OWEN FAMILY NEWS Y'all Come

OWEN FAMILY NEWS

Volume 20, Issue 1 Published by Owen Family Association March 2005 Page 1 htpp//www.geocities.com/~owenfamily Y’all Come . . . to The Beautiful Texas Hill Country!

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

OurINSIDE Feature THIS Article: ISSUE Descendants of William and DrucillaFeature Echols Article:Owen— Part 4 Update:C. Owen The JohnsonOwen DNA Project Pageby Whit 52 Athey Page 4 Reuben Pickett Owen Grahamand His Owen Descendants: Obituary AdrianPage Boone 3 Owen Jody Moeller and Who WasLee Eli Gentemennzabeth Rowland Owen? Pageby Jane 55 Hillard Page 6 Discover the Owen Texas history and German heritage of the Texas Hill Country by IN FUTURE ISSUES attending the Owen Family Association 2005 Reunion, September 23rd, 24th and 25th, Reuben Pickett Owen and His - March Feature Article - 2005. The reunion will be held in the quaint and historic town of Boerne [burr-knee] Descendants (Conclusion) by Descendants of William and Texas which lies just up the road from San Antonio. Arrive early or stay late to do re- Josephine Moeller and Drucilla Echols Owen—Part 5 search or just to enjoy the many attractions and events of the area but spend the week- Lee Gentemenn by C. Owen Johnson end with our Owen cousins at the reunion. Details are still being planned by Karen and Page. 7 ˜ Bill Grubaugh and their committee. Descendants of ReubenHenry “Buck” Pickett OwenOwen —andPart His 4 byDescendants Josephine Moeller(Part 3) OWEN FAMILY ASSOCIATION 2005 REUNION by Marshall˜ Thomas A David PageFranklin 8 Owen September 26th through September 28th Narrative Biographyby Hugh of William Goodman Joseph Boerne, Texas Owen (Conclusion)˜ by Chris Hanlin Descendancy of Tentative plans include a reception to welcome everyone on Friday evening, Henry “Buck”Page 9 Owen September 23rd. On Saturday, September 24th a Genealogy Workshop which By Marshall Thomas will include a DNA presentation by Whit Athey following the Owen Family A Book Review˜ (Conclusion) Association Business Meeting. In the evening, the traditional banquet will be a EwingBy C. Elmer Owen Fidler Johnson Story By LouisPage 10Owen Texas Bar-b-que. The speaker, Hugh Goodman, is a Texas Owen descendant who has done extensive research and will speak about the Owens of Texas. Do GenealogyOwen HistoriesAbbreviations wear your cowboy hats and boots! On Sunday we will continue the tradition of ChrisPage Hanlin 11 worshiping together before we depart for our respective homes.

March 2005 Volume 20, Issue 1 Owen Family News Page 2 Editorial Staff of the The President’s Message Owen Family News by Arnie Owen Editor & Chief Karen Grubaugh 1945 in Texas Publisher

Bill Grubaugh PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE- Greetings from southwest Florida the place we call 111 Stonegate North home for three months out of the year. As we have done for the past eighteen Boerne TX 78006 winters, Mary and I have made the 1121 mile journey from our home in Penn- (830) 249-3487 (FAX & voice) sylvania to Port Charlotte, Florida. However, this year was different because of [email protected] the visible changes that had occurred during our absence. First we noticed the lack of many street signs along highway 41, piles of rubbish and vast property Contributing Editors: damage. The landscape had definitely changed after hurricane Charley’s visit on Friday, August 13, 2004. Trees uprooted, vacant lots where houses once stood, Jane Owen Hillard roofs gone, walls blown out and businesses closed are only the noticeable scars 3419 Mt. Rainier Dr. of this disaster. Libraries are not available for genealogy research. Not so no- Louisville, KY 40244 tic eable, but more tragic are the cases of those who lost their homes and all their (502) 426-4771 belongings including irreplaceable family treasures. We were most fortunate, having only lost some shingles from our roof and two large palm trees. The roof Kimberly Ayn Owen has been replaced and we plan to plant two new palms. We are sorry to hear that 8006 Cottesmore Ct. long time members, Bill and Judy Owen, in Milton, Florida sustained serious damage to their home, by another hurricane that visited Florida last summer. Richmond, VA 23228

[email protected] Our hosts for the 10th Biannual Owen Family Association reunion are planning a C. Owen Johnson a Texas size event in September and I hope everyone is making plans to attend. Crystal Plaza #809 So. Karen and Bill Grubaugh will welcome you to their home state of Texas and 211 Jeff Davis Hwy. educate us with the history of that area of our great country. I plan to revisit Arlington, VA 22202 places from my days as a youth in Texas. Yes, as an eighteen year old youth, I (703) 415-1473 was stationed at Camp Walters situated between Mineral Wells and Weatherford. The year was 1945 and I had completed basic infantry training William P. Owen, III when WW II ended. Needless to say, many of us visited the Camp beer garden P O Box 24165 to celebrate that evening. At that time I had close cropped, bright red hair, was Fort Lauderdale, FL 33307 clean shaven, 150 lbs and wrinkle -free. It is amazing what sixty years can do to [email protected] one’s body. While I can still do so, I plan to revisit my youthful memories in Texas. I urge everyone to attend this year’s reunion. A special thanks to Karen Publication Dates and Bill for volunteering to host the 10th Biannual Reunion. March, June, September And December Jane Hillard, chairman of the nominating committee is seeking volunteers to Deadlines are the 10th day of the month preceding publication serve the Association for the coming two years. Those who will offer their talents to serve should contact Jane. Her contact information is in the column to Submission of lineages, biographies, pho- the left of this message. I know that our organization has many talented people tographs, historical and genealogical data who can offer much to the well being of the Association. about any Owen anywhere is encouraged! Your ideas for the newsletter are also so- Arnie licited, just contact the editor.

March 2005 Volume 20, Issue 1 Owen Family News Page 3

A Fond Farewell to Our Dedicated Member and Officer Graham C. Owen

Graham C. Owen died on Friday, December 17, 2004, at Roberts Care Center in Palatka, [FL] after an extended illness. He was 71. He was preceded in death by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Ashton Owen, Se., of East Palatka; a brother and his wife, Gene and Dorothy Owen of Jacksonville; a brother in law, Ellington J. McMeekin of Hawthorne. Surviving are his beloved wife of 45 years, Julia McMeekin Owen; two sons and wives, Graham Ashton and Tracey Owen of Branford and Wade and Alice Owen of Baldwin, GA; three grandchildren, Samantha and David Owen of Branford and Emma of Baldwin, Ga., and his mother-in-law Eva B. McMeekin of Hawthorne. He is survived also by two brothers and their wives, Dr. Harry Ashton Owen, Jr., and Phyllis Owen of Durham, N.C.; and Michael and Dot Owen of Marietta, GA; sister, Edith Owen Roysden of St. Augustine; sisters and husbands, Emily Ann and Gene Zimmerman of Jacksonville, and Carolyn and Perry Smith of Okeechobee. He is also survived by two brothers-in-law and wives, Jeff and Margaret McMeekin and Joe and Irene McMeekin, all of Hawthorne; also many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews and special cousins. Graham was born Aug. 17, 1933 in Knights Station, a small village in Hillsborough County. He grew up in east Palatka and attended a three room elementary school there. He graduated with the class of 1951 from old Mellon High School and attended Florida State University. He served in the U.S. Army in the Army of Occupation in Austria and Germany and, in 1957, began a banking career with the Exchange Bank of Palatka. In 1961 he became a senior officer, stockholder, and member of the board of directors of the Branford State Bank and was with that bank over 20 years. While in Branford, Graham served on the town council, on the board of directors of the Suwannee County Change of Commerce, Chairman of the Suwannee County Housing Authority and was a long-time member of the Suwannee County Development Authority. White serving on the Development Authority, Graham was instrumental in obtaining “The Spirit of the Suwannee” park north of Live Oak. In 1981, Graham sold his interest in the Branford State Bank and formed a Georgia Corporation for business consulting and accounting. For the next 20 years, he and his wife owned and operated Owen Fi- nancial Services, Inc. in Habersham County, GA. Graham served as president of the Habersham County Chamber of Commerce, on the board of directors of the United Way and was one of the original founders of the Downtown Cornelia Business and Professional Association. He was a long-time member of the Habersham County Rotary Club and a Paul Harris Fellow. After retiring and returning to Putnam County, Graham realized a lifelong ambition to do some writing and as a correspondent for the Palatka Daily News had over 100 special feature stories and articles published. In a joint venture with his brother, M. M. Owen, and cousin, Kim A. Owen, Graham co- authored a book, The War of Confederate Captain Henry T. Owen. The book was published by Heritage Press in June, 2004. Graham was a charter member of the Curahee Rangers Camp 935, Sons of Confederate Veterans of Toccoa, GA and a member and former commander of The Sgt. Charlie Dickison Camp, Sons of Confeder- ate Veterans-Palatka. Graham was a long-time member of the St. James Methodist Church in Palatka. Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, Dec. 22nd, at the Johnson-Overturf Funeral Home, 307 S. Palm Ave., Palatka, with rev. Hardy B. Sandlin III, and Rev. Gene Zimmerman officiating. Interment will follow at Ochwilla Cemetery on State Rd. 21 in Ochwilla, West Putnam County, FL. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the St. James United Methodist Church Building Fund, 400 Reid St., Palatka, FL 32177 or the Hospice of the Lakes, 6400 St. Johns Ave., Palatka, FL 32177. Johnson-Overturf Funeral Home in Palatka is in charge of arrangements. March 2005 Volume 20, Issue 1 Owen Family News Page 4 Update: The Owen DNA Project by Whit Athey

The Owen DNA project now has 28 participants, 26 of whom have at least some results already reported. We have one upgrade in the pipeline, besides the tests for two new members.

As pointed out in the last artic le, it is obvious from the results that we have multiple origins for the Owen surname in the U.S. That is, there were several unrelated early immigrants to the colonies who were all named Owen or Owens. Some of these Owen lines are still represented in our project by single participants, but there are also several interesting clusters developing.

We now have results from a descendant of John Owen, Sr, who married Sarah Brackett. His results match those of descendants of Dr. Thomas Owen (c1730-1805), Jesse Owen (1776), and Thomas Owen (1809, who married Nancy Welden). This latest DNA evidence supports (but does not prove) the hypothesis that Dr. Thomas Owen was the same as the Thomas named in John Sr’s will. It is quite possible that Jesse Owen (b 1776) and Thomas Owen (b 1809) are descendants of John Sr through one of his other sons (beside Thomas). The Y signature for this cluster is quite distinctive, so if any other new participant matches this signature, it will be a strong indication that he could be a descendant of John Owen Sr, but certainly a member of this cluster. A fifth potential member of this group has a test being proc- essed, due back at the end of February.

There are no new results for our second cluster of four members. This cluster may be in Haplogroup R1b, but luckily, it has some unusual values. Any new Owen participant who matches on at least 23 out of 25 of these values will likely be related to these four participants. Our two I1a participants are cousins and descend from the same ancestor. There is one new participant who appears to be in I1a also, but he has mismatches on four of the first 12 markers and is unlikely to have a connection to our previous I1a cousins in the last 1000 years.

Another cluster of related participants also has four members who are in Haplogroup R1b. While these R1b partic i- pants have many of the most common values normally found in R1b’s, they have one very rare value (14 on DYS448), so it will be very easy to determine membership in this cluster (provided 25-marker results are available).

As pointed out in the last article , the Y signature of the next R1b cluster, unlike the last R1b Y signature discussed above, has extremely common values. Therefore, on the basis of the DNA evidence alone, we cannot determine with any confidence if these participants match because of sharing a fairly recent patrilineal ancestor, or if this is just a cluster of “accidental” matches. For the matches to be meaningful, in these or any future participants, a minimum of 25 markers will be needed (we have 25-marker data on three of the participants).

We now have 25-marker results for our two participants whose ancestors are Walter Owen (1628 VA) and Sterling Owen (1770 VA), and they match on 23/25 markers. This means that these two participants likely share a common Owen ancestor in the last 400 years.

Five more participants are in Haplogroup R1b, and one is in I1a, but each of these has too many differences with each other and the other R1b’s for a relationship in a genealogical time-frame to be very likely.

The project is still in need of new participants who have a fairly well documented traditional genealogy back to one of the families discussed in Jane Owen Hillard’s series of articles in the Owen Family News, or to other familie s.

The DNA results have the potential to allow an Owen researcher to get past their “brick walls” and to see where their ultimate roots may lie. It will still be necessary to prove the connection by traditional means, but this is usually much easier if you know in advance what you are trying to prove.

