 However, other than that Bible entry, the first real positive record I

have found of the Ephraim born in 1738 (“Ephraim II”) is his re- TheReuben President’s Pickett Message Owen andThomas His Descendants: Evan Owen ceipt of a deed to 250 acres and town lot No. 34 in Wrightsboro, AdrianPage Boone 2 Owen Georgia, a Quaker Enclave. Jody Moeller and Because the Owens were (or perhaps became) Quakers, the re- Owen DNA Update Lee Gentemenn cord from that time until the present is quite complete. By WhitPage 55Athey Page 3 Going back further, though, has proved very difficult. Although IN FUTURE ISSUES when Ephraim II arrived in Wrightsboro he was 32 years of age Genealogy Tidbits - MarchBy Carla Feature Grune Article - and already had a wife and 3 children, the best I have been able to DescendantsPages of 4William and do is to construct a circumstantial case concerning who he was, Drucilla Echols Owen—Part 5 and where he had been until then. In the belief that many of you by C. Owen Johnson Response to may find yourself in the same situation, you may find it interesting Margaret Owen≈ Thorpe’s Descendantsarticle of where my investigations led me, and how seemingly unrelated ReubenBy Pickett Judy PeeplesOwen—Part 4 facts came to bolster my conclusions. by JosephinePages 5Moeller ≈ With the proviso, then, that I remain unable to prove the following, allow me to present the evidence. The two facts that I started A DavidOwen Franklin Gravesites Owen PagesNarrative 6-7 with were that Ephraim II was born the beginning of 1738 and that by Hugh Goodman his father (Ephraim I) was also named Ephraim. My only source ≈ Sir Richard Owen Descendancy of for this was photocopied pages of the births and deaths pages of a By Carla Grune Henry “Buck” Owen family Bible belonging at some point to an Amos Owen, Ephraim Pages 8-9 By Marshall Thomas II’s grandson. Although we don’t know who made the various en- ≈ tries, the early Bible entries that we are concerned with appear to INEwing FUTURE Elmer Fidler ISSUES Story OwenBy Louis Lineage Owen have been made about 1800, only 15 or so years or so after Eph- raim II died, and at a time when quite a few of his children, and OwenOwen Politicians Histories perhaps even his wife, Mary Cooper, were still alive. Chris Hanlin (continued on page 4)

Volume 24, Issue 1 Owen Family News March 2009 Page 2 Editorial Staff of the The President’s Message Owen Family News from Thomas E. Owen

Editor & Officer Greetings Owen Family Association members, the plans are

Carla Grune rolling forward for our association meeting. It will be held 784 S. Villier Ct. the weekend of 28-29 August in Powder Springs, Georgia. Virginia Beach, VA 23452 The venue for our meetings will be the Latter-day Saint (757) 570-7079 [email protected] Church in Powder Springs. A large genealogy library is housed there. We will have the dedicated services of the li- Publisher & Officer brary on Friday afternoon for the early arrivals and then all day Saturday. Details of the Saturday program are still being Margaret Owen Parsons worked out, more in our next newsletter. The format will be 10300-142 Kings River Rd. Reedly, CA 93654 similar to our meeting two years ago. Friday evening we will (559) 250-0740 enjoy a dinner and a social, Saturday will be our meetings. If [email protected] there are members of the association who would like to make

Contributing Editors a presentation or display interesting family history information please send me an email at [email protected]. If Jane Owen Hillard there are specific topics you would like to be addressed let Kimberly Ayn Owen me know now and we will try to work them into the agenda. C. Owen Johnson William P. Owen, III Another key interest of the metro Atlanta area is our prox-

Proofreading Committee imity to one of the National Archives. It is located at 5780 Jonesboro Rd in Morrow, GA. This is about 25 miles from Margaret Owen Parsons our association meeting location. If you can stay over a day Michael Patrick Owen or come early there is plenty of research that can be done Alan D. Smith there. There is a website you can access for times and direc- Carolee Moncur, PhD tions (www.archives.gov/southeast/). Raye Puckett Marsha Carmack Owen Sue Owen As the Owen Family Association continues to grow I am looking forward to a great turn out at our meeting in August. Typist We will have great southern hospitality, and great entertain- Volunteer Needed ment to go along with it. Registration information and de-

Publication Dates tails will be in our June newsletter. Looking forward to see- March, June, September & December ing you in August. Deadlines are the 1st day of the month preceding publication. Tom Owen Submission of lineages, biographies, photographs, historical and genealogical data about any Owen anywhere is encouraged! Your ideas for the newsletter are also solicited, please contact the editor.

Volume 24, Issue 1 Owen Family News March 2009 Page 3

Update: The Owen DNA Project By Whit Athey ([email protected])

Seven new participants have joined the project in the last quarter. We now have about 155 Y-DNA records in the results table. Since the last newsletter, we have added one new group, which has been named Owen Group 23. This added group came as a result of one of the new participants matching a previously unmatched participant.

We need to have any participant who is listed in the results table without his earliest Owen ancestor being shown, to provide me with information on his Owen line.

Our understanding of the pre-history of modern humans has been greatly advanced by studies in popula- tion genetics, which use the same types of tests that we use in the Owen project. A very interesting video illustrating modern human migrations from an initial home in Africa, ultimately to every corner of the Earth, may be found at the following site: http://www.bradshawfoundation.com/journey/

This video represents one of two theories about when the “out of Africa” migration started, this one championed by Stephen Oppenheimer being the “early out” theory. According to this version of history, humans had already spread along the Indian Ocean coast to southeast Asia before the catastrophic explo- sion of Mt. Toba occurred 74,000 years ago. At the time of this well-dated eruption, most of the Indian subcontinent was buried to a depth of about 10 feet in volcanic ash, wiping out any inhabitants. Humans to the east of India survived and continued to spread east and north, and later returned to repopulate India and the Middle East. The alternate theory (not presented in the video), promoted by Spencer Wells of the Genographic Project is the “late departure” theory, which holds that humans did not leave Africa successfully until about 60,000 years ago. The mtDNA data seem to provide a little more support to the “early out” theory, while the Y-chromosome data seem to tilt a little toward the “late departure” theory. Regardless of the departure date, the main features of the video would be the same.

Many participants in the Owen DNA Project have asked if their results point toward any particular Euro- pean locale or ethnic group for the origin of their paternal line. Unfortunately, this is generally not possible yet except in a few cases with our current tests, but one day might be possible. There is one case where the origin can be inferred with good confidence—Haplogroup R1a is generally thought to have been introduced into Britain by the Vikings about 1000 years ago. Away from areas of Viking influence, Haplogroup R1a is rare in Britain. We have just two out of 155 participants in the Owen project who are R1a, and these two don’t seem closely related to each other (though they undoubtedly shared an ancestor a few thousand years ago).

For those who receive their newsletter by e-mail, a copy of the current DNA results table will also be at- tached. For printed newsletter recipients, a printed results table will be mailed with the June issue. You may check the results table at the project web site at any time—the table is updated as results are received. Here’s the link: http://www.hprg.com/owen.

Volume 24, Issue 1 Owen Family News March 2009 Page 4

(continued from page 1) Then one of the people I was corresponding with mentioned she had come upon an Eph- raim Owen who had received a land warrant (grant) of a tract of land in Bladen Precinct (later Bladen County), North Carolina, in August of 1735. I followed up and identified a number of transactions by this Ephraim and the location of his lands along the Southwest side of the Cape Fear River, but nothing that would tie the two Ephraims together. Not a common name, and more or less the right time and place, but… The next break came in the guise of a Baldwin family researcher who contacted me concerning a Sarah Ann Owen. According to this researcher, Sarah Ann married a David Bald- win who was from Bladen County. Her parents were supposedly an Ephraim and Sarah Owen from that area. If the Baldwin researchers’ data was correct, David, and perhaps his wife Sarah, were somewhat older than Ephraim II, but not too much. The thing finally that tipped the balance for me and made me believe I might well have found a connection was something that had nothing to do directly with Ephraim I. It was the fact that David Baldwin and his family and Ephraim II and his family both went to Wrightsboro, Georgia at about the same time. This strongly suggested to me that the appar- ent connections were more than coincidences, particularly since there is no evidence the Baldwins were Quakers. To the contrary, David Baldwin fought in the Revolution, and his son was killed at the siege of Augusta. In brief, if the Baldwins did not move to Wrights- boro to join a Quaker community, what brought them there? Someday, perhaps, I’ll find actual proof. Until then, where was Ephraim I before 1734?

Genealogy Tidbits By Carla Grune

I would like to share with our readers genealogy advice by Nancy M. Miller, the Collection Development Librarian for the Virginia Beach Public Library and a well-known expert in genealogy. Mrs. Miller suggests the following:

• Take a beginning genealogy class. • Interview family members and ask about family records. • Visit cemeteries. • Check Internet bulletin boards specializing in genealogy. • Join a local historical or genealogy society. • Suggested resources available at your library • Midnight Madness-a great event with classes for beginners. • Ancestry Library Edition • HeritageQuest Online

Volume 24, Issue 1 Owen Family News March 2009 Page 5

Response to Margaret Thorpe’s article By Judy Peeples ([email protected]) “John, Thomas, and William: The Devil’s in the Owen Details”

I agree with Margaret about following all those Thomas, William, and John Owens; however I do believe there is some evidence that DNA Group One can be tied to records in Antrim Parish in Halifax County, Virginia.

I have been researching the Thomas E. Owen born 1816 (DNA Group One) in Vir- ginia for many years. Thomas married Mary Petty in Halifax County July 8, 1839. Bonds- men were William McMillan and Harrison G. Owen. I believe there is sufficient evidence to prove this Thomas E. as the son of Thomas and Nancy Hill Owen. Thomas and Nancy married in Halifax County on October 11, 1797; Nancy was the daughter of William Hill. Tho- mas probably died about 1825 in Halifax as estate records start at that time, Nancy died March 8, 1849. They had 12 children: William, John, George, Martha Owen (all decd. by the time of the final estate records in 1856). Harrison, Henry, Thomas, Nancy Carlton, Elizabeth Carlton, Lucy McMillan (all no longer inhabitants of this state by 1856). James (died without heirs in 1857), Granville, and Mary Ann still living in Halifax County in 1856. To make estate records more confusing, daughter Martha married William Owen and daughter Mary Ann married Harrison G. Owen. Thomas and Nancy’s son Harrison is listed in one of the documents as son of Thomas to distinguish him from his brother in law Harri- son G. Owen.