We want to respect the privacy of our project participants, but if you wish to contact any of them, please send your in- quiry to me ([email protected]) and I will forward it to the participant. If he wishes to answer, he can do so. You could also use the query column in this newsletter, identifying the participant by kit number March 2005 Volume 20, Issue 1 Owen Family News Page 5 March 2005 Volume 20, Issue 1 Owen Family News Page 6 WHO WAS ELIZABETH ROWLAND OWEN? by Jane Owen Hillard

When Elizabeth Rowland married Richard B. Owen (probably in Surry County, VA), she became part of the family of the storied Goronwy Owen, an obscure but honored name all over the South. Goronwy (variant spellings: Gronow, Gronau, Goronoway, et al.) was born poor in Wales in 1723. [Please note that, by that date, the other Richard Owen (born in Virginia and totally unrelated to Goronwy and his descendants), with his wife Elizabeth, had produced at least 9 of their 11 children.] Goronwy, a young lad and budding poet, became the protégée of Lewis Morris, a wealthy English- man, who sent him through Oxford University. Morris later aided him (many times) by securing employ- ment for him, both in England and later still in colonial Virginia. In 1757, he secured an appointment for Goronwy as a master of grammar at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. Upon his termination there, Owen became rector of the Church of England parish in Brunswick County, Virginia. His will was probated there on March 26, 1770. Now, should you write to the William and Mary Quarterly (which has published so many pieces about Goronwy Owen), they will very firml and fairly courteously tell you that, if you’re looking to claim kinship with Goronwy Owen, you’re barking up the wrong tree, and that all of his descendants know of their heritage and have known “since birth.” And may I add, all of them are people of accomplishment and good repute. Early issues of this newsletter have carried stories of Goronwy Owen, written by some of the female descendants. So who is Richard B. Owen (by the way, the B stands for Brown), who married Elizabeth Rowland? Some say he was a son by Goromwy’s second marriage. Let us here point out – as an earlier editor of the newsletter did, years ago – sixteenth, seventeenth, and early eighteenth century parents gave their children only one name (besides the surname). By the end of the eighteenth century, there was such confusion caused by naming children for parents, uncles, and cousins that a second given name was introduced. But you knew that! Richard B. Owen (born so many years after my Richard Owen had died) and his wife Elizabeth Row- land Owen, never lived in Halifax County, and I can assure you that Richard Owen of Halifax County never lived in Surry or Brunswick County. My newly-found “cousins” and I laugh about our Owen male ancestors who marry late or produce children into old age. But I will never believe that one of them married a woman 150 years his junior. They’re not that virile! Now, the corollary question: Who was Elizabeth Owen, wife of Richard Owen of Halifax County Virginia? Who was her father, and what was her maiden name? Answer: We’ll never know. We know so little about her; and yet we know a lot. Her name – simply “Elizabeth Owen” – appears in numerous documents; e.g., on land records in which she gives up dower rights, etc. Her name is included in Richard’s will, drawn up in 1753, in which he tries to make sure she is cared for after his demise. She is also named, along with sons James and Ambrose, as an administrator of the will. By the time that will came up for probate, we are told that she, too, is deceased. We do not know when Richard died, but since the probate date was in June 1756, we must assume that he died at least a few weeks (or longer) prior to June 17, 1756. We know this: Elizabeth bore and raised at least 11 children and that she braved the hazards and hard life in that early, dangerous frontier. She and Richard were well into middle life by the time they moved into the newly-opened territory beyond the Staunton River, where they were accompanied by already married children. That spells gallantry for me. So what if I don’t know her maiden name? I honor my gr 1 gr2 gr3 gr4 grandmother Elizabeth Owen, wife of Richard Owen of Halifax County. I hope others who claim her will be honest enough to accept the proven facts of her life and stop the embroidery. I stand in awe of her strength, courage, and endurance! March 2005 Volume 20, Issue 1 Owen Family News Page 7 Reuben Pickett Owen and His Descendants, Part 7c Son of William and Drucilla Echols Owen Researched and compiled by Lee Gentemenn and Josephine Moeller

(continued from December 2005 issue as published by Goodspeed’s History of Southeast Missouri, p.1046)

Reuben Pickett Owen, Jr.— He was twice married, both marriages resulting happily. His first wife was a Miss Mary Harriet Lewis, who married in Kentucky in January 1835. Nine girls resulted from this union, four of whom are still living. His first wife died in 1883. In November 1885 he married Mrs. Callie Clubb and leaves her his widow. The deceased prior to the time he entered the church, was fond of music and dancing, and often in- dulged in the pastime. He was a splendid performer on the violin. A great hunter, he frequently joined in the chase in his younger days, and in his time killed many bears and other ferocious animals. It was said of him that he was always kind to his family, never refusing any consistent demand.

From his earliest residence in your country, the name Owen has always been connected with every laudable public enterprise, and today the people of Stoddard County have much to thank him for. In all the history of this good man’s life, stretching as it does over more than three quarters of a century, there is not one single act for which he friends much blush. Personally all remember him as a mild unassuming man with a kind word and a pleasant word for all. His life was as pure and spotless as the unprinted page. Let us do honor to his memory and in our lives endeavor to emulate his virtues. Judge Reuben Picket Owen, Jr., the fifth child of Reuben Pickett and Patsy Wells Owen, was born Aug. 16, 1814 in Madisonville Hopkins, KY. He died Oct 13, 1891 in Dexter. Stoddard County, MO. He was buried in Bloomfield Cemetery, Bloodfield, MO. He married first, Mary Harriet Lewis who was born in 1816 in TN. She died November 5, 1883 in Stoddard County, MO and is buried in Bloomfield Cemetery.

Reuben Pickett Owen, Jr. and Mary Harriet Lewis had seven children: (1) Marthan Myrtella “Mattie: Owen, b. 1 Mar 1838, Hickman Co., KY; d. 21 Feb 1901, Bloomfield, Stoddard Co., MO bur. Bloomfield Cemetery, Bloomfield, MO; m(1) Samuel Walker 1857 and m(2) Major Samuel S. Montgomery, 18 Oct 1862, Bloomfield, Stoddard Co., MO. (2) Mary Emily Owen, b. 1 Dec 1839 in Hickman Co., KY, d. 28 May 1926 in St Louis, St. Louis Co., MO, m. John W. Leach abt. 1858, MO. (3) Katherine Malinda “Kate” Owen, b. 17 Jan 1842, Bloomfield, Stoddard Co., MO, d. 18 May 1924, Paris, Lamar Co., TX, bur. 19 May 1924, Evergreen Cemetery, Paris, TX, m. Lt. Col. Richard Twells Secklel 15 Mar 1860 in Bloomfield, Stoddard Co., MO. (4) Minerva Anne Owen, b. 1 Jan 1844, Bloomfield, Stoddard Co., MO, d. 1922, Bloomfield, Stoddard Co., MO bur. Bloomfield Cemetery, m. Dr. Thomas Benton Turnbaugh. 27 Nov. 1867 in Stoddard Co., MO. (5) Laura Louise “Lall” Owen, b. 19 Jun 1846, Bloomfield, Stoddard Co., MO, d. 21 Mar 1872, O’Fallon, St Clair Co., IL, m. Louis Friedrich Fischer, 24 Jul 1867, Bloomfield. Stoddard Co., MO. (6) Elizabeth Alwida “Lizzie” Owen, b. 13 Dec 1848, Bloomfield, Stoddard Co., MO, d. 1866, Stoddard Co., MO, bur. Owen Cemetery, Stoddard Co., MO. (7) Eliza Josephine Owen, b. 16 Feb 1851, Bloomfield, Stoddard Co., MO, d. 1870, Stoddard Co., MO, bur. Bloomfield Cemetery, Bloomfield, MO. (8) Adlia Caroline “addie” Owen, b. Aug 22, 1853, Bloomfield, Stoddard Co., MO, d. 1859 Stoddard Co., MO. bur. In Owen Cemetery, Stoddard Co., MO. (9) Roxie Paralee Owen, b. 24 Jul 1856, Bloomfield, Stoddard Co., MO, d. 1857 in Stoddard Co., MO, bur. Owen Cemetery, Stoddard Co., MO. March 2005 Volume 20, Issue 1 Owen Family News Page 8

Henry “Buck” Owen and His Descendants (Part 3) By Marshall Thomas

(continued from December 2004 issue—generation 2) 2.3 Benjamin Franklin Owen (Henry “Buck”1) was born 17 April 1852 in Clarksville, Red River Co., TX and died 26 May 1917 in Clarksville, Red River Co., TX. He was buried in the Catholic Cemetery/SW in Clarksville, Red River Co., TX. He married (1) Lydia Elizabeth Longe 10 January 1872 in Clarksville, Red River Co., TX, daughter of Jasper and Elizabeth Longe. She was born 24 March 1852 in Jackson Co., MO and died 6 August 1903 at home, Clarksville, Red River Co., TX. She was buried in Catholic Cemetery/SW in Clarksville, Red River Co., TX. He married (2) Cora McEllhaney aft. 1904 in Red River, TX. She was born 29 September 1876 and 23 September 1966. Children of Benjamin and Lydia Longe Owen: (1) Ann Elizabeth Owen, b. 1873, Clarksville, Red River Co., TX and d. 1911. (2) Mary S. Owen, b. 28 December 1875, Clarksville, Red River Co., TX and d. 3 June 1919. (3) Jasper H. Owen, b. June 1877, Clarksville, Red River Co., TX and d. 1940. (4) Franklin Boyce Owen, b. 20 April 1882, Clarksville, Red River Co., TX and d. 30 December 1943 in Clarksville, Red River Co., TX. (5) Belle Owen, b. October 1884 in Clarksville, Red River Co., TX and d. 1954. (6) Nell Owen, b. November 1888 in Clarksville, Red River Co., TX and d. 1952. She m. Dave Morrison.

Generation 3: 3-1 Wilson Henry Owen (Thomas C.2, Henry Buck 1) was b. 25 October 1870 in Clarksville, Red River Co., TX and d. 30 November 1925 in Lubbock, Lubbock Co., TX. He married Laura Jane Edwards 23 March 1890 in Clarksville, Red River Co., TX. Children of Wilson Henry and Laura Jane Edwards Owen (1) Vida Owen, b. abt. 1892, m. Evan Misso. (2) Bess Owen, b. abt. 1894, m. Sam Graham (3) Pearl Owen, b. abt. 1896, m. Lewis Taylor. (4) Clara Owen, b. abt. 1898, m.Gilbert Burchetta (5) Lilly Owen, b. abt. 1900, m. Ivan Baker (6) Nell Owen, b. abt. 1902, m. Newlyn Green (7) James Wilson Owen, b. 28 december 1903, Clarksville, Red River Co., TX, d. 27 September 1967, New Boston, Bowie Co., TX (8) Gerald Owen, b. abt. 1904, m. Essie Loyd (9) Charlie Howard Owen, b. abt. 1906, m. Evelyn (10)Travis Owen, b. abt. 1908, m. Edith (11)Ethel Owen, b. abt. 1910 3-2 Ann Elizabeth Owen (Benjamin Franklin2, Henry Buck1) was born 1873 in Clarksville, Red River Co., TX and died 1911. She married Ed Edwards. (1) Frank Edwards (2) Longe Edwards (3) Mary Edwards 3-3 Mary S. Owen (Benjamin Franklin2, Henry Buck1) was born 28 December 1875 in Clarksville, Red River Co., TX and died 3 June 1919. She married John Miesch. He was born 20 September 1865 and died 14 Janu- ary 1945 in Red River Co., TX (1) Kathleen Meisch (2) Raymond J Miesch

(to be continued in the June 2005 issue) March 2005 Volume 20, Issue 1 Owen Family News Page 9 The Biography of William Joseph Owen By Chris Hanlin (continued from the December 2004 issue) Jonathan A. Speegle being duly sworn says an oath that he knows W. J. Owen, belonged to Company I as above stated and remained with said Company until he the said Speegle was captured at Madison Station, Ala- bama in 1864; that said Owens was a great horse trader and was well known in the regiment on that account. Subscribed & sworn to Johnathan A. Speegle Me on July 18, 1915. W. E. Skeggs, Judge of Probate

Family tradition says that William Joseph Owen owned a livery stable (Jean Hanlin Creswell) but he also shows up as a farmer in the 1880 census of Alabama.

In February of 1896, when he was 63, he made application for financial relief of needy Confederate soldiers under an Alabama law which had been in place since 1891. He testified that he was unable to work because of “rheumatism & general disability.” He was required to list his assets and he listed no real estate and the following personal property. 1 Horses and mules with a $50.00 value. 1 watch with a $10.00 value. Household and kitchen furniture with a value of $15.00. 1 vehicle with a value of $40.00.

William J. Owen’s wife Lavina Adaline Sandlin Owen died 24 May 1902 and was buried in the Herrin Ceme- tery in Massey, Alabama. The following year on November 11 1903, William J. Owen remarried. His new wife was Emily Elizabeth Smith nee Shikle, age 47, and twice a widow. (The Affair at Madison Station, Ala- bama, p. 32) William J. Owen died 21 September 1922 at the age of 89. He is buried in the Herrin Cemetery. The inscription begins, “When thou art gone . . . “ but the rest is illegible.

Children and grandchildren of William John Owen and Lavina Adaline Sandlin (1) Robert Goodman “Big Bud” Owen was born in 1855. On 20 Dec 1876, he married Nancy J. Thomason (b. 1858) in Morgan County. Robert’s grandmother Ann Owen (b. 1812, KY) was living with them in Mor- gan Co. in 1880. Robert Goodman Owen died in 1929 and Nancy J. Thomason Owen in 1933. They are buried in the Hartselle Cemetery. They had five children. a. Hattie Lee Owen, b. 11 Jan 1878; d. 17 Aug 1882; bur. Herrin Cemetery b. Emma Pearl Owen, b. 28 Oct 1879, d. 18 Feb 1951, bur. Hartsekke Cemetery, m. Hays Sheats. c. Ellie Owen, b. 6 Nov 1881, d. 6 Jan 1963, bur. Hartselle Cem., m. Stephen Nelson. d. Charlie Owen, b. 18 Oct 1886, d. 29 Apr 1904, bur. Hartselle Cemetery e. Cleveland Owen (2) John Edmond “Eddy” Owen, b. 7 Oct 1856, d. 6 May 1876, bur. Herrin Cemetery. (3) Susan E. “Susie” Owen, b. 17 Sep 1858, d. 18 Jan 1896, bur. McKendree Cemetery, m. George G. Free- man. They had six children. a. Edgar P. “Ed” Freeman, b. 11 June 1876, d. 16 June 1902, bur. McKendree Cemetery, m. Hattie b. John E. Freeman, b. abt. 1877 c. Lou Addie Freeman, b. 1880, m. Dan Hodges d. Nannie Freeman, b. 28 Dec. 1882, d. 6 Mar 1965, bur. Hartselle Cemetery, m. John Pruitt Hodges e. Will Freeman f. Ima G. Freeman, b. 9 Jul 1894, d. 27 Aug. 1894, bur. McKendree Cemetery. (4) Sallie E. Owen, b. abt. 1860, m./ Richard Sydney Ford. [Resided in Morgan Co., AL] (5) William H. “Will” Owen, b. 16 Jan 1865, d. 1 Oct 1917, bur. Evergreen Cem., m. 9 June 1890 Ida James. a. Minnie Owen, b. 9 Oct 1889, d. 21 Dec 1974, bur. Evergreen Cem., m. Ben L. Carter. b. Connie Owen Continued on p. 11. March 2005 Volume 20, Issue 1 Owen Family News Page 10 The War of Confederate Captain Henry T. Owen A book written by Kimberly A. Owen, Graham C. Owen, and Michael Owen

A Book Review by C. Owen Johnson (conclusion) After the war, Henry Owen lived with his wife, Harriet Robertson Owen, until she died in 1918 and then his widowed daughter, Harriet Louise Owen Whiteside (Hattie), lived with him until he died in 1921. There is a picture of the house in which they lived at 2601 East Franklin Street, Richmond, Virginia. One of the Union prisoners of war, from the Battle of Gettysburg, who Captain Henry Owen talked with was Captain F. R. Josselyn of the 11th Massachusetts Regiment, Company F, from Boston. Henry described him as "...one of the handsomest men I ever saw and smart as a steel trap." After the war, Henry was able to find the address of Josselyn's sister, Jeanette Boson, whose husband, George, wrote him that an uncle of Captain F. R. Josselyn had served as a private secretary to President Jefferson Davis and later President Davis appointed him Secretary of State of the Ter- ritory of Arizona. Hudson Strode in his Jefferson Davis Confed- erate President (New York, 1959), writes on page 13, "Until March 12, President Davis had managed without a private secretary, then he selected Robert Josselyn, a Mississippian who had served under him in the Mexican War. The papers spoke of Josse- lyn as a 'gay-hearted, prince-of-good-fellows sort, who wrote poetry.' Davis knew the importance of estab- lishing pleasant relations with the public, and he liked to have about him amiable personalities who could meet the public with a smile." Captain Henry T. Owen worked in the Auditor's Office of the Commonwealth of Virginia. He wrote many articles that were published in Virginia newspapers and some in The Philadelphia Times in Pennsyl- vania. He spent hours researching Owen family genealogy in Virginia. He belonged to the Richmond camp of the United Confederate Veterans and the Virginia Historical Society. He was on the committee to raise a monument in Hollywood Cemetery , in Richmond, to Major General George Edward Pickett. Captain Owen wrote in 1884, "Twenty years ago this man's brilliant deeds in battle had already won for him a reputation for such undaunted courage that he was selected to lead his division as a forlorn hope in one of the most desperate assaults of modern time." "Charge the enemy and remember Old Virginia." This reminded his followers of the devastated fields, smoking ruins, desolated hearthstones and deserted altars of their native state. It nerved their arms and fired their breasts with determined will to carry the frowning position of the enemy or die in the effort as they moved gradually through the smoke of battle, in face of a hundred blazing guns, the field for a mile became thickly dotted Cavaliers from the Old Dominion, and the last scions of many noble families whose ancestral fame extends back through history and tradition a thousand years, went down by dozens on the crimsoned field, with their faces turned sternly toward the foe. However, unwise secession may now appear or however well we love the union today, these men are not to blame for representing the hour and generation in which they lived." Despite his lesser rank and responsibility, Confederate Captain Henry T. Owen is surely in the glori- ous company of those heroes of all time . . . Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson and Jefferson Davis, in terms of the fullest devotion to the holy cause of limited and local government and absolute fidelity to the highest Christian standards. March 2005 Volume 20, Issue 1 Owen Family News Page 11 Welcome New Members

?Max L. Richardson, Sr. (#359) 1301 SE Dewey Ave., Bartlesville OK 74003-5927; 918-316-3243; [email protected]. Earliest Owen ancestor: John Owen, 1695—bef. 1804 VA & Mildred Grant. ?Elliott Grice Owen (#360) 573 VZ CR 4813, Ben Wheeler TX 75754; 903-852-7820; [email protected]. Earliest Owen ancestor: Henry “Buck” Owen b. 1813 VA and d. 1882 Lanes Chapel, Clarksville, TX m. Susan A. b. 1822 NC—d. 1880 Lanes Chapel, Clarksville, TX. ?Joe W. Owen (# 361) 29 ZZ CR 4004, New Boston, TX 75570; 903-622-1690; papajoe1931@earthlink. net. Earliest known Owen ancestor: Thomas Owen, d. Nov 30, 1925, Lubbock TX m. Isabella McGraw. ?Richard Neely Owen, (#362) 5190 Lakeland Dr. SW, Roanoke, VA 24018; 540-774-7625; [email protected]. Earliest known Owen ancestor: William Owen d. 1879 m. Emma A. Cooper. If you have information about these Owen(s) lines, please contact the new member. MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION For information or an application for membership, please e-mail [email protected] or write to: Owen Family Association c/o Arnold Owen P O BOX 692, Westtown, PA 19395-0692.

(Continued from page 9) Biography of William Joseph Owen. c. Eron B. Owen, b. 28 Feb 1894, d. 16 Jul 1974, buir. Evergreen Cem., m. James Luther Reeder. d. Herman E. Owen, b. 3 July 1897, d. 1987. M. Merle Townsend. e. Colemon Owen, b. 1899, d. 1936, bur. Evergreen Cem. f. Okle P. Owen, b. 13 August 1905, d. 18 June 1970, bur. Evergreen Cem. Next to Leila E. Owen. (6) Erin Augusta “Eva” Owen, b. 20 April 1869, m. Robert Henry Thompson. (7) Rubin C. “Randolph” Owen, b. 12 April 1871, d. 20 Nov. 1920, bur. Herrin Cemetery, m. Penolia Blizzard. A wrinkle is that the name Rubin or Teuben Owen never shows up in the census records of the W. J. Owen household, but the 1880 census does show a Randolph Owen b. abt. 1872. Under the circumstances, I feel eighty0five percent certain “Reuben Owen.” “Rubin C. Owen,” “C. R. Owen,” amd “Randolph Owen” are all the same person. (8) Infant Owen, with only one date on the tombstone, August 1872. (9) Lydia A. Owen, b. abt. 1875, d. 31 March 1900, m. Lawrence B. Martin, a salesman. The Alabama Inquirer for November 3, 1892 states, “On last Sunday in the Methodist Church in Hartselle, Mr. L. B. Martin, of Calera, Ala., and Miss Lydia Owens, the youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Owens, were united in marriage in a most impressive manner by Rev. W. T. Patillo. The happy couple keft ion the 12:00 train for Calera, where they go to make their future home.” But Lydia died 31 March 1900, and the census in that year records Lawrence C. Martin as a widower and a boarder in the Hammond hosehold on Sloss Street in Hartselle. They had one child, Odie Martin, b. abt. 1895. (10) James Odia “Odie” Owen, b. 30 March 1878, d. 19 July 1878, bur. Herrin Cemetery

Some Commonly Used Genealogy Abbreviations Www.Rootsweb.com/~rigenweb/abbrev.html ? a. about, age, acre, aunt ? d. died ? GEDCOM Genealogi- ? m. married ? abt. about ? dec. deceased cal Data COMmunication ? na. naturalized ? aft. after ? d/o daughter of ? h. husband ? n.d. no date ? b. born ? do. ditto ? ibid. [Latin] ibidem; ? Obit. obiturary ? bap. baptism/baptized ? d.y. died young same ? s/o son of ? bef. before ? f. father ? IGI International Genea- ? unk unknown ? ca. circa ? fam. family logical Index ? unm. unmarried ? cem. cemetery ? ff. following ? inf. infant Thank you, Jane Hillard, for ? ch. child ? g. grandchildren ? k. killed suggesting this topic. Owen Family News 1st class postage “Owen, a name worth knowing”

Owen Family Association Bill Grubaugh, Publisher 111 Stonegate North Boerne, TX 78006

Association Officers: Mr. Arnold C. Owen, President P.O. Box 692 Westtown, PA 19395-0692 (610) 399-0146 (941) 629-8211 (Winter) [email protected]

Mr. M. Fred Owen, Vice President Owen Family Association P.O. Box 4804 The Owen Family Association was organized in 1981. Horseshoe Bay, 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 Mr. George Shirley, Secretary and allied families as possible. 598 Arbor Dr. Madison, MS 39110 ? To collect a narrative history of individual family lines of descent . (601) 856-9041 ? To compile and maintain a listing of cemeteries, homes and other buildings [email protected] and sites associated with Owen and allied families. Mr. Bill Grubaugh, Treasurer 111 Stonegate North ? To publish and distribute a periodic newsletter. Boerne TX 78006 ? To bring members of the family association together for periodic reunions. [email protected] ? To aid association members to establish their family line and assist them in joining hereditary and patriotic societies, if they so desire. Mr. Jim Owens, Historian 5213 Twinkle Dr. ? To ultimately produce a volume documenting the verified family histories. Louisville, KY 40258 ? To provide publications to Genealogy Libraries in order to assist Owen (502) 447-3951 researchers. [email protected] Annual dues of $10.00 are payable January 1st . The Owen Newsletter is

Board of Directors published quarterly and is subject to copyright. Robert McCrary George Shirley C. Owen Johnson OWEN FAMILY NEWS

Volume 20, Issue 2 Published by Owen Family Association June 2005 Page 1 htpp//www.geocities.com/~owenfamily Howdy Pardner! Welcome the OFA 2005 Reunion in Beautiful Boerne, Texas

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

OurINSIDE Feature THIS Article: ISSUE Descendants of William and DrucillaFeature Echols Article:Owen— Part 4 C. Owen Johnson ResearchingPage our 52 Ancestors in Texas byReuben Karen Pickett Grubaugh Owen and HisPage Descendants: 4 Adrian Boone Owen 2005Jody OFA Moeller Reunion and RelatedLee Gentemenn Articles Page 55 Pages 3, 6, and 11 IN FUTURE ISSUES Discover the Owen history, the German heritage, and the hospitality of the Texas Hill Country Delights Texas Hill Country by attending the Owen Family Association 2005 Reunion, and- MarchSan Antonio Feature Attractions Article - September 24th and 25th, 2005. The reunion will be held in the quaint and his- Descendants of William and Page 5 toric town of Boerne [burr-knee] Texas which lies just up the road from San Drucilla Echols Owen—Part 5 by C. Owen Johnson Antonio. Arrive early or stay late to do research or just to enjoy the many at- Update: The Owen DNA ˜ tractions and events in the area and spend the weekend with your Owen cousins ProjectDescendants by Whit ofAthey at the reunion. Reuben PickettPage Owe 6 n—Part 4 by Josephine Moeller OWEN FAMILY ASSOCIATION 2005 REUNION Henry “Buck”˜ Owen and HisA DavidDescendants Franklin (Part Owen 4) September 24th and September 25th by MarshallNarrative Thomas Boerne, Texas by HughPage Goodman 8 ˜ Our Saturday activities include the bi-annual business meeting, the election of DescendantsDescendancy of Hopwood of new officers, a DNA genealogy workshop conducted by Whit Athey, and our DonnelHenry Owen “Buck” by Owen Louise speaker’s completely new Owen topic, The Owens Of Texas. Hugh Goodman By MarshallHardin Thomas is a Texas Owen descendant who has done extensive research and has gra- Page˜ 9 ciously agreed to share his vast knowledge with us. We will enjoy some of the Ewing Elmer Fidler Story local cuisine beginning with Rudy’s for the best bar-b-que in all of Texas. Do DescendantsBy Louis of Owen David F. wear your cowboy hat and boots! On Sunday we invite you to join us for a

Owen, a Texas Settler marvelous Cal-Tex-Mex breakfast at Las Palapas Café followed by services at OwenPage Histories 10 Chris Hanlin Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, TX.

June 2005 Volume 20, Issue 2 Owen Family News Page 2 Editorial Staff The President’s Message of the by Arnie Owen Owen Family News We are all engaged in some manner with the electronic, be it televisions, phones, faxes, computers or the internet. The Editor & Chief Owen Family Newsle tter depends on electronics to gather Karen Grubaugh and publish the Owen news. It’s definitely convenient for Publisher research and communications. Most of us depend on computers to store our Bill Grubaugh priceless collection of family history. Today, there are many versions of geneal- 111 Stonegate North ogy software available for our use. Popular brands such as Family Tree Maker, Boerne TX 78006 Personal Ancestral File, and Legacy have been developed to serve our needs. My favorite is Legacy; you can download the basic version free at www.legacy. (830) 249-3487 (FAX & voice) com. You can also download Personal Ancestral File free at www.ldscatalog. [email protected] com. The internet has a mountain of information for researchers and more is becoming available online every day. A favorite free genealogy website is Contributing Editors: www.rootsweb.com.

Jane Owen Hillard In addition to genealogy software and search sites, there is a new genealogy 3419 Mt. Rainier Dr. phenomenon online. Have you heard of the “blog?” Go to www.Blogger.com Louisville, KY 40244 for this definition, “A blog is a personal diary; a daily pulpit; a collaborative (502) 426-4771 space; a political soapbox; a breaking-news outlet; a collection of links; your own private thoughts as well as memos to the world.” It is becoming popular Kimberly Ayn Owen among genealogists as a source of news, keeping journals of research activities 8006 Cottesmore Ct. and family newsletters. A number of genealogy blogs are available today: Richmond, VA 23228 Louis Kessler’s blog details genealogy program development, [email protected] http://www.lkessler.com/behold/behoblog.shtml. GenealogyBlog by Heritage Creations, http://www.genealogyblog.com. RRSGenealogy.com – latest ge- C. Owen Johnson nealogy newsnews: http://www.rssgenealogy.com/. Enriching Lives with An- Crystal Plaza #809 So. cestral Ties: http://www.lplibrary.org/ancestry.html. Eastman’s Online Geneal- ogy Newsletter, http://www.blog.eogn.com 211 Jeff Davis Hwy.

Arlington, VA 22202 Today, more and more genealogists depend on computers for research and com- (703) 415-1473 munications. Our association would greatly benefit from developing a well de- signed Owen Family website. I have and am proposing an Owen Family Web William P. Owen, III site project as a high priority for the Association. We can move forward into a P O Box 24165 truly global Owen organization on the World Wide Web. If you have some Fort Lauderdale, FL 33307 knowledge about web site formation, please contact me. It’s not necessary to be [email protected] an expert but some ideas for development of an informative, attractive page are needed. I need your help in creating a web site for the Owen Family Associa- Publication Dates tion. Contact me at [email protected] March, June, September And December Deadlines are the 10th day of the Reunion time . Family reunions are a tradition that’s been around for a long month preceding publication time. Like many families, perhaps you and your relatives have already made plans to get together this summer. Reunions are a great opportunity for sharing Submission of lineages, biographies, pho- stories and family history! Like other family gatherings it’s been a tradition tographs, historical and genealogical data with the Owen Family Association to hold biannual reunions. This will be our about any Owen anywhere is encouraged! th Your ideas for the newsletter are also so- 10 and it is scheduled for the last weekend in September in Boerne , Texas. licited, just contact the editor. What a great time for all you Owen descendants to mingle with other people who share your interest in family history and enrich your knowledge of Owen families of past. Plan to include the Owen Biannual Reunion on your agenda and come to Boerne in September for a great time. Arnie June 2005 Volume 20, Issue 2 Owen Family News Page 3

Make Reservations for the OFA Reunion at the Holiday Inn Express, Boerne TX In order to attend the Owen Family Association 2005 Reunion make your reservation at the Holiday Inn Express in Boerne no later than August 15th. Rooms have been set aside for the Owen Family Association at the special rate of $99.00 each; be sure to tell reservations that you are part of the Owen Family Association. When we have 15 rooms booked, our use of their conference room will be complimentary. For a reservation call 830-249-6800. The Holiday Inn Express is located at 15000 IH 10 West, in Boerne TX If you approach Boerne driving west on IH 10 take exit #540, turn right, go to Norris Lane, turn right and proceed to the motel on your right. If you are approaching Boerne driving east on IH 10, take Exit #540, turn left, go to Norris Lane, turn right and proceed to the motel on your right. More information is available at their web site, http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/6c/1/en/hd/boetx. There is no advance fee for the reunion and the bar-b-que will be pay as you go. However, we would like to have an idea of who is coming, so drop us a line, give us a call or an e-mail, please, at 111 Stonegate North, Boerne TX 78006, 830-249-3487, or [email protected]

IT’S ELECTION TIME AGAIN- OFA NEEDS YOU!