This Thomas who married Nancy Hill can be proven through estate records to be the son of William Owen who left a will in Halifax County in 1806. This William had sons John, Hatcher, Thomas, and daughters Susannah, Agnes, Lucy mentioned in his will. A son William Jr., who died in 1781 and had lands and other property at the time, must have been at least 21 at the time of his death, probably older. Son Hatcher married in 1781 and was also probably at least 21 at the time of his marriage. They would have been born no later then 1760 and possible in the 1750’s. Based on the ages of these sons, William would have been likely born in the 1730’s or 40’s. Certainly William and his son Hatcher signed petitions at Antrim Parish and while it can’t be proven that William signed earlier petitions there, it seems likely to me.

Volume 24, Issue 1 Owen Family News March 2009 Page 6 Owen Gravesites (By Newton Trammell, Jr., Barbara Pilgrim Sams)

In the last newsletter, our president requested lists or locations of Owen cemetery plots. Newton Trammell, Jr. and Barbara Pilgrim Sams have contributed information on Owen gravesites. The contributors’ contact information is provided below. Please don’t forget to send your information to the editor of the OFA newsletter, Carla Grune.

Contributor: Newton Trammell, Jr. (Newton Trammell, Jr. 7 Kings Walk NE Atlanta, GA 30307) Governor (NC 12/12/1828-12/18/1830) John Owen (August, 1787-October 3, 1841) buried in St. Bar- tholomew's Episcopal Churchyard, Pittsboro, NC. There are nineteen graves of Owens and their relatives in Oakdale Cemetery, Section H, Lots 1 and 18, Wilmington, NC. Most of the graves are unmarked but I have the names. John Porterfield Owen (1818-6/13/1847) is buried in the Old Church Street Cemetery, Mobile, Ala- bama. Unmarked but the grave is recorded in the Cemetery's records.

Contributor: Barbara Pilgrim Sams ([email protected]) My family line goes back to Uriah Owen, Rev. War Patriot who died in Wilkes County, GA 1820. The graves for Uriah and his wife have not been located, though it is believed he is buried in an unmarked grave on the family farm in Wilkes County, nor have I the grave of his son Benjamin. So it would be mostly Ben- jamin's descendants that I have knowledge of burial info. I have located some Owen Family members and have posted them to www.findagrave.com. They are buried in church cemeteries, not particularly family cemeteries.

Membership Dues Notice

OWEN FAMILY ASSOCIATION

Persons joining anytime during the calendar year will receive all 4 issues of the OWEN FAMILY NEWS for that year. Back issues & current issues are sent at the next general mailing: March, June, September, December. We do not accept multiple-year memberships.

2009 MEMBERSHIP (1 Year) $10.00 2009 Make check payable to Owen Family Association and mail to: Owen Family Association c/o George Shirley, 508 Arbor Dr., Madison, MS 39110 (Print Clearly) Name: ______Address: ______City: ______State:______Zip Code: ______-______E-mail:______Phone: (______) ______-______Preferred Newsletter Delivery (√ one) □ E-mail □ United States Postal Service

Volume 24, Issue 1 Owen Family News March 2009 Page 7 General Information about Find A Grave (www.findagrave.com)

What is Find A Grave? Find A Grave is a resource for finding the final resting place of family, friends, and 'famous' individuals. With millions of names and photos, it is an invaluable tool for the genealogist and family history buff. Find A Grave memorials can contain rich content including photos, biographies and dates. Visitors can leave 'virtual flowers' on the memorials they visit, completing the online cemetery experience.

How do I join Find A Grave? Becoming a Find A Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. To proceed, just enter your email address and choose a password on the Find A Grave New Member Page. We will never share your email address with anyone! If you're interested you can read our full privacy policy.

AOL users, please note that AOL has been blocking Find A Grave email from time to time. If you are ex- periencing this, we recommend the use of Yahoo, Hotmail, or Gmail.

Please note that only one account per person is allowed. Multiple accounts will be merged.

How much does it cost to become a member and use Find A Grave? Nothing. Find A Grave is completely FREE! We do not charge anything for any of our services. You can become a member, create a memorial, submit data, add flowers, add photos and search our database at no charge.

Why did you create Find A Grave? We believe this information is important for many reasons. It is of great historical importance to have a record of all those who have been a part of our collective humanity. Burial information is a wonderful resource for people researching their families (genealogists). Most importantly, visiting a gravesite is a way of keeping the memory of someone alive. We aim to create a comprehensive 'virtual cemetery' where loved ones can visit graves, leave flowers, etc. when they cannot do so in real life due to geography, finances or other cir- cumstances.

Is Find A Grave a non-profit organization? No, we are not a non-profit organization.

Help...my question isn't here. How can I contact Find A Grave? Email: [email protected]

Mail: Find A Grave PO Box 522107 Salt Lake City, UT 84152-2107

You can also use the Find A Grave Discussion Forums to ask your question or post some corrections. Other members may know the answer to your question. Under the main Find A Grave Help with Find A Grave fo- rum are the specific forums for submitting fixes, new Bios, memorial transfers, duplicate removal, negative virtual flower removal, etc. Be sure to find the first post on any of the official forums and follow the instruc- tions listed there. Volume 24, Issue 1 Owen Family News March 2009 Page 8

Scientist Sir Richard Owen By Carla Grune

I happened upon Sir Richard Owen researching Owen(s) in science. It is rather ironic that I came upon this information on the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin’s birth (2/12/1809) and that Sir Richard did not see eye-to-eye with Charles Darwin's theory of evolution. This information comes to you via the website, http:// www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/history/owen.html. I welcome articles on other Owen’s in science.

Richard Owen was born in Lancaster, England, on July 20, 1804. His family traced its ancestry back to both Lancashire and French Huguenot ancestry; his dark hair and features would suggest his mother's French heritage. Owen's family was not wealthy, and Owen's father died when the boy was five years old. Owen did get a chance to attend Lancaster Grammar School, but was considered "lazy and impudent" by his school- masters. He soon enlisted as a midshipman in the Royal Navy, but became interested in surgery and came back to Lancaster to pursue a medical career. His medical training began in 1820 with his indenture to a local surgeon. Owen entered the University of Edinburgh medical school in 1824. However, he was displeased with the quality of teaching, especially in comparative anatomy. Like Darwin, after him, Owen enrolled in Barclay School, a private school offering instruction in anatomy. Here he was deeply influenced by John Barclay, who was an avowed anti-materialist. At the time, Edinburgh physicians and scientists were hotly debating whether mind and life could be reduced to material explanations, or whether mind was a completely sepa- rate, non-physical entity that could not be reduced to physical phenomena. Barclay supported this anti- materialist, dualist view, arguing that the essence of life was a "Vital Principle" and the essence of mind was a "Soul", neither of which was material. Owen was strongly influenced by Barclay's views. Owen did not get a degree at Edinburgh, but moved to London. With the recommendation of Barclay, Owen apprenticed with John Abernathy, surgeon and philosopher. Like Barclay, Abernathy was an anti-materialist who supported a mind/body duality. Abernathy was also President of the Royal College of Surgeons, and helped grant Owen membership into and licensing from the Royal College in 1826. Owen was soon to become an assistant in cataloging the Hunterian Collection of thirteen thousand human and animal anatomical specimens, which had been purchased by the Crown after the death of its owner, the famous surgeon John Hunter. The Crown had passed the Hunterian Collection to the Royal College, with the stipulation that the collection be made available to the public and medical community by the founding of a lecture series and a museum. Since the material was to be made available to the public, the College appointed Owen as an assistant curator to the collection. Unfortunately, a previous caretaker of Hunter's estate, the surgeon Sir Everard Home, had burned most of Hunter's papers and documentation (because he had been publishing Hunter's discoveries as his own, and was afraid of getting caught). This meant that Owen had to identify and catalogue the entire collection anew. But by 1830 he had labeled and identified every specimen, reorganized the entire collection and was publishing a catalogue. Owen became more interested in comparative anatomy and less interested in practicing medicine. After publishing anatomical work on the cephalopod Nautilus, and after meeting Cuvier in 1830 and at- tending the 1831 debates between Cuvier and Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, Owen became Hunterian Lecturer in comparative anatomy, charged with giving lectures on anatomy that would use make of the Hunterian collections. In 1837, Owen gave his first series of Hunterian Lectures to the public. These popular lectures were attended by royalty and many important figures in Victorian England. Charles Darwin, back from his expedi- tions on the H.M.S. Beagle, also attended these lectures. At the same time, Owen was working on describing the fossil vertebrates which Darwin had brought back from South America on the Beagle.