Have you considered taking an office in the Owen Family Association? Or do you know an association member who is willing to be a candidate for an office in this organization? We need you now . . . it is time to present a slate of new officers. The election will take place at the 2005 Owen Family Association Bi-annual Reunion in Boerne TX. We now have seven elective offices, all for two years including the new office designated Ge- nealogist. It will take a lot of pressure off the President’s shoulders. For the past six years, Arnie has shouldered the tasks of three offices, and he is ready to step down. (He will become a member of the Board of Directors and is full of plans and ideas.) Our new Genealogist shall be a person who is dili- gent in requiring sources which prove lineage from new members. The seven offices for which we need candidates, are: President Treasurer Vice President Editor Secretary/Historian Publisher Genealogist We take this opportunity to thank the Grubaughs, Bill and Karen, for their unselfish efforts on our behalf, in the latter three offices. Thank you, Karen, for your superb job as our Newsletter Editor and Bill for his meticulous handling of both Treasurer and Publisher. Other responsibilities and com- mitments require their time and efforts, and we are sorry they can no longer continue their service for our Association. YES, they will continue their membership, and, YES, they will host the September Reunion. If you know anyone, including yourself, who would like to toss their hats into the ring, please get in touch with one of our nominating committee. You may write or call (Chairman) Jane Owen Hillard, 3419 Mt. Rainier Drive, Louisville, KY, 40241, or phone 502-426-4771. Or you may E-mail Betty Cook at [email protected]. Our third committee member is Jack Owens of Warsaw, Indiana. Hope to see you in Boerne in September! Jane Hillard June 2005 Volume 20, Issue 2 Owen Family News Page 4

Researching our Ancestors in Texas

Daughters of the Texas Republic Library The library is located on Alamo Plaza, south of the Alamo Church, within the walls of the Alamo compound. Daughters of the Republic of Texas Library P.O. Box 1401 San Antonio, Texas 78295-1401 Telephone: (210) 225-1071 Fax: (210) 212-8514 E-mail: [email protected]

The Daughters of the Republic of Texas Library is open for research Monday through Saturday 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Saturday hours are by appointment only until further notice. To make an appointment call 210- 225-1071. Materials in the library are in closed stacks, and do not circulate outside the building. Access to the collections is provided through an online catalog and other finding aids and guides. Information and the online catalog access can be found at http://www.drtl.org/Generalinfo/index.asp.

Texas State Library and Archives Commission Lorenzo De Zavala State Archives & Library Building Capitol Complex, 1201 Brazos St., Austin, Texas

Except as noted below, all State Library offices and collections are located in the Lorenzo de Zavala State Archives and Library Building, 1201 Brazos Street, directly east of the Texas State Capitol in downtown Austin. The mailing address is P.O. Box 12927, Austin, TX 78711. Most Austin offices and collections of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission are open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. The Genealogy Collection is open Tuesday through Saturday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. (closed on Mondays) The Texas State Archives The Texas State Archives preserves and documents the heritage and culture of Texas by identifying, col- lecting, and making available for research the permanently valuable official records of Texas government, as well as other significant historical resources. Maintaining the official history of Texas government, the State Archives includes archival government records dating back to the 18th century, as well as newspapers, journals, books, manuscripts, photographs, historical maps, and other historical resources. Texas State Archives: Telephone - 512-463-5480 E-mail - [email protected] Genealogy Collection The Genealogy Collection houses materials of interest to patrons engaged in family history research. On- site resources include census records; historic voter registration and tax rolls; and indexes to births, deaths, marriages, and divorces (though not the certificates themselves). Telephone - 512-463-5463 and E-mail- [email protected]

The Texas State Library & Archives Commission web site is http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/agency/index.html

June 2005 Volume 20, Issue 2 Owen Family News Page 5 Texas Hill Country Delights

Boerne, Sisterdale, Luckenbach, and Comfort,

Boerne offers art galleries and both unique and antique shopping in its historic district. Just a hop, skip and jump from Boerne on 1376, is the Sister Creek Vineyards in Sisterdale where wine tasting is the order of the day. For a “cold one” go on to Luckenbach, where “Everybody’s Somebody!” Shop for antiques in Com- fort and don’t miss the Treue der Union Monument, dedicated to the men from Comfort, Sisterdale, Freder- icksburg and the surrounding area who were sympathetic to the Union cause and who died for their beliefs in the Battle of the Nueces in 1862. Comfort Cellars Winery offers tastings daily.

Fredericksburg Streets wide enough to turn your wagon around, quaint shops to delight every shopper wineries, museums and local parks are but a few of the attractions in Fredericksburg. The National Museum of the Pacific War is dedicated exclusively to telling the story of the Pacific Theater battles of World War II. Located on a nine-acre site, the Center includes the George Bush Gallery, Admiral Nimitz Museum, Plaza of Presidents, Veterans' Walk of Honor, Japanese Garden of Peace, Pacific Combat Zone, and the Center for Pacific War Studies. It is located at 328 E. Main St., Fredericksburg, TX 78624. Phone: (830) 997-8600 Fax: (830) 997-8092 San Antonio Attractions The Alamo 300 Alamo Plaza, San Antonio, TX (78205) Admission is free, donations accepted. 210-225-1391 ext. 34 | fax 210-354-3602 [email protected] | www.thealamo.org On the east side of Alamo Plaza is the most famous spot in Texas where 189 defenders fell on March 6, 1836, after repeated attacks by Mexican General Santa Anna’s army. Mission San Antonio de Valero (The Alamo) was established in 1718 as the city’s first mission. The museum contains relics and mementos from the Republic of Texas and offers narration on the fall of the Alamo. The Alamo is located in the heart of the city, inside beautifully landscaped grounds. Hours: 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Monday-Saturday; 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Sunday.

The River Walk (Paseo Del Rio) 454 Soledad, River Ste. 2 (78205), 210-227-4262. www.thesanantonioriverwalk.com Paseo Del Rio in the heart of downtown, is the pride of the city. Lush green foliage lines the banks of this peaceful, historic river. Cobblestone walkways lead to the river- level restaurants and shops. Along the horseshoe shaped riverbend, the river is shaded by towering cypresses, oaks and willows and bordered by gardens of flowering orna- mental plants. River cruisers travel the River Walk’s three miles past unique retail shops and restaurants.

Market Square - El Mercado 514 W. Commerce, San Antonio TX (78207) 210-207-8600 | Fax: 210-207-4287 From early morning until late at night, Market Square is alive with activity. Visitors browse through the 32 shops at "El Mercado," an area patterned after an authentic Mexi can market. In addition, there are 80 specialty shops in Farmers Market Plaza. Free admission. Hours: 10 a.m.-8 p.m., summer; 10 a.m.-6 p.m., winter. June 2005 Volume 20, Issue 2 Owen Family News Page 6 Update: The Owen DNA Project By Whit Athey

During the past few weeks, the number of participants in the “J2” cluster has doubled to eight. We can also reconstruct the 25-marker Y profile for Thomas Owen, Sr., who was born in Wales about 1640, except for one marker, DYS449, where Thomas Sr. probably had a value of 32, like his son John Sr. (b c1676). Tho- mas Owen, Sr. may be the common ancestor of all of the participants in this group. This cluster of participants has formed an e-mail list and are actively exchanging information, trying to connect all of the earliest ancestors of this group.

The second cluster in the table has added one new participant who matches the others exactly on the first 12 markers. His second set of marker values are due any day.

The descendant of Howell Owens, who did not previously match anyone in the project, now has a match. It is not clear how these two participants are related, but with the DNA results in hand to show that they are related, they are actively seeking to find the connection.

We now have 35 participants who have returned their kits and we have at least some results for the 32 participants shown in the table. Three more are awaiting results from the lab, and two have just signed up. We finally seem to be reaching a critical mass where the DNA results are making real contributions to the traditional genealogy. However, with as many Owen/Owens as there are in the U.S., we are still far from realiz- ing the full potential of the project. For those of you who may have been waiting to join, please just go ahead and sign up! If any of you have any Owen contacts in the UK, please send me their contact information and I will try to recruit some of them for the project.

Hopefully, by the next issue, I will be able to announce the location of a web site devoted to the Owen DNA Project. [See table on page 7, Ed.]

OFA Reunion Keynote Speaker Hugh Goodman and “The Owens in Texas”

Owens are found in early Texas history, settling in some of the first communities, founding towns, serving in the Texas War for Independence, riding in possies, members of the elite Texas Rangers and married to Texas heros such as General Edward Burleson. The Owens were indeed part of an exciting history depicted in many classic movies and early television shows. Come to the Owen Family Association Reunion and learn a good deal more about these remarkable history makers.

Our keynote speaker, Hugh Goodman, was born in Big Spring, Texas and raised in Midland, Texas. He married Sherry Ann Tunnell in 1969 while going to college at Texas Tech University. After completing Army Basic Training, the couple moved to Garland, TX where he worked as a life insurance underwriter. Moves to Springfield Mo, Kokomo, IN, and Des Moines, IA were made before returning to Midland, TX in the early 1980's to establish a brokerage insurance agency. A career change to accounting occured in the late 1980's after passing the CPA exam. Moves to Alpine, TX and finally Highland Village, TX followed. . Hugh and Sherry have two daughters and three grandchildren; all living nearby in the Dallas metroplex area. Hugh began to trace his roots about 10 years ago, but has always been interested in family origins after listening as a boy to his father tell of family lore. June 2005 Volume 20, Issue 2 Owen Family News Page 7

* Tested with Biotix GmbH (Germany) instead of FTDNA, so there is no kit number and the markers tested are not exactly the same as FTDNA’s set. Note: Consecutive lines with the same shading (or no shading) represent probably related individuals. DYS389b = DYS389ii – DYS389i June 2005 Volume 20, Issue 2 Owen Family News Page 8 Henry “Buck” Owen and His Descendants (Part 4) by Marshall Thomas (continued from March 2005 issue—generation 3) 3-3 Jasper H. Owen, (Benjamin Franklin2, Henry “Buck”1) b. June 1877, Clarksville, Red River Co., TX ; d. 1940; m. Gertrude Mehaffey. Children of Jasper H. and Gertrude Mehaffey Owen (1) Clifford Owen (2) James Owen (3) Cecile Owen 3-4 Franklin Boyce Owen, (Benjamin Franklin2, Henry “Buck”1) b. 20 April 1882, Clarksville, Red River Co., TX; d. 30 Dec 1943, Clarksville, Red River Co., TX; m. Annie Katherine McNear, 1 Nov 1905, Clarksville, Red River Co., TX. She was d/o John McNear and Katherine Hender. Children of Jasper H. and Annie McNear Owen (1) Frank Edward Owen b. 22 Feb 1907, Clarksville, Red River Co., TX, d. Feb 1871, Stockholm, NJ; m. Vera, b. Oland Island, Sweden. Frank Owen was a successful cartoonist, Pilbert was a regular feature in Collier’s and the Saturday Evening Post. (2) John Richard Newville Owen, b. 1 April 1910, Clarksville, Red River Co., TX; d. 15 March 1992, Clarks- ville, Red River Co., TX. (3) George Raymond Owen, b. 10 May 1913, Clarksville, Red River Co., TX 3-5. Belle Owen (Benjamin Franklin2, Henry “Buck”1) b. Oct. 1884, Clarksville, Red River Co., TX; d. 1954; m. Newt Grigsby. Children of Bell Owen and Newt Grigsby (1) Lelia Grigsby, b. 1904; m. Seth King, d. 1954. Generation 4: 4-1. James Wilson Owen (Wilson Henry3, Benjamin Franklin2, Henry “Buck”1) b. 28 December 1903, Clarks- ville, Red River Co., TX; d. 27 Sept 1967 New Boston, Bowie Co., TX; m. Daisy Louise Ellott, b. 16 Jul 1908, Bryan Mills, Cass Co., TX. Children of James Owen and Daisy Elliott (1) James Maxwell Owen, b. 28 September 1926; m. Dolores (2) Theo Dwight Owen (3) Joe W. Owen, b. 23 Oct 1931, Memphis, Hall Co., TX; m. Norene B. Roberts, Houston, Harris Co., TX. (4) Frances Ruth Owen, b. 20 Dec. 1933; m. David Edward Reid. (5) Bobby Lee Owen, b.12 Sep 1937; m. Patsy Nadine. (6) Elliott Grice Owen, b. 29 Jan 1940, Wichita Falls, Wichita Co., TX; m. Linda Dale Pasche, 2 July 1965, Richardson, Dallas Co., TX; b. 4 Aug 1937, Tyler, Smith Co., TX (7) Kenneth Don Owen, b. 21 October 1941, Wichita Falls, Wichita Co., TX (8) Patricia Ann Owen, b. 3 Nov 1944, New Boston, Bowie Co., TX. 4-2, John Richard Neville Owen (Wilson Henry3, Benjamin Franklin2, Henry “Buck”1) v. 1 April 1910, Clarksville, Red River Co., TX, d. 15 March 1992, Clarksville, Red river Co., TX; m. Pauline Dickson, Dec 1931, Texarkana, TX; John married 2nd Ruth Thomas Jackson, 16 Sep 1956, Clarksville, Red river Co., TX. She was b. 12 March 1912 Red River Co., TX Children of John and Pauline Dickson Owen (1) Carolyn Owen, b. 25 Feb 1933, Deport, Lamar Co., TX; m. Col. Marshall William Thomas, 31 Jan 1953. (2) Mary Louise Owen, b. 25 Jan 1938, Deport, Lamar Co., TX m. Billy Joe Clay, 30 Dec. 1957. 4-3 George Raymond Owen (Wilson Henry3, Benjamin Franklin2, Henry “Buck”1) b. 10 May 1913, Red River Co., TX m. June. He was a musician in the Chicago IL area when contact was lost in 1955. Children of George and June Owen: George Raymond Owen, b. abt. 1939, m. Toni.

June 2005 Volume 20, Issue 2 Owen Family News Page 9 Descendants of Hopwood Donnel Owen by Louise Hardin

Hopwood Donnel Owen (Bird Griffin2, Larkin1) b. 1 Jan 1859, Owen Twp., Lincoln Co., AR; d. 21 Jan 1936, Pitkin, Vernon Co., LA; b. Stuttgart, Arkansas CO., AR; m. Fannie Elizabeth Stahly, 1 Spril 1894, Stutt- gart, Arkansas Co., AR in home of P.C. Owen, d/o Peter Stahley and Elizabeth Schmucker. She was b. 17 Dec 1875, Stuttgart, Arkansas Co., AR and d. 1 Dec 1964, Camden, AR. Hopwood Donnel Owen grew up in Lin- coln CO., AR. He studied to be a doctor, took the fnal exams but never practiced. He met Fannie Stahley while driving cattle through Stuttgart, AR. When she first saw him she told her girlfriend, “He’s the man I’m going to marry.” He was 36 and she was 19. After marrying they built a one room log cabin in Archie AR where they farmed corn, turnips and raised hogs. Hopwood and Annie lived in Valasco, AR, Sweetwater, TX, where they farmed cotton, and Stuttgart AR where they lived between their two sets of parents and farmed peanuts, corn and peas. Finally, they lived with their son, Eber, in Pitkin LA where Hopwood died of a stroke. Fannie who died of auto accident injuries was raised Amish, spoke German and was a comical personality. Children of Hopwood and Fannie were: (1) Capers Owen, b. 12 July 1895, Stuttgart, Arkansas Co., AR; d. 25 Aug 1896. (2) Eber Owen, b.4 Nov 1897, Stuttgart, Arkansas Co., AR; d. Jan 1971; m. (1) Mary Watkins; m. (2) Lula M. Johnson Children of Eber and Mary Watkins Owen were: i. Twin boys Owen ii. Roy Donnel Owen, b. 1934 iii. W. E. Owen, b. 2 Mar 1936; d. 3 Mar 1936 iv. Esther Owen (3) Stonewall Jackson Owen, b. 21 Jun 1899; d. 9 Aug 1976; m. Ellen Stahley Children of Stonewall and Ellen Stahley Owen were: i. Jackie Owen ii. Jack Owen, Jr, iii. Markus Owen iv. Rachel Owen (4) Vivine Prairieflower Owen, b. 2 Oct 1901, Stuttgart, Arkansas Co., AR; d. 28 Nov 1997, Brinkley, Mon- roe Co., AR; m. Lawrence Grant Shumard, 19 Sep 1919 in Ulm, Arkansas Co., AR s/o Sherman Shumard and Mary Leder. He was b. 8 Aug 1897, Hagler, Arkansas Co., Ar; d. 1 April 1981, Brinkley, Monroe Co., AR; div. 1959. Vivine m. (2) Milton Robert Lawsdon, Sep 1962; d. 1964. Children of Vivine Owen and Lawrence Shumard were: i. Lela Mae Shumard, b. 8 Sep 1920, Ulm, Arkansas Co., AR; ii. Bessie Mae Shumard, b. 7 Aug 1925, Stuttgart, Arkansas Co., AR iii. Albert Donald Shumard, b. 2 Sep 1927, Stuttgart, Arkansas Co., AR; d. 17 Nov. 1997, Benton, AR iv. Lida Mae Shumard, b. 16 Nov 1929, Stuttgart, Arkansas Co., AR; d. 7 Oct 1933 v. Virgie Ruth Shumard, b. 8 Jul 1931, Stuttgart, Arkansas Co., AR vi. John Sherman Shumard, b. 15 Dec. 1941, Howell, Woodruff Co., AR; d. 2 Oct 1999, Brinkley, AR (1) Katie Sunshine Owen, b. 23 Mar 1805; m. Louie Leo Segrest. Child of Katie Owen and Louie Leo Segrest ii. Laddie Leo Segrest, d. 15 Feb. 1986 (1) Mary Elizabeth Owen, b.18 Feb 1907; d.4 July 1985, Palestine, TX; m. (1) Horace Day; (2) Tommy Heath. Children of Mary Owen and Horace Day ii. Oneta Day iii. Robert Day (to be continued in the September 2005 issue)

June 2005 Volume 20, Issue 2 Owen Family News Page 10 Descendants of David F. Owen, A Texas Settler

Generation No. 1 1. David Franklin OWEN (Burd [Bird] OWEN1) b. 17 Jul 1791 in SC, d. 31 Jan 1873 in Valley Spring, Llano Co., TX., b. Feb 1873 in Valley Spring Cemetery, Llano Co., TX; m. Sarah BURD 30 Dec 1810 in Barren Co., KY, d/o William Spencer BURD , Sr. Unk HARPER. b. Abt. 1790 in Spartanburg Co., SC, d. Bef. 1830 in Hart Co., KY; m. (2) Sarah SESSOM Bef. 1842 in Bastrop Co., TX. She b. 1806/1815 in TN. Children of David Franklin OWEN and Sarah BURD are: i. Gracie OWEN b. Abt. 1812 in prob. Barren Co., KY, d. Bef. 1844 in Bastrop CO., KY. ii. Mary OWEN b. Abt. 1813 in prob. Barren Co., KY. iii. Robert B. OWEN b. Abt. 1815 in prob. Barren Co., KY, d. 1846 in Bastrop Co., TX. iv. Mary Elizabeth OWEN b. 23 Mar 1818 in AL, d. 13 Mar 1902 in Llano Co., TX. v. William E. OWEN b. Abt. 1820 in (poss. Cotaco Co. [Morgan Co.] ) AL, d. Nov 1852 in Hays Co., TX. vi. Nelson F. OWEN b. Abt. 1821 in (poss. Cotaco [Morgan Co] Co.) AL, d. 1892 in Llano Co., TX. vii. Hannah OWEN b. ABT 1824. viii. Bird "Byrd" G. OWEN b. Abt. 1825 in AL, d. BEF Oct 1879 in Hays Co., TX; m. Elizabeth FLINT. ix. David Jeremiah OWEN b. 1829 in Tipton, TN, d. in Spring Valley, Llano Co., TX. x. Adaline OWEN b. 1829/1830 in TN, d. Abt. 25 Jan 1865 in San Augustine, San Augustine Co., TX. Children of David Franklin OWEN and Sarah SESSOM are: i. Sarah OWEN b. 1839 in Bastrop Co., TX. ii. Richard P. OWEN b. 1842 in Bastrop Co., TX. iii. Mordecai G. OWEN b. 1844 in Bastrop Co., TX. iv. Harriet N. OWEN b. 1844 in Bastrop Co., TX.

Generation No. 2 2. Gracie OWEN (David Franklin OWEN2, Burd [Bird] OWEN1) b. Abt. 1812 in prob. Barren Co., KY, d. Bef. 1844 in Bastrop CO., KY; m. (1) Joseph H. WEEKS Abt. 1834. He died Bef. 24 Feb 1845 in Bastrop Co., TX; m. (2) Herman REED Bef. 1834. Children of Gracie OWEN and Joseph H. WEEKS are: i. Robert B. WEEKS b. 1836 in Bastrop Co., TX; m.Rhoda C. GARDNER 15 Aug 1861,Bastrop Co., TX. ii. Lucinda WEEKS b. 1840 in Bastrop Co., TX; m. William R. MASON 8 Jun 1857 in Bastrop Co., TX. 3. Mary OWEN (David Franklin OWEN2, Burd [Bird] OWEN1) b. Abt. 1813 in prob. Barren Co., KY; m. (1) Addison LITTON Abt. 1833 in Bastrop Co., TX; m. (2) married Christopher J. STROTHER. Children of Mary OWEN and Addison LITTON are: i. David LITTON b. Abt. 1834 in TX. ii. Mahala LITTON b. Abt. 1826 in TX. iii. Francis M. LITTON b. Sep 1839 in Bastrop Co., TX. iv. Mary A. LITTON b. Abt. 1844 in TX. 4. Robert B. OWEN (David Franklin OWEN2, Burd [Bird] OWEN1) b. Abt. 1815 in prob. Barren Co., KY, d. 1846 in Bastrop Co., TX; m. Mariah FLINT Abt. 1843 in Bastrop Co., TX, daughter of Elias FLINT. She b. Abt. 1820-21 in Lincoln Co., MO, d. Bef. Feb 1859 in Cedar Creek, Bastrop Co., TX. Children of Robert B. OWEN and Mariah FLINT are: i. Amanda Jane OWEN b. 1845 in Bastrop Co., TX; m. John W. PITTS 18 Jan 1866 in Bastrop Co., TX, ii. Louisa Pope OWEN b. 4 Feb 1846 ,Cedar Creek, Bastrop Co TX, d. 9 Feb 1921 Utley, Bastrop Co TX. 5. Mary Elizabeth OWEN (David Franklin OWEN2, Burd [Bird] OWEN1) b. 23 Mar 1818 in AL, d. 13 Mar 1902 in Llano Co., TX; b. Mar 1902 in Valley Spring Cemetery, Valley Spring, Llano Co., TX; m. Michael SESSOM 4 May 1835 in Robertson Co., TX. (to be continued, Sep. 2005 issue) June 2005 Volume 20, Issue 2 Owen Family News Page 11 Welcome New Members ?Thomas E Owen (#363) 4152 Maple Lane, Powder Springs, GA 30127-1988; 770-439-8454; [email protected]. Earliest Owen ancestor: (Thomas, Please send ancestry information to Karen Grubaugh, editor.) ?Joseph Franklin Howard (#364) P O Box 1923, Seguin TX 78155-8923; 830-372-2524; [email protected]. Earliest Owen ancestor:Richard Owen b.abt. 1686,VA & Sara Elizabeth Rowland. ?Ed Owen (#366) 4190 Hurricane Shores, Dr. Benton AR 72015; (Ed, please send telephone number and email address to Karen Grubaugh, editor) Earliest Owen ancestor: William Farrow Owen. ?Linda Hotz Sprencel (#367) 207 Michael St., Inez TX 77968-3650; 361-576-2408; Linspren@TXCR. net. Earliest Owen ancestor: William Owen b. c 1733 and Drucilla Echols. ?Arvan D. Reese, II (#368) 2932 Pawnee Dr., Bremerton, WA 98310; 360-377-8295; Fax 360-792-9710; [email protected]. Earliest known ancestor: Ruven Pickett Owen and Mary Harriet Lewis. If you have information about these Owen(s) lines, please contact our new member. MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION For information or an application for membership, please e-mail [email protected] or write to: Owen Family Association c/o Arnold Owen P O BOX 692, Westtown, PA 19395-0692.

Late September in Boerne TX

Our 2005 Owen Family Association Reunion will be held in late September which marks the beginning of fall in Boerne, TX Happily, the hot weather breaks about mid-September. We should have sunshine and warm days of about 85 degrees with cooler nights. Just in case we have a cooler fall than normal, you should bring a light jacket or sweater. Otherwise, you will be comfortable in short sleeves and slacks.

Casual clothes are appropriate for anything you do in Boerne. Our reunion is very informal so dress comfortably. Bar-b-que at Rudy’s, where the best bar-b-que in all of Texas is served, is extremely casual. You will fit right in if you are decked out in cowboy attire. Casual clothes are suitable for any of the Hill Country delights or San Antonio attractions. Both Boerne and San Antonio are tourist communities and everything is very casual and welcoming.

If you are joining us for breakfast and church on Sunday, wear whatever makes you comfortable in a worship service. Cornerstone Church is a large church in San Antonio where folks from all walks of life attend. Parishioners are comfortable in jeans or suits, slacks or dresses. If you would like to know more about our, Karen and Bill Grubaugh’s, home church, the church web site address is http://www. sacornerstone.com/.

More Commonly Used Genealogy Abbreviations Www.Rootsweb.com/~rigenweb/abbrev.html ? Abbr. abbreviation ? desc., dsct. descendant ? k. Killed ? par. parish ? Abs., abstr. abstract ? dsp. died without issue ? kn. known ? pro. probate ? af., afft. affidavit ? dsp. died without issue ? ms. manuscript ? sin. without ? ba. Bachelor; baptized ? Dspm. died without male ? n. nephew ? na. naturalized ? bet. between issue ? NARA National Archives ? s.p. without offspring ? bpl. birthplace ? gdn. guardian and Records Admin. ? T. , twp. township ? cen., cens. census ? GGF great-grandfather ? nfi. No further informa- ? w. wife ? cert.. certificate ? GGGF Great-great grand- tion ? W.B. Will book ? ch/o. Child of father ? o.c. only child ? w.d. Will dated Owen Family News 1st class postage “Owen, a name worth knowing”

Owen Family Association Bill Grubaugh, Publisher 111 Stonegate North Boerne, TX 78006

Association Officers: Mr. Arnold C. Owen, President P.O. Box 692 Westtown, PA 19395-0692 (610) 399-0146 (941) 629-8211 (Winter) [email protected]

Board of Directors published quarterly and is subject to copyright. Robert McCrary George Shirley C. Owen Johnson OWEN FAMILY NEWS

Volume 20, Issue 3 Published by Owen Family Association September 2005 Page 1 htpp//www.geocities.com/~owenfamily Hurry Cousins! Make your motel reservation for the OFA 2005 Reunion in Boerne,

INSIDE THIS ISSUE Texas Before August 20th! OurINSIDE Feature THIS Article: ISSUE Descendants of William and A Complimentary Meeting Room DrucillaFeature Echols Article:Owen— Part 4 will be provided at the Holiday Inn Express if you make C. Owen Johnson Update:Page The 52 Owen your reservation by August 20, 2005. Be sure to tell DNA Project them that you are with the Owen Family Association. Reuben Pickett Owen by Whit Athey (See page 11 for reservation details.) and HisPage Descendants: 4 Adrian Boone Owen JodyDescendants Moeller and of OWEN FAMILY ASSOCIATION 2005 REUNION ThomasLee Gentemenn E. Owen Page 55 September 24th and September 25th by Marshall Thomas IN FUTUREPage ISSUES6 Boerne, Texas