Volume 24, Issue 1 Owen Family News March 2009 Page 9

Owen's reputation as a scientist grew rapidly. He served on a series of government committees, took part in the London Exhibition of 1851, and served as an advisor and expert witness to the government on all sorts of scientific matters. He taught natural history to Queen Victoria's children (astonishing the court with the news that tadpoles turned into frogs). Unfortunately, Owen was not easy to get along with; his vain, arrogant, envious, and vindictive personality seems to have inspired distaste in most of his colleagues. Charles Darwin reminisced in his autobiography that Owen became his enemy after the publication of the Origin of Species, "not owing to any quarrel between us, but as far as I could judge out of jealousy at its success." In 1856, Owen was appointed Superintendent of the natural history collections at the British Museum. He immediately started a campaign to make the natural history departments of the British Museum into a sepa- rate museum. (He was helped in this by the Librarian, Antonio Panizzi, who hated the natural history depart- ment and wanted it out of the British Museum.) His campaign bore fruit with the construction, beginning in 1873, of a new building in South Kensington to house the newly created British Museum (Natural History). The Museum opened its doors in 1881, but only in 1963 was it made fully independent from the British Mu- seum and renamed the Natural History Museum. Owen was also a taxonomist, naming and describing a vast number of living and fossil vertebrates. One of his positions was that of prosector for the London Zoo, which meant that he had to dissect and preserve any zoo animals that died in captivity. This gave him vast experience with the anatomy of exotic animals. (It also caused him some domestic difficulties, since he had to do this work at his own house. His wife Caroline recorded in her diary how, one summer day, "the presence of a portion of the defunct elephant on the prem- ises" rendered the house so foul-smelling that she "got R. to smoke cigars all over the house.") He rose to fame as "the British Cuvier" when, in 1839, presented with a bone fragment from New Zealand, he noted that it resembled an ostrich bone, and dared to state that giant flightless birds had lived in New Zealand. A few years later, a missionary sent Owen a large collection of bones that confirmed his conclusion, and Owen named the giant bird Dinornis -- the extinct moa. In 1863, Owen reported on the first specimen of an unusual Jurassic fossil from Germany, the famous bird Archaeopteryx lithographica. Perhaps Owen's most famous taxonomic act resulted from his examination of reptile-like fossil bones that were being found in southern England by naturalists such as Gideon Mantell. Owen concluded that the bones of Iguanodon, Megalosau- rus, and Hylaeosaurus were not lizards, but represented "a distinct tribe or sub-order of Saurian Reptiles." In 1842, he named this taxon the Dinosauria. Owen also described the anatomy of a newly discovered species of ape, which had only been discovered in 1847 -- the gorilla. However, Owen's anti-materialist and anti-Darwinian views led him to state that goril- las and other apes lack certain parts of the brain that humans have, specifically a structure known as the hippocampus minor. The uniqueness of human brains, Owen thought, showed that humans could not possibly have evolved from apes. Owen persisted in this view even when Thomas Henry Huxley conclusively showed that Owen was mistaken -- apes do have a hippocampus. This tarnished Owen's scientific standing towards the end of his life. Victorian author Charles Kingsley satirized the dispute in his childrens' classic The Water- Babies. After Owen's death, Huxley reviewed Owen's work, and concluded that "hardly any of these speculations and determinations have stood the test of investigation, or, indeed, that any of them were ever widely accepted. I am not sure that anyone but the historian of anatomical science is ever likely to recur to them. . . ." But Owen has fared better than the fate Huxley predicted. His taxonomic work included a number of important discoveries, and his role in founding the British Museum of Natural History left a lasting legacy to scientists and lay persons alike. His concept of homology, reinterpreted in evolutionary terms, remains an ex- tremely important and still-contentious biological concept. And, as a public figure, lecturer, and expert, he helped biology grow in prestige and public understanding.

Volume 24, Issue 1 Owen Family News March 2009 Page 10

Queries, We want Queries!

Hail Lewis (218 East Ave. Apt. 2, North Tonawanda, NY 14120) found information on John Hunt and Mary Owen in Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy by Wm. Wade Hinshaw. A marriage bond is recorded on the 6th of May 1793 in Bedford Co. VA If anyone has more information on John Hunt and Mary Owen, please write to him.

Please send queries or information on queries to Carla Grune, cgrune@epatentmanager. com or mail to 784 S. Villier Ct. Virginia Beach, VA 23452.

Thanks for all your contributions!

Owen Family News and Source Book Order Form

CD ORDER FORM Name ______

Address______

State ______Zip______

Description of CD [Adobe PDF format] *Amount x Qty = Total Owen Source Book $10.00 ______Book 1 Owen Family Newsletters [Vol 1-8] $10.00 ______Book 2 Owen Family Newsletters [Vol 9-12] $10.00 ______Book 3 Owen Family Newsletters [Vol 13-16] $10.00 ______Book 4 Owen Family Newsletters [Vol 17-20] $10.00 ______A complete set of all five CD’s $35.00 ______Total (*includes shipping & handling) $ ______** **Send this amount by check or money order payable to Owen Family Association, c/o Jane Owen 4190 Hurricane Shores Dr. Benton, AR 72019 (Please include a copy of this form with your order) These CD’s are in Adobe PDF format and can be read on your computer by Adobe Reader software. If this software is not installed on your computer, it’s free from Adobe.com. . Volume 24, Issue 1 Owen Family News March 2009 Page 11

Welcome New Members

Members, if you have information about these Owen(s) lines, please contact our new member(s).

Resa Nichols Hennings (#430) 439 Bayou View Drive, El Lago, TX 77586-6105 (281) 326-4936; resa@resa. us. Earliest ancestor: Richard Owen b. 1675/79 d.1756 VA wife Elizabeth; through daughter Mary and hus- band John Nichols.

Sharon Hobson (#431) 5335 Hilltop Trail, Perry, MI 48872-9169 (517) 625-6538; [email protected]. Earliest ancestor: Rachel Owen/s b ca 1788 VA, m. Thomas Lemond.

Louis D. Owens & Elsie Owens (#432) 338 Griffin Lane, South Pittsburg, TN 37380 (423) 837-3870 Cell 423-240-9080; [email protected]. No information on ancestor.

Patrick Owings (#433) 3620 Hampton Avenue, Nashville, TN 37215 (615) 772-4086; [email protected]. Earliest ancestor: Capt Richard Owings b. 1659 UK, d. 1716 MD, m. Rachel Robert; through son Richard Owings.

Robert Shepherd Owen (#434) 1333 Maple Bend Trail, Lawrenceville, GA 30043 (770) 540-4920; [email protected]. Earliest ancestor: Julius Mack Owen d. 1884 Rosman, NC; m. Minerva.

Monica Maynard (#435) 177 Alan Sawyer Road, Shawboro, NC 27973 (919) 336-4330; [email protected]. John Owens B. 1691 m. Mildred Grant.

Donn Davidson (#436) 8947 West Delaware Parkway, Munster, IN 46321; [email protected]. No information on ancestor.

MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION For information or an application for membership, please e-mail [email protected] or write to: Owen Fam- ily Association c/o Josephine Moeller 401 S. 14th St., St. Charles, IL 60174.

Thanks from the Editor

Thank you to David O. Jackson, Judy Peeples, Newton Trammell, Jr., and Barbara Pilgrim Sams for their contribution to this edition of the newsletter. This newsletter is made possible by the many contributors who have graciously shared their stories, genealogy lines and com- mentaries. Thank you for your contributions. Please send future articles to [email protected]. Our newsletter is a reflection of our wonderful contributors, so keep up the good work.

Owen Family News 1st class postage “Owen, a name worth knowing”

Owen Family Association Margaret Owen Parsons, Publisher 10300-142 Kings River Road Reedley CA 93654

Association Officers

Thomas E. Owen, President 1478 Dallas Circle Marietta, GA 30064 (770) 426-6647 [email protected]

M. Fred Owen, Vice President Owen Family Association P.O. Box 4805 Horseshoe Bay, The Owen Family Association was organized in 1981. TX 78657—(830) 598-6545 [email protected] The objectives of the association are: ▪ To establish and document as complete a list of descendants of Owen Jane Owen, Secretary Historian and allied families as possible. 4190 Hurricane Shores Dr. Benton AR 72019 (501)794-1751 ▪ To collect a narrative history of individual family lines of descent . [email protected] ▪ To compile and maintain a listing of cemeteries, homes and other buildings and sites associated with Owen and allied families. George Shirley, Treasurer ▪ To publish and distribute a periodic newsletter. 508 Arbor Dr. Madison, MS ▪ To bring members of the family association together for periodic reunions. 39110 (601) 856-9041 ▪ To aid association members to establish their family line and assist them in [email protected] joining hereditary and patriotic societies, if they so desire. ▪ To ultimately produce a volume documenting the verified family histories. Josephine Moeller, Genealogist ▪ To provide publications to Genealogy Libraries in order to assist Owen 401 S 14th St., St. Charles IL 60174 (630) 513-6808 researchers. [email protected] Annual dues of $10.00 are payable January 1st . The Owen Family News is published quarterly and is subject to copyright. Board of Directors Robert McCrary George Shirley C. Owen Johnson OWEN FAMILY NEWS

Volume 24, Issue 2 Published by Owen Family Association June 2009 Page 1 http//www.geocities.com/~owenfamily

Margaret Owen Thorpe, Our new OFA Genealogist

Margaret Owen Thorpe has been seriously hunting her wily and elusive ancestors for about ten years. She has successfully caught many but still cannot connect her ggggrandfather Mosbey Owen to his parents. Thanks to her brother’s DNA, she knows she belongs to Owen DNA Group #1 – the Tho- mas/John/William Owen family that settled on the Chickahominy River in Henrico County, Virginia, probably in the late 17th century. The elusive and INSIDE THIS ISSUE wily Mosbey was born about 1750. She hopes to go to the Library of Virginia INSIDE THIS ISSUE Our Feature Article: in Richmond in the next year – and hopes to solve many mysteries there. Margaret Owen Thorpe, Descendants of William and Our new OFA Genealogist Drucilla Echols Owen—Part 4 Page 1 C. Owen Johnson She has two and a half degrees in American History. Like so many people,

Page 52 she never wrote her Ph.D. dissertation. But she holds a B.A. in History from The President’s Message the University of Southern California and an M.A. from the University of ReubenThomas Pickett Evan OwenOwen Page 2 Wisconsin. The graduate school explains how a native Californian ended up and His Descendants: living in Minnesota and shoveling snow. The degrees mean that, if someone’s Adrian Boone Owen ancestor died in 1856, she will know he did not fight in the Civil War/War OwenJody MoellerDNA Update and LeeBy WhitGentemenn Athey Between the States/War of Northern Aggression. The degrees also mean that PagePage 55 3 she’s not scared of musty primary sources – old probate records, old newspa- pers, and dank libraries. She’s done enough of all of those to know that they A FewIN FUTURE Famous ISSUES Owen(s) make her sneeze. Page 3 - March Feature Article - DescendantsDavid Crockett’s of William move toand A few years ago, she edited The Gooch-Owen Families of Buncombe County, Drucilla Echols Owen—Part 5 Weakley County North Carolina, written by her fourth cousin once removed, Dayna Gooch Ja- by C. Owen Johnson Contributor Josephine Moeller cobs, and also wrote some of the articles in the book. The book won the Old Pages≈ 4-5 Descendants of Buncombe County Genealogical Society’s Sondley Award for the best genealogy connected to Buncombe County published that year. She also wrote ReubenThe Origins Pickett of Owen—Part Garryowen 4 “Creating Lexington”, an article for a recent Lafayette County, Missouri, (In Honorby Josephine of Memorial Moeller Day) Contributor ≈Carla Grune Commemorative History, about the founding of Lexington, Lafayette A DavidPages Franklin 6-9 Owen County’s seat, in 1819 by Abel and Wilson Owen and their brother-in-law Narrative Ben Gooch. Thank-yous,by Hugh Good-byesGoodman and New Beginnings≈ ByDescendancy Carla Grune of Professionally, she is a market and business development consultant and Henry Page“Buck” 11 Owen works with the Small Business Development Center at the University of St. By Marshall Thomas Thomas in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Among other roles, she teaches research ≈ strategies and methods to entrepreneurs and business owners. She has been a Ewing Elmer Fidler Story government bureaucrat and executive and a corporate road warrior. She has By Louis Owen IN FUTURE ISSUES also published over three dozen articles in several periodicals, primarily on

Owen Histories business topics. Her website is www.owenideas.com. Her email is marga- To Be Determined Chris Hanlin [email protected].