Descendants- March Featu ofre ArticleEdward - OFA 2005 Reunion Schedule DescendantsOwen, B. F. of Owen, William and and DrucillaJoseph Echols Owen— Part 5 Byby MarshallC. Owen Johnson Thomas Friday, Sep. 23rd 6:00 p.m. Registration in Holiday Inn Express Lobby ˜

Descendants of Saturday, Sep. 24th 9:00 a.m. O.F.A. Business Meeting ReubenDescendants Pickett Owen of— Part 4 Hopwood Donnel Owen by Josephine Moeller 10:30 a.m. Use of DNA in Genealogy by Whit Athey by Louise˜ Hardin Page 8 A David Franklin Owen 12:00 p.m. Owens of Texas by Hugh Goodman Narrative The Ancient Estate of by Hugh Goodman 2:00 p.m. Informal lunch at Rudy’s Bar-b-Que Abernantbychan˜

ByDescendancy Ann Taylor of Henry Page“Buck” 9 Owen 4:00 p.m. Free time By Marshall Thomas DNA Results˜ Start Owen Sunday, Sep. 25th 8:30 a.m. Meet in motel lobby for breakfast at EwingBrick ElmerWall Crumbling Fidler Story Las Palapas Restaurant By ByKaren Louis Grubaugh Owen Page 3 11:00 a.m. Worship Services @ Cornerstone Church Owen Histories in San Antonio. Chris Hanlin

September 2005 Volume 20, Issue 3 Owen Family News Page 2 Editorial Staff The President’s of the Farewell Message Owen Family News By Arnie Owen

Editor & Chief Karen Grubaugh The past eight years have been a joy serving the Owen Family Associa- Publisher tion and looking back, I have no regrets, but it is now time for someone Bill Grubaugh else to take charge. There are many of our members well qualified to lead 111 Stonegate North us and by the time we convene our meeting in September, I am sure some Boerne TX 78006 worthy candidate will step forward. (830) 249-3487 (FAX & voice) [email protected] Since elected your third president at the 1997 Owen Biannual Reunion in Lexington, NC, it was my objective to expand our national organization Contributing Editors: into a global association. While we have expanded our membership base to include members throughout most of the contiguous 48 states, Owen Jane Owen Hillard descendants from other countries have yet to join. We need to do more in 3419 Mt. Rainier Dr. the area of membership recruiting. Our current Owen Web Site and Louisville, KY 40244 Roots-List merely provide the basics. These are wonderful communica- (502) 426-4771 tion tools, but we need to improve or replace them with the capability of providing more informational material. Communication is the key. Sev- Kimberly Ayn Owen eral people joined after hearing about our DNA project, but there are 8006 Cottesmore Ct. many people who have not been reached. Most will agree that more male Richmond, VA 23228 Owen, DNA participants are needed. Membership recruitment and re- [email protected] newals should be high on our priority list.

C. Owen Johnson I am very proud of our quarterly newsletter and the staff that is responsi- Crystal Plaza #809 So. ble for producing it year after year. Our current editor has done an out- 211 Jeff Davis Hwy. standing job of managing, organizing and designing our publication. Arlington, VA 22202 Also, I especially thank the many people who donate their time and talent (703) 415-1473 in writing interesting articles for our readers. This publication not only reaches all the members, but it is available at several major genealogy William P. Owen, III libraries throughout the USA. We have published many articles on the P O Box 24165 Owen family and hopefully will publish many more in future editions. I Fort Lauderdale, FL 33307 urge everyone to become involved in writing their Owen(s) family his- [email protected] tory and sharing it with other researches. People should not be shy about Publication Dates submitting their history or articles to the editor for publishing. Our pur- March, June, September pose is not to criticize your work by looking for every little grammatical And December error. I have an expression for this “some people pride themselves by Deadlines are the 10th day of the picking the fly s— out of pepper” I doubt that there is anyone among us month preceding publication that is perfect. Pure and simple, our purpose is to publish Owen family Submission of lineages, biographies, pho- history. This is not a society of professional genealogists, but a group of tographs, historical and genealogical data people eager to learn more about their family history. Do the best you can about any Owen anywhere is encouraged! to accurately record your family’s history including, names, dates, place, Your ideas for the newsletter are also so- events and documents of proof, i.e.. land records, death records, marriage licited, just contact the editor. records, wills, etc. Remember, all of us share a common interest in Owen genealogy. (continued p. 3) September 2005 Volume 20, Issue 3 Owen Family News Page 3

President’s Farewell Message, con’t. If the Association is to continue as a viable organization, volunteers must step forward to help in running the day to day operations and to perform the necessary tasks for which we were founded. We need more people with genealogy experience to help others with their research questions. There are plenty of jobs to go around. I urge everyone to get involved, run for office, write articles, assist in improving the organization and if possible attend the Biannual Reunions. There is much to be done. Although I am retiring as your president, I plan to continue taking an active part and supporting our newly elected officers. My dear Owen(s) friends, I bid you farewell only as your President.

DNA Results Start Owen Brick Wall Crumbling by Karen Grubaugh

Among my fellow Owen genealogy cousins every court house and library in every county in which William Owen and Larkin Owen lived have been researched. We have scoured publications and manuscripts of Owen researchers gone by. Days had been spent in the in the stacks and at the microfilm readers of the LDS Library in Sa lt Lake City, UT. We have turned over every rock and recorded every detail we could find but none led us to the ancestors we sought. We were able to find William’s parents, Burd and Gracey Griffin Owen, in Hardin and Barren Co., KY through records transcribed and posted on the internet. However, with no additional leads our enthusiasm was waning.

Having traced my other major lines to my goal of finding at least the immigrant ancestor, only my Owen lines remained unfinished. The unbelievable was happening, I was losing interest in my 43 year love, genealogy! Then, (drum roll, please) a living Owen male descendant of our William Owen (~1782 SC to ~Oct 1850) agreed to participate in the Owen DNA Project. We all waited excitedly anticipating the test results. And one day, the notification came; the results were in. Much to my surprise, the DNA results informed us that Arnie Owen, our Owen Family Association President, as well as four more Owens, were descended from the same Owen ancestor as we. We now know that Edward Owen (1775-1825 NC), George W. Owen (1825 TN), Wil- liam Owen (1793 VA), Joseph Owen (abt. 1765 VA) and our Burd Owen (abt. 1750 VA) descend from a common ancestor probably no more than 3 generations before them. With that simple email of DNA results, the old enthusiasm was back. Now we are excitedly combing records and notes, comparing with one another and diligently seeking our common ancestor. We have clues that point us in the direction of Edward Owen of Polecat Creek, Halifax Co., VA thanks to Jane Hillard’s excellent series of articles in this publication, All Those Unrelated Owens of Halifax County.

That’s all well and good for the Burd Owen line, but what about our Larkin Owen line? Within an hour of emails, we had our volunteer for the DNA project and are now waiting for his results. This worked so well that we contacted Mary Lee Barnes whose John Owen of Chester Co., SC is believed to be related to the Larkin Owen folks. We are seeking a male living Owen descendant of this line who will participate in the pr o- ject. Hugh Goodman, researcher of the David Franklin Owen line of Texas and our Reunion speaker is currently seeking a volunteer from that line. Will they all descend from our common ancestor?

I am excited by the research possibilities opened by the Owen DNA Project and eagerly anticipate learning from Whit Athey’s talk about using DNA results in genealogy research. We need the main Virginia Owen lines tested as Whit stresses in his article. Are you a living male with the Owen surname? Please step up and be tested!

Thanks to Whit Athey for the superb and tireless work he does as the Owen DNA Project Director. September 2005 Volume 20, Issue 3 Owen Family News Page 4 Update: The Owen DNA Project By Whit Athey

Since the last issue of the newsletter, the number of participants has grown nicely from 35 (returned kits) to 40. In addition, one Owen has joined the project from the National Geographic Society (NGS) project. The person who transferred is an Owen who lives in Wales and whose father and grandfather both spoke Welch as their first language. This participant’s kit number is identified by the “N” as the first character, and from the table of results he can be seen possibly to match one of our American Owen clusters--the group labeled as “Possibly Matching Owen Group 6” in the table. He has ordered the upgrade to 25 markers, so we should soon see if the partial match holds up.

Our table of results is getting rather large and the print correspondingly small. To address this issue and to provide more up-to-date information on the project to OFA members and project participants, a web site has been established for the Owen DNA Project. You may visit the site and get the latest results by going to the URL: http://home.comcast.net/~whitathey/indexo.htm

Two clusters of matching Owens have added new members and now have six and five participants each. These two clusters are labeled as “Owen Group 2” and “Owen Group 5.” I have reorganized a couple of smaller groups, added a couple of new members, and labeled this new group as the “Possibly Matching Owen Group 6.” Clearly some within this group match closely, but others have some differences. Be- cause all of these are members of the very common Haplogroup R1b (about 60-70% of northwest Europe- ans), accidental matches occur fairly frequently and we can’t be sure that these all share a recent common Owen ancestor. As additional results come in and new participants join, we should be able to determine which of these do share a common ancestor.

Our largest cluster, “Owen Group 1” continues to grow and now has nine members. This group’s Y profile is very distinctive and would be easy to identify in any new participant. All of these participants are probably descendants of Thomas Owen Sr, who was born in Wales about 1630 and died in Virginia. At least four members of this group do not know how they connect to this immigrant ancestor, but at least now they know where to focus their traditional research.

To join the Owen DNA Project, go to the web site for the project (shown above) and click on “Join the Project”. Or, call me at 301-570-0923, or call the testing company, Family Tree DNA, at 713-868-1438 and ask to join the Owen DNA Project. The cost for the basic 12-marker test is $99. For two of the Owen Groups, 12 markers would be sufficient to show that you belong to that group, though it would probably not provide much information on how you were connected. The project standard is the 25-marker test, which costs $169. It is also possible to purchase 12 markers first and later add more, though it costs a total of about 12% more to do it that way. A few participants have ordered the 37-marker test for $219. Al- though it is not a part of the Owen project, anyone wanting to get mitochondrial DNA tests may do so through the project and get the same project discount as the Y tests.

There will be a presentation/workshop on the use of DNA in genealogy at the OFA meeting in September, along with a summary of the Owen DNA Project.

[Ed. Note: go to www5.nationalgeographic.com for The Genographic Project. “Who was your first ancestor?”] September 2005 Volume 20, Issue 3 Owen Family News Page 5

September 2005 Volume 20, Issue 3 Owen Family News Page 6 Descendants of Thomas E. Owen By Marshall Thomas

1. THOMAS E. OWEN (THOMAS2, WILLIAM1), was born about 1815 in Halifax Co., VA. He married Mary W. Petty 8 July 1839 in Halifax Co. VA. She was born about 1818 in Halifax Co. An El- isha Petty family resides in Red River Co. TX where Tomas and Mary settle. Thomas had a brother, Henry, born in 1812 [see Henry “Buck” Owen and His Descendants in the Owen Family News Vol. 19.3 - Vol. 20.2]and possibly a brother, Alexander, both born in VA. Thomas and Mary Owen are found in 1850 in Haywood Co.,TN where their three oldest children were born. In Dec of 1853 they purchase 560 acres in Clarksville, Red Creek Co., TX. In 1854, Thomas and Mary Owen along with Henry and Susan Owen, sell co-owned property; Henry and Susan Owen were one third owners. The estate of Thomas Owens is recorded in Book 3-2, Page A, 1871. There is also a note in the Inex to Probate, Book H, p. 291 “Owens, Thomas—lunatic.” No date is provided. Children of Thomas Owen and May Petty are i. Richard Gill Owen b. 26 September 1846 TN; d. abt. 1870 Red River Co., TX ii. Mary Elizabeth Owen, b. 10 December 1848, TX; d. 11 November 1921, Pontatoe, OK iii. Alexander Petty Owen, b. 1853 TX’ d. 1917, Pontatoe, OK

Generation 2 2-1 RICHARD HILL OWEN (THOMAS E.3, THOMAS2, WILLIAM1) was born 26 September 1846 in TN. and died abt. 1870 in Red River Co., TX. He married Mary Francis Smith, 10 October 1865, Red River Co. TX. She was born abt. 1846 in MS. In 1860, at age 18, Richard is living in the Henry and Susan Owen home and is listed as a student. Children of Richard Owen and Mary Smith are i. Nora Owen, b. abt. 1860 ii. Thomas Owen, b. abt. 1862 iii. Walter Owen, b. ab.t 1864 i iv. Rena Owen, b. 1866; d. 1956; m. ? Westbrook 2-2 MARY ELIZABETH OWEN (THOMAS E.3, THOMAS2, WILLIAM1) was born 10 December 1848 in TX and died 11 November 1921 in Pontatoe, OK. She married (1) Samuel H. Duty 1 May 1866 in Clarksville, Red River Co., TX. He was born 1836 in Red River Co., TX and died 1879 in Siv ells Bend, Cooke Co., TX. She married (2) George Vandiver bet. 1880-1882 in Cooke Co., TX. She is buried in Pontatoe Cemetery, Pontatoe, OK. Children of Mary Owen and Samuel Duty are i. William Phillip Duty, b. 22 Jan 1867, Clarksville, Red River Co., TX; d. 28 June 1941, Pon totoe, Johnston Co., OK. ii. John Richard Duty, b. 3 October 1869, Clarksville, Red River Co., TX; d. 11 August 1938. iii. William Sanders Duty, b. 1872, Sivells Bend, Cooke Co., TX iv. Sarah Dolly Duty, b. 1874, Sivells Bend, Cooke Co., TX; m. William O. Barrett, 1899, Pon tatoe, OK. v. Samuel Duty, b. 1876, Sivells Bend, Cooke Co., TX Children of Mary Owen and George Vandiver are i. Annie Vandiver, b. October 1883, Cooke Co., TX ii. Nannie Vandiver, b. October 1883, Cooke Co., TX iii. Geurtie Vandiver, b. 1890, Cooke Co., TX iv. Molly Vandiver, b. Aft. 1890.

September 2005 Volume 20, Issue 3 Owen Family News Page 7 Descendants of Edward Owen, B. F. Owen, and Joseph Owen by Marshall Thomas

EDWARD OWEN was born about 1805 and died about 1838 in Red River Co., TX. He married Sally Owens about 1825. She was born about 1805 and died before 30 October 1838 in Red River Co., TX. Edward Owen arrived in Red River Co., TX in June 1832. See Red River Co., TX Probate Book 5-29, 1838, page A, Book A, pp. 32, 37, 38, 39, 75, & 120. Children of Edward Owen and Sally Owen are: I. Mary A. Owen, b. about 1835. II. Catharine Owen, b. about 1836.

B. F. OWEN was born about 1810 and died before 1854 in Lamar Co., TX. According to the Arkansas Gazette Nov. 6, 1827, B. F. Owens is listed as a Justice of the Peace for Jefferson, Miller Co., Arkansas Territory. Jefferson is now Red River and Lamar Co., TX [Note: Richardson Owen and Sallie Duty had a son William who married Martha Edwards. They had a son Judge B. F. Owen who lived in West Point MS. [See Daniel Grant Owen: His Ancestors, Descendants and Their Kin, Ancestors Section Owen, p. 5, T/A.] The 1829, Benjamin F. Owen appears on AR Tax List 1819-1829, in Pulaski Co., AR, AR Terri- tory TX. B. F. Owen is in the 1850 census for Lamar Co., TX, Precinct 1, p. 42, D# 285. Children of B. F. Owen are: I. B. F. Owen, Jr. b. about 1828 NC; II. Edward Owen, b. about 1832 III. James W. Owen, b. about 1835 IV. Ann W Owen, b. about 1838 V. Ann K Owen, b. about 1844 VI. Isabell Owen, b. 1846, MS; The Isabell Owen living with Henry Owen and family, 1870 census, Red River Co., TX is the wife of Thomas C. Owen, nee Isabella McGraw, m. 15 Sep 1869, Clarksville, Red River Co., TX.

JOSEPH OWEN was born about 1765. He married Mary “Polly” Darnall. She was born 15 January 1779, Shelby Co., KY Child of Joseph Owen and Mary Darnall is I. William M. Owen, b. about 1800; d. after 1845, Red River Co., TX 1845 land record.

IT’S ELECTION TIME AGAIN- OFA NEEDS YOU!

We need candidates for seven elective offices, for two year terms. One of them is the new office of Genealogist. This person will oversee the lineages reported, their sources and assist those who are new to genealogy research. The seven offices for which we need candidates, are: President Treasurer Vice President Editor Secretary/Historian Publisher Genealogist If you know anyone, including yourself, who would like to serve please get in touch with one of our nominating committee. You may write or call (Chairman) Jane Owen Hillard, 3419 Mt. Rain- ier Drive, Louisville, KY, 40241, or phone 502-426-4771. Or you may E-mail Betty Cook at bbcook@lyc. Election to be held at the Owen Family Association Biannual Reunion. September 2005 Volume 20, Issue 3 Owen Family News Page 8 Descendants of Hopwood Donnel Owen By Louise Hardin

(Continued from p. 9, Vol. 20.3, June issue Owen Family News) Ed Note: Katie Sunshine Owen should have been number (5) rather than (1) and Mary Elizabeth should have been numbered (6) rather than (1) in the June issue. We continue with number (7) here.) (7) LELA MAE SHUMARD (Vivine Prairieflower Owen4, Hopwood Donnell3, Bird Griffin2, Larkin1) was born September 8, 1920 in Ulm, AR, She married Charles Harrison O’Brian, June 26, 1940 in Brinkley, Monroe Co., AR, son of Benjamin O’Brian and Callie Wynne. He was born August 3, 1919 in Little Rock, Pulaski, AR. The O’Brian family lived in Brinkley, AR. Mr. O’Brian worked for the Post Office a and served in the Brinkley Volunteer Fire Dept. and in World War II’s European theatre. Children of Lela Mae Shumard and Charles Harrison O’Brian are living.

(8) BESSIE MAE SHUMARD (Vivine Prairieflower Owen4, Hopwood Donnell3, Bird Griffin2, Larkin1) was born August 17, 1924 in Stuttgart, Arkansas Co., Arkansas. She married F. C. McClelland August 4, 1942 in Hazen, Arkansas. He was born March 16, 1923 in San Springs, OK. Children of Bessie Mae Shumard and F. C. McClelland are living.

(9) ALBERT DONALD SHUMARD (Vivine Prairieflower Owen4, Hopwood Donnell3, Bird Griffin2, Lark- in1) was born September 2, 1927 in Stuttgart, Arkansas Co., Arkansas and died November 17, 1997 in Benton, AR. He married (1) Glenda Jean Miley December 25, 1945 in Monroe Co., AR. And (2) Stella. They resided in CA until her death after which he lived in Benton where he died of lung cancer. Children of Albert Shumard and Glenda Miley include three living children and I. Jemmie Ray Schumard b. Ocotober 1 1949, Brinkley, Monroe Co., AR; d. about 1995, Little Rock, \ Pulaski, AR. ii. Leslie Wayne Shumard, b. January 21, 1951 Brinkley, Monroe Co., AR; d. November 1, 1984, Heber Springs AR. iii. Barbara Sue Shumard, b. March 22, 1953, Brinkley, AR; d. 2003; m. John William Anderson, b. March 17, 1945, San Bernadino, CA iv. Albert Donald Shumard, Jr. b. November 28, 1956, Little Rock, AR; d. November 28, 1956, Little Rock, AR. v. Ricky Joe Shumard, b. 6 October 1958 Little Rock, AR; d. about 1994, CA.

(10)VIRGIE RUTH SHUMARD (Vivine Prairieflower Owen4, Hopwood Donnell3, Bird Griffin2, Larkin1) was born July 8, 1931 in Stuttgart, Arkansas Co., Arkansas. She married (1) Benjamin Alvin Dierks Feb- ruary 20, 1949. He was born June 18, 1926 in Stuttgart, Arkansas CO., AR and d. January 21, 1977 in Stuttgart, Arkansas Co., AR. She married (2) Neldon Foster, 1978 in Stuttgart, AR. Children of Virgie Shumard and Benjamin Dierks are living.

(11)JOHN SHERMAN SHUMARD (Vivine Prairieflower Owen4, Hopwood Donnell3, Bird Griffin2, Larkin1) was born December 15, 1941 in Howell, Woodruff Co., AR and d. October 2, 1999 in Brinkley, Monroe Co., AR. He married Carolyn Sympson Poe November 9, 1966 in Brinkley, AR. She was born Novem- ber 23, 1945, Monroe AR and died May 2001 in Brinkley, AR. Child of John Shumard and Carolyn Poe is living.

(12) ONETA DAY (Mary Elisaveth Owen4, Hopwood Donnell3, Bird Griffin2, Larkin1). Her child is living.

September 2005 Volume 20, Issue 3 Owen Family News Page 9 The Ancient Estate of ABERNANTBYCHAN (PLAS Y GLYN), GLYNARTHEN, Penbryn, Wales by Ann Owen Taylor for the Cardiganshire Family History Society

Er cof am Nance Eirlys Thomas (cyn Owen) (1922-2001) a ganwyd yn fferm y Plas, Glynarthen, gan dreulio ei holl oes yno. (This article is dedicated to Nance Eirlys Thomas (Nee Owen) (1922-2001) who spent her life farming and welcoming visitors at Plas y Glyn.) The site of the ancient estate of Abernantbychan stands in a pleasant vale appropriately a mile from Glynarthen village in the parish of Penbryn. (grid reference SN 3149 4947). The old estate name has fallen out of use and the present farm is known as Plas y Glyn or Plas, Glynarthen.

The first of the old family to appear in surviving documents is Lewes Dafydd Meredydd, formally of the unidentified Gwernygored. He is traced to Owen ap Bradwen through Llewelyn Dalran, the first of the family to settle in the south. Owen married Sioned daughter and heiress of Gwilym ap Seisyllt, Lord of Abernantbychan. Up to the mid 17th century Abernantbychan was the home of the Lewes family, later of Coedmor, whose members were thirteen times returned to Parliament. It seems that although they were politically prominent they were not particularly active and were not among the Cardiganshire plasau who patronised the Welsh poets in the 17th century. Daniel Huws has written a detailed account of this family. The estate then passed to the Pryses of Gogerddan. The last reference to the old manor house is sometime after 1710 when Elizabeth Brigstocke is described as living at Abernantbychan House.

The old house itself has long disappeared with some of the original stone having appeared to be used to build the 19th century farm buildings. Samuel Meyrick writes in c1810 that " the arch of the door is the pointed ellipse and the wain- scot within the house, from its carved work, and the figures on it, seems to date from the Elizabethan reign. The mould in the garden is said to have been brought from Ireland, and the vulgar add, on the account no venomous reptile will live in it".

By 1760, James Thomas is listed as freeholder of the property but probably held a long lease from the Pryses of Gogerddan. Later, the estate let the demesne of 63 acres to James Owens (1803 -1864) from whom the present owners are descended. James Owens enlarged the present farmhouse in 1835 and the inscription above the front door names the house as Abernant Vaughan. After this time the farm was known as Plas, Glynarthen or Plas y Glyn.

James Owens (1803-1864) was the son of Owen Owens (1770-1844) and Elizabeth (1780-1844) who were living at the Wig, Llangranog in 1841. There is a family tradition that Owen Owens was descended from a prominent North Wales family possibly the Tudors of Penmynydd, Anglesey. This is as yet neither proved nor disproved! He certainly did not end his life with the benefit of a family fortune, his estate being valued at less than £20.

James married Ann James (1805- 1875) of Pencaeau, Glynarthen and moved to Plas Abernantbychan as a farming ten- ant. James and Ann had at least 8 children but only 3 survived infancy; Ann (1832-1853), John ( 1834-1910) and David Owens (b.1840) who became a Custom and Excise Officer in Bristol. James had an older brother George (1798- 1873) who lived at Plas but did not appear to take any of the usual responsibilities of an older child and was not a member of the Glynarthen Chapel.

The death of Ann at the age of 21 appears to have hit her parents particularly hard. The bard Dewi Emlyn wrote an epi- taph for the gravestone which advised the youth of Glynarthen that no matter how well they looked they should seek God as they could die at any moment like dear Ann. Dewi Emlyn had emigrated to Parisville, Ohio, USA but had a baby named Ivor, buried at Gly narthen. (to be continued in December, 2005 issue) September 2005 Volume 20, Issue 3 Owen Family News Page 10 Queries: We want to know . . .

Ed and Jane Owen, 4190 Hurricane Shores, Benton, AR 72015, 501-794-4751, [email protected] are seeking information abt. the parents of William Farrow Owen, Jr. and his wife Isabell who were m. in Halifax County, VA on 16 May 1813. We have information abt. William F. Owen & wife Anne Ritter in 1806 as well as William F. Owen and wife Heneretta in 1809. Was Anne Ritter William F. Owen’s first wife and Heneretta, his second? Is this William F. Owen the father of William Farrow Owen, Jr.? Am also seeking Isabell Owen’s parents. Berry Owen, Sr. & Elizabeth had a daughter named, Isabell, but their was also an Isabell who m. Payton Loyd in February 1814. Was Isabell’s maiden name Owen?

Additionally, Ed and Jane Owen, are seeking information abt. John Nichols and his wife Sally who sold land on Black Walnut Creek in 1809 to William F. Owen & wife Heneretta. Is this John Nichols the same John Nichols who m. Sally Owen 3 Feb 1802? Ralph & Thomas Owen also owned land on Black Walnut Creek. Is Sally Owen Nichols the sister of William F. Owen? In that event, William F. Owen could be related to the Ralph & Thomas Owen line. Any information is welcome.

Descendants of William Farrow Owen By Ed and Jane Owen 1. William Farrow Owen 2. William Farrow Owen, Jr.(William Farrow1) m. Isabea Owen May 25, 2813, Halifax Co., VA. 3. Seaton Owen .(William Farrow2, William Farrow1) b. abt. 1811 in VA; m. (1) Elizabeth and (2) Martha Smith, Jan.16, 1852, Callaway Co., MO; b. KY. Children of Seaton and Elizabeth Owen are: i. John T. Owen b. abt. 1836. ii. James A. Owen b. abt. 1838 iii. Benjamin F. Owen b. abt. 1839 iv. Samuel H. Owen b. abt. 1841, m. Amanda Ray, Jan.11, 1865 v. Richard B. Owen, b. Sep. 20, 1844, MO; d. Jan. 20, 1924; m. Elizabeth M. Tolbert, August 2, 1868, Callaway County MO, b. Aug. 4, 1850, d. Sep. 12, 1926. vi. Deaton E. Owen, b. 1843, Lincoln Co., MO; m. (1) Susan Hanna, 1864; m. (2) Catherine Cordelia Sheets, Nov. 24, 1867. vii. Mary S. Owen b. 1847 viii. Edward Owen, b. abt. 1846 ix. Elisha Jackson Owen, b. 1850 MO; d. 1930; x. David Owen, b. abt. 1852. 4. Elisha Jackson Owen, (Seaton3, William Farrow2, William Farrow1) b. 1850 in MO; d. 1930; m. (1) Sarah Ann Magart Feb.17, 1870, Callaway CO., MO, b. abt. 1855; d. Feb.1, 1884, MO; m. (2) Alice Meteer July 13, 1887, Callaway Co., MO. b. Feb.24, 1857; d. Jan.18, 1898; m. (3) Martha Edna Forbis Dec. 26, 1900 in Boone Co., Asland, MO, d/o Thomas Forbis and Lucy Forbis. She was b. Jul. 12, 1873; d. Dec. 29, 1857, Ashland, MO. Children of Elisha Owen and Sarah Margart are: I. William J Owen, b. abt. 1876; d. July 21, 1888, MO, ii. Bertie A. Owen m. Mr. Smith iii. Nollie R. Owen, b. Dec 20, 1880; d. Dec. 2, 1974, MO; m. Leta Child of Elisha Owen and Alice Meteer is Homer S. Owen, b. Nov. 5, 1892, MO; d. Dec. 10, 1980, MO. m. Bessie O. Child of Elisha Owen and Martha Forbis is Elisha Hugh Owen, b. Aug 11, 1903 d. March 14, 1995; m. (1) Elva Ellen Finney , (2) Alberta Mae Moorre, and (3) Mary Breck. September 2005 Volume 20, Issue 3 Owen Family News Page 11 Welcome New Members ?Rudelle Conally (#369) P O Box 1520,Glen Rose, TX 76043; 254-897-7543; [email protected] . Earliest Owen ancestor: Lucy E. Owen Cananah, b. 1797 in Milledgeville, Baldwin Co., GA d. 1822, Red Bud, IL, m. Charles Cavanah 7 Nov 1813. If you have information about this Owen(s) line, please contact our new member. MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION For information or an application for membership, please e-mail [email protected] or write to: Owen Family Association c/o Arnold Owen P O BOX 692, Westtown, PA 19395-0692.