Volume 24, Issue 2 Owen Family News June 2009 Page 2 Editorial Staff of the The President’s Message Owen Family News from Thomas E. Owen

Editor & Officer The Bi-annual Owen Family Association meeting will soon be here. We hope you are making your plans to be in Powder Springs, Georgia the weekend of 28-29 Au- Carla Owen Grune gust. Make your reservations at the Holiday Inn Express at 3741 Tramore Pointe, 784 S. Villier Ct. Powder Springs, GA 30106. The toll free reservation number is 888-465-4329. The Va. Beach, VA 23452 local number for the front desk is 770-349-8000. This facility is less than three years 757-486-2088 old. I am sure you will find it very accommodating. [email protected] The city of Powder Springs is located about twenty miles northwest of Atlanta. Pow- (New Editor needed) der Springs was incorporated in 1859. You can read a short history about Powder Springs at the city’s website - http://www.cityofpowdersprings.org Publisher & Officer Here is what we have planned for an enjoyable and interesting weekend:

Margaret Owen Parsons • Friday Evening – A social hour at the hotel from 5:00 – 6:30. Dinner is on your 10300-142 Kings River Rd. own. We will have a handout for you listing all the local eateries. Reedly, CA 93654 • Saturday Morning – Continental Breakfast at hotel or on your own. An IHOP is (559) 250-0740 located nearby. [email protected] • Saturday Morning Session – 9:00 to 11:30, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2595 New Macland Rd., Powder Springs, GA. (map will be provided). Contributing Editors The morning session will begin with a short business meeting. The remainder of the morning will be an informative session on how to use the “tools” available Jane Owen Hillard through the LDS Family Search website. • Lunch on your own, local eatery list will be provided.. Kimberly Ayn Owen • Afternoon Session – 1:00- 4:00 C. Owen Johnson • 1:00 – 2:30 Sharing and working on your own Owen family research in the William P. Owen, III onsite genealogical library. • Break – 2:30 – 2:45 Proofreading Committee • 2:45 – 4:00 Continue work on Owen family research • Dinner – 6:00 same location Margaret Owen Parsons • Authentic Southern Barbeque including barbeque pork and chicken and all the fixin’s. Michael Patrick Owen • Guest speaker – Kenneth Brantley, president of the Brantley Family Associa- Alan D. Smith tion. Mr. Brantley will discuss his recent research and extraction project in Carolee Moncur, PhD South Hampton County, VA. Raye Puckett Marsha Carmack Owen The cost for the meeting this year is $30.00 per person. This includes the dinner on Saturday evening. We did not block/hold any rooms so please make your reservation Sue Owen soon! The conference fee can be mailed to Owen Association, 1478 Dallas Circle Marietta, GA 30064. Make the checks payable to Tom Owen. If you prefer register- Typist ing on line use Pay pal and email [email protected]. Volunteer Needed Registration will close August 15th. If you have any questions email me at owenas- Publication Dates [email protected] or call 770-823-8454. March, June, September & December Deadlines are the 1st day of the If you plan to come early or stay late the southeast national archives is just south of month preceding publication. Atlanta, http://www.archives.gov/southeast. The state archives is very close to the national archives, http://sos.georgia.gov/archives. Submission of lineages, biographies, photographs, historical and genealogical See ya’ll in August for a peach of an event!! data about any Owen anywhere is encouraged! Your ideas for the newsletter are Tom Owen also solicited, please contact the editor.

Volume 24, Issue 2 Owen Family News June 2009 Page 3

Update: The Owen DNA Project By Whit Athey ([email protected])

Mr. Athey is busy completing the Spring issue of the Journal of Genetic Genealogy and has provided the updated DNA Report for this newsletter. If there are any questions please contact Mr. Athey.

A few famous Owen(s)

• Col. Abraham OWEN (Owensboro, Owen Co. KY, etc.) • Alvis Edgar OWENS [Buck OWENS] (Country western singer) • Arnold Malcolm OWEN [Mickey OWEN] (baseball player) • Charles Councilman OWENS (Owens Boat Co.) • Commodore Perry OWENS (frontier sheriff) • Dana Elaine OWENS (rap singer Queen Latifah) • Doie Hensley OWENS [Tex OWENS] (Country western singer, "Cattle Call") • Gary OWENS (radio/TV personality, Laugh-In) • Harry OWENS (Band leader, The Royal Hawaiians, "Sweet Leilani") • James Cleveland OWENS [Jesse OWENS] (track star) • Leilani OWENS ("Sweet Leilani", academy award song) • Loren Everett OWENS [Steve OWENS] (football Heisman trophy 1969) • Marcia OWEN (aka Sally STANFORD, madam and mayor) • Maribel VINSON [Maribel OWEN] (Figure skating champion and coach) • Mark James OWENS (African naturalist, author, "Cry of the Kalahari") • Mary S. OWENS (Abraham Lincoln's other Mary) • Michael Joseph OWENS (Owens-Corning, Owens-Illinois, Libbey-Owens, etc.) • Otis Otho OWENS (Owens & Minor Corp. - medical supplies) • Richard Henry OWENS (postmaster, Owens, VA) • Capt. Richard Lemmon OWINGS (Owens Valley CA, Owens Lake, etc.) • Robert OWEN (Social reformer, New Harmony IN) • Theodor B. OWENS [Teddy OWENS] (in "How the Grinch Stole Christmas") • Thomas Jefferson Vance OWEN (possible founder of Chicago) • William A. OWENS (East Texas historian, folklorist, "This Stubborn Soil") • Virginia Katherine McMATH (movie star Ginger ROGERS, daughter of Lela Emogen OWENS) • Dolly Rebecca PARTON [Dolly PARTON] (country singer, movie star, daughter of Avielee Caro- line OWENS) • Bessie SMITH (blues singer, daughter of Laura OWEN)

Volume 24, Issue 2 Owen Family News June 2009 Page 4

David Crockett’s move to Weakley County Contributor Josephine Moeller (These few pages were sent to Josephine Moeller by a researcher in Obion Co. TN)

The Owen in this article is William Owen and his wife Sarah Edmondson with their large family. This Owen family was written about in a previous edition of the OFA newsletter. This William Owen was the son of William/Drucilla Owen. He was born ca 1765 in Pittsylvania Co. VA; moved with the family to GA where he met his wife; moved to Hopkins Co. KY with his brother Reuben Pickett. Then about 1820 sold his land in KY and moved to TN. Deed records say to Henry Co. TN, but he moved before there were counties formed in that area, so he actually lived on the line between Weakley Co. and Obion Co. TN. When he died in April 1824 his probate was in Obion Co. and the land transactions in Weakley Co. For more on this family see Owen Family News, Vol. 21, issue 2, June 2006.

This account from David Crockett gives proof that William Owen and his family were in the area.

Chapter Ten:

“ After returning from the Legislature, I determined to make another move and so I took my eldest son with me, and a young man by the name of Abram Henry and cut out for the Obion. I selected a spot when I got there, where I determined to settle; and the nearest house to it was 7 miles, the next nearest was 15, and so on to 20. It was a complete wilderness, and full of Indians who were hunting. Game was plenty of almost every kind, which suited me exactly, as I was always fond of hunting. The nearest house to me (7 miles) was on a different side of the Obion river, belonged to a man named Owens, and I started to there. I had taken one horse along, to pack our provisions, and when I got to the water, I hobbled him out to the graze, until I got back; as there was no boat to cross the river in, and it was so high that it had overflowed all the bottoms and low country near it. We now took water like so many beavers, not withstanding it was mighty cold, and waded on. The water would sometimes be up to our necks, and at others not so deep; but I went, of course, before and carried a pole, with which I would feel along before me, to see how deep it was, and to guard against falling into a slough, as there was many in our way. When I would come to one, I would take out my tomahawk and cut a small tree across it, and then go ahead again. Frequently my little son would have to swim, even where I could wade, but we worked on till we got at last to the channel of the river, which made it about 1/2 mile we had waded from where we took water,. At last we came in sight of the house, which was more pleasing than ever; for we were wet all over and mighty cold. I felt might sorry for my little boy to see him shaking like he had the worst sort of an ague, for there was no time for fever then. As we got near the house, we saw Mr. Owens and several men that were with him, just starting away. They saw us and stop’d but looked much astonished until we got up to them, and I made myself known. The men who were with him were the owners of a boat which was the first that ever went up the Obion river; and some hands he had hired to carry it about a hundred miles still further up, by water, tho it was only about 30 by land, as the river is very crooked.

We turned back to the house, where I found Mrs. Owens a fine, friendly old woman; and her kindness to my little boy did me a lot of good. The old gentleman set out his bottle to us, and I concluded that if a horn wasn’t good then, there was no use for its invention. So I swig’d off about 1/2 pint, and the young man by no means bashful in such a case; he took a strong pull at it too. I then gave my boy some, and in a little time felt pretty well. I left my son with the old lady, and myself and my young man went aboard the boat with Mr. Owens and the others. The boat was loaded with whiskey, flour, sugar, coffee, salt, castings, and other articles suitable for the county; and they were to receive $500.00 to land the load at McLemore’s

Volume 24, Issue 2 Owen Family News June 2009 Page 5

(cont. from p. 4) Bluff, beside the profit they could make on there load. We staid all night with them and had a high night of it. In the morning we went on with the boat to where a great hurricane had crossed the river, and blowed all the timber down into it. We found the river was falling fast and we couldn’t get through the timber without more rise; so we drop’d down opposite Mr. Owens again, and waited for more water.”

Maps of David Crockett’s Location from 1821 to 1836

Davy’s first contact was with Mr. Owens in 1821. Mr. Owens location was where Mud Creek and the South Fork of the Obion River Fork near the old Troy Road in what is now Obion County. On the 1880 map this was shown as Owens Landing.

1836 Map of Weakley County

Volume 24, Issue 2 Owen Family News June 2009 Page 6 The Origins of Garryowen (In Honor of Memorial Day) Contributor Carla Grune The origins of Garryowen are unclear, but it emerged in the late eighteenth century, when it was a drinking song of rich young roisters in Limerick. It obtained immediate popularity in the British Army through the 5th (Royal Irish) Lancers, who were garrisoned in Limerick and was played throughout the Napoleonic War, becoming the regimental march of the 18th Foot (The Royal Irish Regiment).

A very early reference to the tune appears in The Life of the Duke of Wellington by Jocquim Hayward Stoc- queler, published in 1853. He describes the defence of the town of Tarifa in late December 1811, during the Peninsular War. General H. Gough, later Field Marshall Hugh Gough, 1st Viscount Gough, commanding officer of the 87th Regiment (at that time known as the Royal Irish Fusiliers), after repulsing an attack by French Grenadiers "...was not, however, merely satisfied with resistance. When the enemy, scared, ran from the walls, he drew his sword, made the band strike up 'Garry Owen', and followed the fugitives for two or three hundred yards."

Garryowen was also a favorite in the Crimean War. The tune has also been associated with a number of Brit- ish military units, and is the authorized regimental march of The Irish Regiment of Canada. It was the regimental march of the Liverpool Irish, British Army It is the regimental march of the London Irish Rifles (now part of The London Regiment (TA)). It was also the regimental march of the 50th (The Queen's Own) Foot (later The Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment) until 1869.

In the mid-1800s, Garryowen became the marching tune for the 69th Infantry Regiment, New York Militia, (the famed "Fighting 69th"). The "Fighting 69th" adopted Garryowen before the Civil War and recently brought it back to combat in Operation Iraqi Freedom

It later became the marching tune for the US 7th Cavalry Regiment during the late 1800s. The tune was a favorite of General George Armstrong Custer and became the official air of the Regiment in 1867. According to legend it was the last tune played before the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

Lyrics There are many versions of lyrics for Garryowen, including one for the 7th Cavalry, but the traditional version is: 1. Let Bacchus' sons be not dismayed But join with me, each jovial blade Come, drink and sing and lend your aid To help me with the chorus: Chorus: Instead of spa, we'll drink brown ale And pay the reckoning on the nail; No man for debt shall go to jail From Garryowen in glory. 2. We are the boys who take delight In smashing Limerick lamps at night, And through the street like sportsters fight, Tearing all before us Instead of spa, we'll drink brown ale And pay the reckoning on the nail; No man for debt shall go to jail From Garryowen in glory. Volume 24, Issue 2 Owen Family News June 2009 Page 7

2. We are the boys who take delight In smashing Limerick lamps at night, And through the street like sportsters fight, Tearing all before us Instead of spa, we'll drink brown ale And pay the reckoning on the nail; No man for debt shall go to jail From Garryowen in glory. 3. We'll break the windows, we'll break down doors, The watch knock down by threes and fours, And let the doctors work their cures, And tinker up our bruised Instead of spa, we'll drink brown ale And pay the reckoning on the nail; No man for debt shall go to jail From Garryowen in glory. 4. We'll beat the bailiffs out of fun, We'll make the mayor and sheriffs run We are the boys no man dares dun If he regards a whole skin. Instead of spa, we'll drink brown ale And pay the reckoning on the nail; No man for debt shall go to jail From Garryowen in glory. 5. Our hearts so stout have got us fame For soon 'tis known from whence we came Where'er we go they fear the name Of Garryowen in glory. Instead of spa, we'll drink brown ale And pay the reckoning on the nail; No man for debt shall go to jail From Garryowen in glory.

The 7th Cavalry's version as of 1905 consisted of these lyrics here. [Verse 1]

We are the pride of the Army and a regiment of great renown, Our Name's on the pages of History. From sixty-six on down. If you think we stop or falter While into the fray we're going Just watch the steps with our heads erect, While our band plays Garryowen. (Chorus)

"Chorus"

In the Fighting Seventh's the place for me, It’s the cream of all the Cavalry; No other regiment ever can claim It’s pride, honor, glory and undying fame.

Volume 24, Issue 2 Owen Family News June 2009 Page 8

[Verse 2] We know fear when stern duty Calls us far away from home, Our country's flag shall safely o'er us wave, No matter where we roam. "Tis the gallant 7th Cavalry It matters not where we are going" Such you'll surely say as we march away; And our band plays Garryowen. (Chorus)

[Verse 3]

Then hurrah for our brave commanders! Who led us into the fight. We'll do or die in our country's cause, And battle for the right. And when the war is o'er, And to our home we're goin Just watch your step, with our heads erect, When our band plays Garryowen. (Chorus)

Reference: "From Custer to MacArthur, the 7th U.S. Cavalry" Edward L. Daily.

Appearance in film and television • The song is referenced several times in the movie We Were Soldiers although the tune itself is never heard in the final cut. • The song is featured in the movie The Last Samurai during the Winchester exhibition. • They Died with their Boots On (Errol Flynn 1941-lyrics actually sung). • The Long Gray Line (Tyrone Power 1955-band company playing on the parade grounds at West Point and integrated throughout the score as a love theme between the main character Marty Maher and his wife- to-be Mary O'Donnell). • Little Big Man (Dustin Hoffman 1970-fife instrumental played several times). • Jeremiah Johnson (Robert Redford 1972- heard accompanying 7th Cavalry). • Son of the Morning Star (Gary Cole 1991 - Whistled by Custer and his regiment on the march and played by a practicing band). • Fort Apache and She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, sung by the cavalry troopers and also used as part of the score. • Pilot Pete Sandich played by Richard Dreyfuss whistles the tune while flying in Steven Spielberg's 1989 film Always. • Played throughout the movie The Fighting 69th by Warner Bros. 1940 starring James Cagney, Pat O'Brien and Alan Hale which chronicles the World War I exploits of the "Irish" 69th New York Infantry (redesignated the 165th U.S. Infantry upon America's entry into the war.) • Instrumental played throughout and portion sang by a female vocalist (Elan Oberon) during a parade scene in the 1997 film Rough Riders • Played in Gangs of New York at an American Nativist society celebration - perhaps, ironically, given the song's immigrant heritage. • The Searchers (1956) as "Cavalry Crosses the Snowfield" • A version of it is played in the "Attack of the Hawkmen" episode of "The Young Indiana Jones Chroni- cles" as the men of the Lafayette Escadrille head off in a car to Paris to get Nungesser after he's been chal- lenged to a duel by the Red Baron. A hard rock version of the song is played at the beginning of the BBC Documentary series, Decisive Weap- ons

Volume 24, Issue 2 Owen Family News June 2009 Page 9 Appearance in literature • Mentioned in Flashman and the Redskins by George MacDonald Fraser. A slightly different set of lyrics appear in Fraser's book. Also mentioned in Flashman at the Charge, also by Frasier • Used by the forces of Skye in the Mechwarrior novel, Flight of the Falcon by Victor Milan. It is also sung, with slightly different lyrics. • In James Joyce's novel Ulysses, a character named "The Citizen" has a dog named Garryowen. • In Winston Groom's novel Better Times Than These the song is mentioned several times. • In Wayne Sayles' biography of William Edward Cramsie, First To Fall several mentions of the song weave a cultural thread. • Birmingham, John - Axis of Time vol. 3 - Final Impact

External resources The Digital Tradition database has a number of entries about this tune. • Traditional lyrics: "Garryowen" • 7th Cavalry specific version: "Gary Owen" Historical Resources • 5th (Royal Irish) Lancers connection to the early history of Garryowen: Royal Irish Lancers • 1st Squadron 7th Cavalry (history, song, etc.): US Army site • 1st Cavalry Division (history): US Army site • 7th U.S. Cavalry Assn. Legend of the "Garryowen" • General Information: (2004.03.17) The "American Soldier" blog, no name or expertise cited, but the information is well-written, complete and meshes with other sources. Retrieved 2004.12.10.

References Some information taken from the resources listed above. • GlobalSecurity.org (2004) 4th Squadron 7th Cavalry Regiment Retrieved • Lewis Winstock, Songs & Music of the Redcoats, 1642 - 1902, (1970) • Walter Wood, The Romance of Regimental Marches, (1932)

Volume 24, Issue 2 Owen Family News June 2009 Page 10

Queries, We want Queries!

Please send queries or information on queries to Thomas E. Owen, [email protected] or mail to 1478 Dallas Circle Marietta, GA 30064.

Thanks for all your contributions!

Owen Family News and Source Book Order Form

CD ORDER FORM Name ______

Address______

State ______Zip______

Welcome New Members

Members, if you have information about these Owen(s) lines, please contact our new member(s).

Margaret Owen Thorpe (#420) 834 Van Buren Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55104 (651)-297-9293; [email protected]. Earliest ancestor: Mosbey Owen ca 1755 VA-ca 1800 NC.

Kent M. Hutton (#432) 3776 Center Point Road, Fredericksburg, TX 78624 (830) 990-0517; [email protected]. Earliest Ancestor: William Owen b. 1801 Wales; m. Catherine Jones; through son William R. Owen b. 1852 Columbus, WI, m. Elile Page (Paige).

Thomas F. Owens (#437) 1310 Windchime Dr. Colfax, NC 27235 (336) 668-4474; no e-mail listed. Earliest ancestor: William Owens 1769-1838 Halifax Co.VA m. Rebecca Martin

Creston Owen (#438) 11440 Yeats Drive Catlett, VA 20119 (540) 298-9523; [email protected]. Earliest ancestor: George O'en in Wales; through William Ambrose Owen b 1844 MD, d. 1912 TN, m. Sarah Frances Pressly in TN b. 1847 TN d. 1924 TN

Michael Owens (#439) 4 East Webster Street, Allenstown, NH 03275 (603)-210-2021; [email protected]. Earliest ancestor: Nicholas Owens b. 1806 KY, d. 1883 NE, m. Sarah Wil- liams b. 807 NC, d 1863 NE. That one is documented, but some unsure ones are William Owens b.1730 PA, d 1795 USA, m. Jude 1730 VA-1753 through son William Owens who married Nancy Ann Owens and her father was Vincent Owen b. 1720 VA, d. 1802 KY m. Winifred Lehue b. 1720 VA, d. 1802 KY (must be some mistake there doubt they were both born and died in same year).

MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION For information or an application for membership, please e-mail [email protected] or write to: Owen Family Association c/o Margaret Owen Thorpe 834 Van Buren Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55104.

Thank-yous, Good-byes and New Beginnings By Carla Grune

Thank you to Margaret Owen Thorpe and Josephine (Jody) Moeller for their contributions to the newsletter. Also, the OFA would like to thank both ladies for their service as Genealogist to the OFA. Jody has resigned her position as Genealogist and Margaret has graciously accepted the position as our new Genealogist. The OFA appreciates the outstanding service Jody contributed as Genealogist. We will miss Jody and wish her well. Also, we would like to welcome Margaret on board as the new Genealogist and thank her for accepting this position. In addition, I have resigned my position as the OFA newsletter editor. I would like to thank everyone for giving me the opportunity to serve as the newsletter editor. As of yet no replacement has been found. I know there is an editor out there who has the time and creativity to serve. Interested parties please contact Tom Owen, OFA President, [email protected] . Again, thank you to everyone who has contributed to all the newsletters. Our newsletter is a reflection of our wonderful contributors, so keep up the good work.

Owen Family News 1st class postage “Owen, a name worth knowing”

Owen Family Association Margaret Owen Parsons, Publisher 10300-142 Kings River Road Reedley CA 93654

Association Officers

Thomas E. Owen, President 1478 Dallas Circle Marietta, GA 30064 (770) 426-6647 [email protected]

M. Fred Owen, Vice President Owen Family Association P.O. Box 4805 Horseshoe Bay, The Owen Family Association was organized in 1981. TX 78657—(830) 598-6545 [email protected] The objectives of the association are: ▪ To establish and document as complete a list of descendants of Owen Jane Owen, Secretary Historian and allied families as possible. 4190 Hurricane Shores Dr. Benton AR 72019 (501)794-1751 ▪ To collect a narrative history of individual family lines of descent . [email protected] ▪ To compile and maintain a listing of cemeteries, homes and other buildings and sites associated with Owen and allied families. George Shirley, Treasurer ▪ To publish and distribute a periodic newsletter. 508 Arbor Dr. Madison, MS ▪ To bring members of the family association together for periodic reunions. 39110 (601) 856-9041 ▪ To aid association members to establish their family line and assist them in [email protected] joining hereditary and patriotic societies, if they so desire. ▪ To ultimately produce a volume documenting the verified family histories. Margaret Owen Thorpe, ▪ To provide publications to Genealogy Libraries in order to assist Owen Genealogist 834 Van Buren Avenue, researchers. St. Paul, MN 55104 Annual dues of $10.00 are payable January 1st . The Owen Family News is (651)-297-9293 published quarterly and is subject to copyright. [email protected]

Board of Directors Robert McCrary George Shirley C. Owen Johnson OWEN FAMILY NEWS

Volume 24, Issue 4 Published by Owen Family Association December 2009 http//www.owenfamilyassociation.org PLANS FOR 11TH BEINNIAL REUNION A “Not—To—Be—Missed” Event

September 23 - 24, 2011 The Reunion will be held in the famed historical village of New Har- mony, Indiana, associated with the great 19th Century industrialist, INSIDE THIS ISSUE IN THIS ISSUE Robert Owen. The decision is already receiving quite a buzz. Word has Our FeatureFront Page Article: leaked out and those who have heard are saying they’ll be there! DescendantsInvitation of William 2011 and DrucillaBiennial Echols Reunion Owen—Part 4 Our host will be Cliff Owen, our newly elected Historian. Cliff is a C. Owen Johnson descendant of - not Robert Owen, but Robert’s brother, William Owen. FeaturesPage 52 Owens at Valley Forge ReubenPage Pickett 4 Owen The village is self-contained and is open for day visitors and larger and His Descendants: groups such as ours over several days. It is tucked away from the world AdrianBio: CliffBoone Owen Owen OurJody New Moeller Historian and (about 30 miles from Evansville, In.) and operated as a resort. You’ll Lee GentemennPage 5 love it. Page 55 Major Ezra Owen and His CourageousIN FUTURE Grandson ISSUES Our week-end will follow the traditional format which has been used in Pages 8, 9 all our most successful reunions. The first evening (after our afternoon - March Feature Article - arrivals) we’ll be coming together in an informal, come-as-you-are DescendantsDNA Update of William and Drucilla Echols Owen—Part 5 space to greet old friends and meet new ones. Who knows? You may be Page 7 by C. Owen Johnson meeting strangers who turn out to be kin!

≈ DepartmentsDescendants of President’s Notebook On Saturday, we will meet again for our usual work-shop. It’s about Reuben Pickett Owen—Part 4 “us,” it’s about you! Several of our members will lead off with discus- by JosephinePage 2Moeller

≈ sions on different aspects on our consuming passion: researching our New! Profiles A David Franklin Owen ancestry. You’ll be able to ask your questions and contribute to the dis- Page 6 Narrative cussion. Our DNA administrator, Whit Athey will have an hour for up- Volunteersby Hugh Goodman Needed dates on the new lines opening up since our 2007 meeting. Where did Page≈ 9 your line originate? Descendancy of Henry Queries“Buck” Owen By MarshallPage 10 Thomas It’s always a rewarding morning. That afternoon, you’ll be free to do ≈ whatever you like and in this case, you’re invited to tour the village as a Welcome New Members! Ewing Elmer Fidler Story group with informed guides from the University of Evansville, IN. By LouisPage 11Owen Don’t want to walk? Take one of the waiting golf carts (chief mode of Who Ya Gonna Call? Owen Histories transportation on the village streets. Oh yes, your cars are welcome on Page 11 the streets also). Chris Hanlin Next Issue Cont’d on page 3 To Be Determined 2

Publisher From Our President’s Notebook Here at Association “headquarters” (headquarters actually being Margaret Owen Parsons scattered over hundreds of miles with everyone keeping in touch 10300-142 Kings River Rd. electronically) things are moving rapidly. Reedley, CA 93654 (559) 250-0740 [email protected] Many of you will be surprised and very gratified to learn that we’ve finally found an able WEB Master. Introducing! Donn Davidson, an experienced professional of the computer world. Donn has stepped up to the plate to build a worthy Website for Editorial Staff of the the Association. It will take some time to get off the ground and we know you will do your part and help him win the ball game! Owen Newsletter Your input is needed to make our website successful.

Editor We have also pledged to re-examine the Aims of our organization which are proclaimed on the address page of every issue of the AD HOC Staff newsletter. We’re already assessing where we can act more Awaiting new editor aggressively to fulfill those missions. In the March issue we will “Editor”: (513) 398 - 7255 discuss a renewal of the pledge to publish a periodic, cumulative [email protected] listing of historic Owen homes (as we uncover them) and historic sites associated with Owen history. (There are some!) And we are searching for those cemeteries scattered throughout this land Editorial Assistant where our ancestors have found their resting places. In March we Jane Holland Owen will explain further and tell you how you can participate in this undertaking (No pun intended!)

Transcriptionist One of our members, Judy Peeples, has accepted the chairman- Alisia Sullivan Davis ship to get the project up and running. Many thanks, Judy!

Proof Reader It’s all in the service of furthering your research into your ances- Carolee Moncur, PhD try as well as your expressed interest in all things Owen. We thank you for your input and welcome the comments we have been receiving about our push toward our stated goals. Publication Dates March, June, September & December From all of us here to all of you out there: Deadlines are the 1st day of the month preceding publication. We wish you all a Submission of lineages, biographies, MERRY CHRISTMAS, photographs, historical and and A HAPPY, PROSPEROUS genealogical data about any Owen NEW YEAR! anywhere is encouraged! Your ideas for the newsletter are also solicited, please contact the editor. We’re all in it together! — Jane Owen Hillard

Cont’d from page 1 3

In the evening a great buffet will be served in “Our” large meeting room which will be followed by our business meeting. You will be voting in several items, including an election of officers. Want to be an officer? Get in touch with our vice-president, Fred Owen and say you’re willing and able!

Cliff has already lined up a good speaker to end on an inspiring note. By the way, Cliff — then a new member — attended his first meeting at Asheville, N.C. in 2007. When asked how he liked the experience, Cliff replied: “I was impressed by the caliber of the people who attended!”

Well, whether the 2011 will be your first or sixth Reunion, you will come away with that feeling.

Mark your calendars now!

2010 OWEN FAMILY ASSOCIATION Dues Reminder

Annual Membership renewal is due January 1 each year. Prospective members may contact Jody Moeller, Association Genealogist for a membership application: 401 S 14th St., St. Charles, IL 60174 [email protected]. We do not accept multiple-year memberships.

MEMBERSHIP (1 YEAR) $10.00, HONORARY (FREE)*

Make check payable to Owen Family Association and mail to: Owen Family Association c/o George N. Shirley, 508 Arbor Dr., Madison, MS 39110

Name: ______

Address: ______

City: ______State: ______Zip Code: ______

E-Mail: ______Phone: (____) _____ - ______

Preferred Newsletter Delivery (check one) ______E-Mail ______United States Postal Service

* Honorary Members please complete annual dues notice to update contact information.

DECEMBER, 1779 AT VALLEY FORGE 4 Twenty-six Owens in Washington’s Command

With Christmas at hand, we would do well to reflect on that nearly defeated army’s astounding victory 230 years ago. With his army in tatters, Washington, his officers and men were huddled in the miserably cold, snowed-in camp. Near starvation, in steadily diminishing numbers the soldiers, with their bare, bleeding feet wrapped in burlap bags, were deserting rapidly.

General Washington called his officers together and told them their only hope: Cross the freezing Delaware River and defeat the British forces settled there on the New Jersey Shore. The officers remonstrated: We’re few starving and freezing; they’re several thousands, trained and ready. Washington replied that his Army, once considerable in size, had dwindled to mere hundreds and by Spring would be non-existent. He reminded them all: IF we do nothing, we will be defeated and, in defeat, we will all be hanged. They knew that to be true.

Thus they set out crossing the Delaware in rowboats, the men rowing with their bootless feet wrapped in burlap. At Trenton, New Jersey the Hessian troops in their warm quarters had been celebrating for hours and were now lost in drink. All of them were quickly captured. Our forces then walked into the town to the British headquarters where they were also in a state of inebriation. Unbelievable success!

When word of the stunning defeat got out, American enlistments poured in, just as Washington predicted. Trenton signaled the coming end of British rule in America. It culminated with Cornwallis’ total defeat at Yorktown, Virginia in October 1781.

Were there any officers and men named Owen in that winter of 1779 at Valley Forge? Absolutely! We are grateful that Arnie Owen our president for many years, researched and published their names; he has kindly given his permission to print the list.

There were three officers and twenty-three men named Owen (S) representing seven Colonies:

Name State Rank Regiment Name State Rank Regiment

Godfrey Owen VA PVT 6th VA Hiram Owen NJ SGT 2nd NJ

James Owen VA PVT 14th VA James Owen NJ PVT Spencer Regt

John Owen MA PVT 4th MA James Owen VA PVT 10th VA

Jonathan Owen MA PVT 4th MA John Owen VA PVT 1st VA

Stephen Owen NC 1st Lieu 8th NC John Owen NC PVT 2nd NC

Stephen Owen NJ PVT 4th NJ Owen Owens PA PVT 5th PA

William Owen MA Kifer 9th MA Robert Owen DE PVT 1st DEL

David Owen MA PVT 13th MA Rolley Owens VA PVT 3rd VA

Amaziah Owen NY PVT 4th NY Thomas Owens MA PVT 13th MA

Barnaby Owen PA Adju- 4th PA Thomas Owens PA PVT 11th PA tant Barnaby Owen PA 2nd 8th PA Vincent Owens VA PVT 2nd VA Lieu Charles Owen VA Corp. 1st VA William Owen VA PVT 2nd VA

David Owen PA PVT 6th PA William Owen DE PVT 1st DEL

Clifford Owen, Recently Elected Historian of OFA 5

Cliff has been seriously searching for his family for the past five years. While that isn’t a very long time, the success has been very good in that he has found the lines of each of his great- grandfathers’ brothers and sisters. When he started searching, he didn’t believe he would find anybody, let alone anybody who had left an indelible mark on the “family of man.” Initially, the oldest family member he found was his g-g-g-grandfather, William Owen. William was born in Wales in 1765. With his wife, Dinah, and son William, Jr., he arrived in the United States in 1814. We are quite sure of the 1814 date because the second child, Thomas, was born while the boat was in quarantine in New York Harbor, checking the passengers for health problems. Upon receiving clean bills of health, the family made their way up and into the Catskill Mountains of New York and set up housekeeping. What William did for a living is still a mystery, but a good bet is that he was a farmer and did some logging up in the mountains. Another child, a daughter named Mary, was born in 1817 up in the Catskills. Cliff could go on for a number of pages, but then he would have nothing to talk about at our next OFA meeting in 2011. However, since g-g-g-grandfather, William, was the brother of Industrialist Robert Owen - who did leave descendents some of whom will attend the 2011 reunion, we hope we can get them to join our Association.

Clifford F. Owen was born in Oak Park, Illinois just after the start of WWII. His father was a ma- chinist and his mother was, like most wives at the time, a homemaker. All of his grammar school- ing was in Oak Park and in 1956 the family moved to Holland, Michigan where Cliff graduated from high school in 1959. Cliff has been married to the same lovely person for 44 years, and they have three children, two boys and a girl. Their oldest son has joined in on the genealogy research which resulted in finding that all of their records were located in Holland, MI and Columbus, OH.

In his working life he had three careers. First, he went to school and studied commercial photogra- phy. He worked in this profession for several years and then changed professions. Number two career started as a laboratory technician in the pigments research laboratory for Chemetron Corpora- tion, which eventually became part of the German chemical giant BASF. In this position he moved up from technician to the rank of chemist. About 1980, his boss thought Cliff should take over some of his duties, which added to Cliff’s workload, but gave him a better view of how business worked. Cliff decided that he needed more business skill and returned to college, going to night classes, and after cramming four years of college into six years; he graduated with a BSBA in Ac- counting. That was in 1986 just before he was to graduate, BASF decided to re-organize. That is a nice way of saying, “eliminate your job!” That started career number three in accounting; Cliff has worked for one of the largest office furniture companies in the US, Machine Tool Company, and a Japanese manufacturing company. He finished up his accounting career working in the public accounting sector, specializing in working with small companies making or repairing their accounting system and training the owners to do their own accounting using the computer and a variety of different accounting software’s. For short, he cleans up messes!

Busy as he was professionally, Cliff has always been active in civic organizations. He was a member of the Holland Jaycees for eleven years and was elected to the board of directors of that organization for a four-year term. He is also active in the Holland Genealogical Society and the Sons of the Union Veterans of the Civil War.

PROFILE: VOLUNTEER EXTRAODINAIRE Alisia Sullivan Davis 6

Unbelievable good fortune came our way when Alisia agreed to take on the task of transcribing our copy through the varied technological quirks demanded by printers today. Alisia Sullivan Davis is neither an Owen nor an amateur genealogist. She came to our attention when I read her profile in Mason Living Magazine. Alisia received her Communications degree from Bowling Green State University (Bowling Green, OH) and spent two years as the Director of marketing, public relations and special events for Cincy Magazine. Service to others is something that Alisia has always made sure to make time for. Her service work includes the huge commitment of coaching the award winning MND Junior Cougars dance team for the past three years. This October, Alisia celebrates her one year anniversary as the Director of Annual Giving and alumnae Relations at her beloved Alma Mater, Mount Notre Dame High School (MND) - an all girls, private school in Reading, OH. In the Mason Living profile Alisia was quoted as saying she was given the unique opportunity to find out what MND alumnae needs are and exploring solutions to answer those needs. Alisia went on to explain her goals for the future, including broadening the paths of communication through the use of newsletters and online social networking. Whoa! Newsletters! Networking! That’s what we do - - - but we have a dilemma. Our solutions-minded vice-president, Fred Owen had suggested we might try to get someone at a School of Journalism — at little expense — to take on the task of transposing our typed copy into the forms demanded by today’s printers. Two days later I’m reading the laudatory profile of Alisia Davis. I called Alisia at her office to congratulate her on the story that was written about her, and com- mended her for her great work. She had not only not read the article, but did not know it was being published. After chatting a bit, I asked her if one of their alumnae might take on a project for us. Al- isia asked the right questions. Who were we? What was our newsletter about? I told her our name, explained we’re not one Owen Family but many, told her about submissions by our readers and our DNA project. She was intrigued. “I’ll do it myself!” Alisia Said. “Oh no, you’re too busy, it’s such a little job.” “I’d love to do it, and of course there will be no charge.” When I protested she said “Besides emphasizing academics, we teach our students the value of service to others. I was taught that too when I was a student and want to lead by example. Alisia Davis is a dynamic, young woman. The profile I read ended with a quote from her boss, Di- rector of Advancement at MND, Mrs. Sparkle Worley who said, “Alisia was an early Christmas present for us. She is very talented and will move Alumnae Relations forward with her insights and initiatives.” We too have received an early Christmas present and are thankful we can welcome her aboard the newsletter staff for a few hours four times a year. — Jane Owen Hillard

DNA UPDATE 7 A Profile

We usually reserve a page for Dr. Whit Athey’s UPDATE explaining the recent additions to our growing portfolio of genetic testing results. We will not have the pleasure reading about our latest, “DNA-Cousins” in this issue, but Whit (which is what we all call him) will be returning n our first issue of 2010.

You may not know that in addition to giving our association so much of his time, Whit also does the same kind of pro bono service as Editor of the Journal of Genetic Genealogy (http://www.jogg.info). That journal is a place for people to publish their work in genetics as it applies to genealogy and an- thropology. They also have an interest in the kind of inquiry which fascinates our Owen group.

Dr. Athey has resigned as Editor effective after their November issue because of the overload and will Devote More of His Time To Our Project. It is hard to express our appreciation for what he has done for us and will continue to do for us. He apologizes for the current delay in updating our project web site, but will catch up with that soon probably by the time your are reading this).

As you know, Whit takes the raw data from FTDNA and other research facilities who have analyzed our members’ Y chromosome markers to see who has Owen male line connections. He groups members who match family groups expressing the same or similar Haplotypes. You can visit the project web site at any time and see the latest results: http://www.hprg.com/owen.

This is a painstaking time-consuming task. The Update which he publishes for us is the ultimate result.

At the Biennial Reunion in Ashville, N.C. in 2007, he gave a Keynote speech about the exciting discoveries made possible by the famous race to reveal the entire human Genome. He later gave a workshop in which he traced the probable migratory patterns of early mankind and, using our Hap- lotype groupings related the probable earliest place of residency for each of our Owen DNA Family Groups (now numbering 23).

We were all amazed, perhaps stunned, by what is being uncovered today.

Dr. Athey has pledged to attend our 2011 Reunion (his mother was an Owen descendant and will, we hope, also attend the Reunion). There he will conduct a DNA workshop for beginners and also a one-hour workshop to bring up to date our members who have submitted DNA samples since Sep- tember 2007.

We hear so much praise for Whit Athey about his fine contribution to our Association and we take this opportunity to offer our ardent gratitude.

Major Ezra Owen 8 And His Courageous Grandson Researchers and Contributors Ed & Jane Owen

Major Ezra Owen was an adventurer and pioneer, having been in the Battle of New Orleans as well as in the “fierce and bloody ground” of Kentucky. He and others, including Daniel Boone had fought to protect small frontier settlements from attacks by the American Indians. As will be seen, however, his luster pales when compared with the courage of one of his grandsons, David Owen Dodd as he faced death at the age of seventeen. David Owen Dodd is remembered and celebrated today.

Major Ezra Owen came to western Pulaski County, Arkansas in 1825 which later was part of Saline County with his extended family. He was son of William and Drucilla Echols Owen, born on March 17, 1770 in Virginia, possibly in Halifax County. All of you have heard of that family and many of you descend from William and Drucilla. Ezra Owen married Lydia Vance, she at the age of thirteen, in Georgia.

In 1829, Ezra established a post office called Dogwood Springs, it being the first post office in the area that became Saline County. Owen was appointed postmaster. Talk of statehood for the Arkan- sas Territory was in full swing in 1835 and the Owen Family changed the name Dogwood Springs to Collegeville hoping it would be the site of the new state capitol.

Major Owen was very active in politics and was the doorkeeper of the House of Representatives of Arkansas Territory for a time. He lobbied for his town, citing its central location and the conven- ience of the Military Road which was the main road in the state. After the defeat of his plan, which lost out to Little Rock as capitol and Benton as county seat, he didn’t give up.

His third ambition was to establish a state college. In 1838 he filed a plat of the town of Collegeville at the courthouse. It is comprised of 40 acres with 36 town lots and all the streets had substantial names, such as College Street, State Street, Turnpike Avenue and Main Street. That plan also failed. Collegeville is in Owen Township and Owen Creek was named after Major Owen, so after all, he didn’t come out a total loser.

All his far-reaching visions failed to materialize, possibly the reason he finally emigrated to Texas in 1846. There he founded another town where he lived until his death on October 11, 1859. He was ninety years old.

Ezra Owen was the maternal grandfather of David Owen Dodd through his daughter Lydia Owen Dodd. His grandson also left his mark here in Arkansas and is honored there today.

Dodd family genealogy: Andrew Marion Dodd, b. May 29, 1823 Alabama - - d. November 16, 1867 at Jackson Ms, married Lydia Echols Owen (b. 1823- - d. 1885) on April 27, 1843 in Collegeville, Saline County, Arkansas. To them was born Sarah Lydia Senhora Dodd b. 18 Jan 1845 in College- ville, Arkansas; David Owen Dodd b. 10 Nov 1846 in Lavaca Co., Tx; Leonora Dodd b: 28 Jan 1850 in Longpoint, Texas; Ann Eliza Dodd b: 28 July 1852.

9 Camden, Arkansas, he mistakenly re-entered Union territory. Found to be without a pass, Union soldiers questioned him and discovered that he was carrying a notebook with the location of Union troops in the area. He was arrested and tried by a military tribunal, with little defense offered for his actions. The tribunal found him guilty of treason and he was sentenced to be hung for his crime in January, 1864.

On that frigid day in January when even the Arkansas River was frozen over, a crowd of five to six thousand gathered to watch the hanging. As they prepared to hang David, the executioner had for- gotten the handkerchief to cover his eyes and David told him he could use the one in his (David’s) coat pocket. Dodd stood on the tailgate of a wagon under the noose. The executioner, named Dekay, fixed the rope around David’s neck and the prop was knocked from under the tailgate. The rope stretched and the boy dangled, strangling him to death for more than a full five minutes.

The record is unclear about exactly how Dodd died. Some contend that one or two soldiers grabbed his legs to add weight and hasten his death. Others hold that a soldier shimmied up the gibbet to grab the noose, twist the rope and raise the condemned off the ground.

Though Dodd did not reveal the source of the information, a fifteen-year old girl named Mary Dodge and her father were summarily escorted back to their home in Vermont. These events have led to David Owen Dodd being called the “Boy Martyr of the Confederacy.” General Fagan was for the rest of his life vilified as the man who coerced David into spying. Whether he actually did act as a spy or not is uncertain.

Davis was buried in the beautiful old historical Mount Holly Cemetery in Little Rock, Arkansas which is well manicured and the final resting place for so many well-known and important people. Tombstones there, once very beautiful, are still amazing.

Each January, the Sons of the Confederate Veterans honor Dodd in a ceremony at his grave site. In November, 1984, the organization awarded the Confederate Medal of Honor to Dodd, one of twenty -two persons honored. The full story of David O. Dodd can be located at www.davidododd.com.

* * * * * * * * * * * Note:

History of Ezra Owen and David Owen Dodd will be found in many print publications and on the internet. All are interesting. The writers above have hewed mostly to data in newspaper accounts, including the old Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock and The Brenton Courier, of Benton, Arkansas. The Dodd family lived in Benton before moving to Little Rock, Arkansas. Benton is presently a bedroom community to Little Rock, where so many of our residents man the offices or commercial and world-wide business establishments in the city.

Volunteers Needed

Volunteers are always needed. Tell us what your interests are and what you would like to do to help. We’ll find a place for you! Call our president, Jane Owen Hillard today at (513) 398 - 7255. 10 Queries, We want Queries! Brick Wall! Seeking info exchange with descendents of George Owen (ca 1770 VA — aft 1850 Haywood Co NC) - for brevity sons only follow— through to include: Peter m “Polly” Monroe/ Munrow, William m Margaret Tilly, Hezekiah m Lucinda McCamish, Daniel m Martha Jane Rice, Jacob m Elizabeth Leatherwood, most married in Haywood Co NC. George’s son Jacob had sons including at least; Jacob Riley, 3 Jan 1828; Aldophus Minor, born in 1829; Reuben L., 11 Oct 1831; Samuel Paton, born 1836. Anyone from this family via Jacob’s son Reuben L. Any perspec- tive or detail on this line greatly appreciated. Thank you. [email protected].

Searching for information about a cluster of Owen families living adjacent to each other in 1833— 40 in Shelby County TN. Sarah Hatton Owen (1769—1845), widow of John Owen (died bef 1826), her sons Rev. Travis Owen (1790—1854) married to Louisa McNeil, and William Owen married to Harriet A. West. Lastly, relationship unknown, Bluett H. Owen married to Rebecca Clarissa West. After the father John Owen died in Abbeyville District, SC, his sons Travis and William were ex- ecutors of his estate, which was to be distributed to his unnamed 11 children. They moved with their mother Sarah first to Bedford County, TN and then on to Shelby County, TN. After Sarah died, Travis moved to Conway County, Arkansas and died in Pope County, AR. Bluett’s wife Re- becca died in Shelby County, TN in 1848 and on 1850 census two of their children are living with William and Harriet and others with various relatives. We can find no other clue as to the fate of Bluett. DNA tests place Bluett in Owen group 12 a. If you have any information on these families or know of any descendants of Travis or William to be tested, please contact Natalie Radov at [email protected]. Owen Family News and Source Book Order Form CD ORDER FORM Name ______

Address______

State ______Zip______

Every new member is greeted with open arms! The continuation of the Association and its services depend on a steady influx of new members. Our By-Laws state that every prospective member will trace their lineage back to their earliest known Owen ancestor.

If you have relatives or friends with Owen ancestry, tell them about our organization and the newsletter. They will receive a warm reception from all of us.

New Members of the 3rd and 4th Quarters 2009 Gene H. Owen (#440) 686 Kellner Road, South, Columbus, OH 43209 (614) 237-7070; [email protected]. Earliest ancestor: Not Available

Joyce Owen (#441) 2210 Michigan Street, Melbourne, FL 32904 (321) 795 - 7733; [email protected]. Earliest Ancestor: Elisha Owens 1794 NC — 1867 VA m Deliah Rhea

Vernice Harvey (#442) 2000 East West Connector, Apt. 104, Austell, GA 30106 (770) 819 - 7104 [email protected]. Earliest Ancestor: Nancy Owen b 1807 GA m Thomas Davis

Kermit & Jerry Owen (#443) 409 2nd Street, SW, Burkeville, VA 23922 (434) 767 - 2587; [email protected]. Earliest Ancestor: John Owen abt 1730, Surry Co., VA

John R. Owen (#444) 2612 W. Milton, St. Louis, Mo. 63114 (314) 426 - 3175; [email protected]. Earliest Ancestor: Not available.

Who Ya Gonna Call?

TO JOIN OUR ASSOCIATION: Contact our Membership Chairman: Josephine Moeller at [email protected]; 401 S 14th St., Charles, IL 60174

TO REPORT ADDRESS/PHONE/E-MAIL CHANGE OR MISSED NEWSLETTER: Contact the Publisher: Margaret Owen Parsons at [email protected]; Margaret Owen Parsons, 10300 - 142 Kings River Rd., Reedley, CA 93654

TO FIND OUT ABOUT A BIENNIAL REUNION: Contact the host of the event, who will be named at least one year ahead of time.

TO SUBMIT A STORY OR QUERY OR TO COMMENT OR QUESTION A PUBLISHED ITEM: Contact the Editor: [email protected] or mail submission to: Newsletter Editor, 4136 E. Village Dr., 12 Owen Family News First Class

“Owen, a name worth knowing” Postage

Owen Family Association Margaret Owen Parsons, Publisher 10300-142 Kings River Road Reedley CA 93654

Association Officers Board of Directors Jane Owen Hillard, President C. Owen Johnson, Founder Arnold C. Owen, Past President 4136 E Village Dr., Mason, OH 45040 — (513) 398-7255 Robert McCrary, Early Secretary George N. Shirley, Liaison [email protected]

M. Fred Owen, Vice President 111 Buggy Whip, Horseshoe Bay, TX 78657— (830) 598-6545 [email protected] Owen Family Association The Owen Family Association was organized in 1981. Jane Owen, Secretary 4190 Hurricane Shores Dr. The objectives of the association are: Benton AR 72019 (501)794-1751 ▪ To establish and document as complete a list of descendants of Owen [email protected] and allied families as possible.

George N. Shirley, Treasurer ▪ To collect a narrative history of individual family lines of descent . 508 Arbor Dr. Madison, MS 39110 ▪ To compile and maintain a listing of cemeteries, homes and other buildings (601) 665-2268 and sites associated with Owen and allied families. [email protected] ▪ To publish and distribute a periodic newsletter. ▪ To bring members of the family association together for periodic reunions. Margaret Owen Thorpe, ▪ To aid association members to establish their family line and assist them in Genealogist joining hereditary and patriotic societies, if they so desire. 834 Van Buren Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55104 ▪ To ultimately produce a volume documenting the verified family histories. (651)-297-9293 ▪ To provide publications to Genealogy Libraries in order to assist Owen [email protected] researchers. Annual dues of $10.00 are payable January 1st . The Owen Family News is Clifford F. Owen, Historian published quarterly and is subject to copyright. 70 Oak Valley Dr., Holland, MI 49424 (616) 396 - 4596 [email protected]