Make Reservations for the OFA Reunion at the Holiday Inn Express, Boerne TX In order to attend the Owen Family Association 2005 Reunion make your reservation at the Holiday Inn Express in Boerne no later than August 20th. Rooms have been set aside for the Owen Family Asso- ciation at the special rate of $99.00 each; be sure to tell reservations that you are part of the Owen Family Association. When we have 15 rooms booked, our use of their conference room will be complimentary. For a reservation call 830-249-6800. The Holiday Inn Express is located at 15000 IH 10 West, in Boerne TX If you approach Boerne driving west on IH 10 take exit #540, turn right, go to Norris Lane, turn right and proceed to the motel on your right. If you are approaching Boerne driving east on IH 10, take Exit #540, turn left, go to Norris Lane, turn right and proceed to the motel on your right. More information is available at their web site, http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/6c/1/en/hd/boetx. There is no advance fee for the reunion and the bar-b-que will be pay as you go. However, we would like to have an idea of who is coming, so drop us a line, give us a call or an e-mail, please, at 111 Stonegate North, Boerne TX 78006, 830-249-3487, or [email protected]

To the OFA Reunion bring . . .

To the Owen Family Reunion bring your Owen Family Group Sheets and Descendent Charts complete with dates, places and source footnotes. You don’t need to bring your source documents as they can be exchanged later if necessary. Some who have lap top computers will bring those in which is their genealogy database. Not having a lap top computer, I keep hard copies of my database in three ring note- books but travel with just the Family Group Sheets and Descendant Charts. This should be enough information to make exciting discoveries with your fellow reunion attendees.

In addition to bringing your Owen genealogy information, bring casual comfortable clothes. Our 2005 Owen Family Association Reunion marks the beginning of fall in Boerne, TX Happily, the hot weather breaks about mid-September. We should have sunshine and warm days of about 85 degrees with cooler nights. Just in case we have a cooler fall than normal, you should bring a light jacket or sweater, otherwise, you will be comfortable in short sleeves and slacks. Casual clothes are appropriate for anything you do in Boerne. Our reunion is very informal so dress comfortably. If you are joining us for breakfast and church on Sunday, wear whatever makes you comfortable in a worship service. Cornerstone Church is a large church in San Antonio where folks from all walks of life attend. Parish- ioners are comfortable in jeans or suits, slacks or dresses. Email Karen Grubaugh at klee- [email protected] if you need more information. Owen Family News 1st class postage “Owen, a name worth knowing”

Owen Family Association Bill Grubaugh, Publisher 111 Stonegate North Boerne, TX 78006

Association Officers: Mr. Arnold C. Owen, President P.O. Box 692 Westtown, PA 19395-0692 (610) 399-0146 (941) 629-8211 (Winter) [email protected]

Board of Directors published quarterly and is subject to copyright. Robert McCrary George Shirley C. Owen Johnson OWEN FAMILY NEWS

Volume 20, Issue 4 Published by Owen Family Association December 2005 Page 1 htpp//www.geocities.com/~owenfamily The Owens of Texas By Hugh Goodman

While other Owen families migrated to and populated Texas, my Owen family’s contribution to Texas history was significant. As a boy, I was fasci- nated by family lore as told to me by my Dad. The Owen family seemed very real to me as we fished on Lake Buchanan in “Owen Country” near Llano INSIDE THIS ISSUE Texas. My Dad once indicated that anyone from Llano County named Owen OurINSIDE Feature THIS Article: ISSUE was kinfolk. This seemed unlikely until I thought about the origin of the

Descendants of William and Texas Owens. My grandfather was raised in Llano County in the late nine- Feature Article: Drucilla Echols Owen—Part 4 teenth and early twentieth century and during this time period, most if not all

C. Owen Johnson Owen folk in this area may have been related. The Owens of Texas Page 52 By Hugh Goodman My closest Owen link is my great grandmother, Emma Louisa Owen, a small ReubenPage Pickett 1 & 4Owen lady who married twice and dispensed with both husbands before divorce and His Descendants: was common. My research of Emma’s heritage finds its beginning in South ThankAdrian You Boone For Owen Your Jody Moeller and Carolina with Byrd Owen & Sarah Grace Griffin. [Owen Group 2 per Whit Service: Lee Gentemenn Athey’s DNA Chart. ed.] My conjecture is that the couple had the following Owen Brothers in Arms Page 55 known children: William, Wilmouth, Ezekiel, David Franklin, Charles, & From Elliott Owen Sarah Griffin, and probably Hannah Owen. My direct line is through David IN FUTUREPage ISSUES5 Franklin Owen. I have seen no pictures of this generation, but Sarah was de-

- March Feature Article - scribed as "small and wiry, neat beyond reproach in her dress...". Genealogy Online Descendants of William and Jody Moeller Drucilla Echols Owen—Part 5 David F. Owen was born Jul 17, 1791 probably in Kershaw Co, SC. By Page 6 by C. Owen Johnson 1810, the family had moved to the Barren County area of Kentucky where

≈ David married Sarah Burd on December 30, 1810. Sarah was the daughter of DNADescendants Update & Chartof William Spencer Burd. The couple had three known children Gracie, Mary, Reuben PickettWhit Athey Owen—Part 4 & Robert before 1815. by JosephinePages 7-9 Moeller

≈ A recurring theme of this Owen line is the willingness to enlist. If there was A DavidIn Future Franklin Issues Owen a conflict during the next 50-60 years, you can bet one or more Owen men Narrative were participating. I’m not sure if this resulted from a willingness to do their Descendantsby Hugh Goodman of Morris ≈ duty, a desire for adventure, or a respite from plowing the land behind the Owens Descendancy of rear end of a mule. Jan Jordan Henry “Buck” Owen

By Marshall Thomas Whatever the motivation, when volunteers were requested to fight The Creek

≈ War, David enlisted in the place of a man with the given name of “Benson” The Mystery of Ewing Elmer Fidler Story at Ft. Johnson, near the Tennessee border, in Madison Co., AL. David was a ByBartholomew Louis Owen private in Captain William Russell’s Company of Tennessee Militia. Cap- Tyler R. Owen tain Russell’s mission was to gather reconnaissance behind enemy lines. Owen Histories (continued on page 4) Chris Hanlin

December 2005 Volume 20, Issue 4 Owen Family News Page 2

Editorial Staff The President’s Message of the by Arnie Owen Owen Family News My apologies to the membership and especially to our Texas cousins, for canceling the Biannual Reunion Editor scheduled for the last weekend in September. The deci- Karen Grubaugh sion was based on the number of attendees falling far Publisher short of our contractual commitment to the Holiday Inn. However as it Bill Grubaugh turned out, the good Lord must have been looking out for us. Due to hur- 111 Stonegate North ricane evacuation that weekend along the Texas gulf, it’s my understand- Boerne TX 78006 ing that all motels/hotels within 400 miles of Houston were filled. While (830) 249-3487 (FAX & voice) I am sure we would have been made welcome, it would have been a bit [email protected] crowded, if all of us had shown up at the Grubaugh’s door step in Boerne. Because of the cancellation and to fulfill constitutional obliga- Contributing Editors: tions, we took other steps on behalf of the Association.

Jane Owen Hillard While past elections and business decisions were decided by those pre- 3419 Mt. Rainier Dr. sent at the reunion, Association history was made by having 2005 by- Louisville, KY 40244 law’s amendments and election of officers acted on by all active mem- (502) 426-4771 bers. Most of the balloting was handled electronically by e-mail. The response was overwhelming. I think most of us would agree electronic Kimberly Ayn Owen media is here to stay. Folks, we need to catch up! Accordingly, I have 8006 Cottesmore Ct. asked the Editor to commence offering an electronic version of our news- Richmond, VA 23228 letter. [email protected] Thanks to Jane Hillard’s persuasion, my dream of retirement as Presi- C. Owen Johnson dent was short lived. Actually, when she was unable to find a candidate Crystal Plaza #809 So. for President, Jane asked and I agreed to stay on. It is not that I don’t en- 211 Jeff Davis Hwy. joy doing this job, I believe that someone else should have the opportu- Arlington, VA 22202 nity. The same situation arose for the offices of Editor and Publisher. (703) 415-1473 Karen and Bill Grubaugh kindly agreed to serve another term. Now the election has been held and the duly elected officers have taken on their William P. Owen, III duties as prescribed in the bylaws. A special thanks to the officers and P O Box 24165 committee members who volunteered their services. Welcome newcom- Fort Lauderdale, FL 33307 ers, Jane Owen to the office of Secretary/Historian and Jody Moeller to [email protected] the office of Genealogist.

Publication Dates To encourage interest in Owen genealogy, we need volunteers in the fol- March, June, September lowing areas: And December Deadlines are the 10th day of the  Editing month preceding publication  Writers of family history  Webmaster Submission of lineages, biographies, pho-  Researchers tographs, historical and genealogical data about any Owen anywhere is encouraged!  Helping others with their genealogy Your ideas for the newsletter are also so- If you can help in any of these areas, please contact me at once. If your licited, just contact the editor. E-mail address has changed, please provide such changes to the Treas- urer. (See page 12 for contact information.) December 2005 Volume 20, Issue 4 Owen Family News Page 3 2006-2007 OFA Officers Elected For the first time in Owen Family Association history the entire membership participated in the election of the 2006-2007 Officers. This was possible by using e-mail to distribute the ballots and receive the votes in addition to mailing hard copy ballots to those without e-mail. Our appreciation to the nominating committee for this excellent slate of officers. Your officers are: President Arnold "Arnie" Owen Vice President Fred Owen Treasurer George Shirley Genealogist Josephine "Jody” Moeller Secretary/Historian Jane Owen Editor Karen Grubaugh Publisher William "Bill" Grubaugh

Introducing . . . Jody Moeller, OFA Genealogist

As genealogist for the Owen Family Association, Jody will be receive and approve applications for membership, inform the applicants which proven ancestor will be listed in the Association records and maintain the records substantiating lineage. Additionally, Jody will assist the membership with their genealogical pursuits as well as contribute articles on genealogy for the newsletter from time to time.

Jody Moeller is particularly well prepared for this office. She is a retired librarian with a Masters Degree in Library Science from the University of Illinois. She has been researching genealogy for over 30 years. When she started there were no computers or census indexes; there were microfilm readers but few reader-printers. Her first work with the US Census was to spend two to four hours reading a reel of microfilm for her home county from beginning to end. She would copy deed and wills, word for word, long- hand from the microfilm. She remembers the first projects to index the 1850 and 1860 censuses for the state of Illinois. Today Jody blends the old with the new adding electronic media to her research tools. She notes that a dramatic change is census online with every name indexed. She adds that currently local societies all over the country are transcribing and publishing court house records both in books and online.

Over the years, she has been active in local societies serving in various offices. In the 1980s she was on the Board of Illinois State Genealogical Society, eventually serving as president in 1993-94. She has personally published two genealogies, assisted with the research on the third and has written several articles of genealogical interest including a series of articles about the lineage of Judge Reuben Pickett Owen in the Owen Family News.

Jody was born Josephine Hendricks to Elmer G. and Gertrude M. Lienesch Hendricks in Clinton County, Illinois but grew up near Belleville in St. Clair County, Illinois. They were family oriented and every year they visited the cemeteries and talked about the ancestors. No doubt, Jody’s love of family history was both begun and nurtured by the many relatives in the area. Her Owen connections are through Rhoda Owens, daughter of Arthur Owens, who married George Tennant Hendricks in St. Clair County, IL and Laura Louise Owen, daughter of Judge Reuben Pickett Owen. Consequently, she has two Owen lines, one from Judge Reuben Picket Owens and one from David Owens, d. 1798 of Montgomery County, VA.

Today Jody resides near Chicago, IL where her children also reside. December 2005 Volume 20, Issue 4 Owen Family News Page 4

The Owens of Texas ( continued from page 1)

Captain William Russell's company of Spies fought at practically every battle of the Creek War. Prior to David’s enlistment, the Company fought at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend. David Crockett was a 3rd Sgt. in one of the units. The only action for David Owen may have been a short foray in Florida before he was mustered out of service on Mar 27, 1815 at Ft. Deposit in Lowndes Co., AL.

David & Sarah settled in Alabama and had four more children; Mary Elizabeth, Nelson F., Hannah, & Byrd before 1829. By 1830, the family was listed in Tipton Co, TN living next to Edward & Sarah Owen Burle- son. Two additional children, David James/Jeremiah & Adaline were added to the crowded household.

In May, 1830, Edward Burleson, future Vice President of the Republic of Texas, first traveled to Texas, but returned to Tennessee, where his son Joseph Rogers Burleson was born on September 20, 1830. When his wife was ready to travel, the Edward Burleson family, in the company of the families of his brothers-in-law, James and Joseph Rogers, David F. Owen and others, began the journey to Texas. After making the ardu- ous journey to Texas, probably along the Natchez Trace and down the Old San Antonio Road, the families arrived in present day Bastrop County in southwest Texas.

Early day Texas life was anything but glamorous. John Holland Jenkins arrived in Texas shortly before David and described the conditions as, “Our absolute need gave birth to invention and energy, however, and all hands—men, women, and children.—went to work with a will to make our new quarters as comfortable as possible. When we think of families without houses, wagons, milk, or even nails, far removed from any communications or exchange with the world—when we think of them thus situated, it is natural to wonder what could be done. It is surprising how much can be done when bone, sinew, and muscle are used with a will upon any material—however meager and insufficient. The change wrought upon the wilderness and the solitary place would have seemed almost like magic work to one who simply looked upon the scene as we came upon it, and then in a few days upon the huts, which stood ready for us to enter. And very comfortable quarters theses were—log cabins covered with pine boards, all of which had to be cut, hewn, brought to hand, and built in shape without wagons, nails, or any kind of machinery. The cedar logs were cut with axes and were dragged up with horses, while the pine boards for the roofs were split about a mile and a half distant and then brought up by the men, who carried them on horseback. Having completed and taken pos- session of the cabins, we settled into habits of life no less primitive and destitute of modern advantages than the cozy little huts that sheltered us, and few people of these modern times can imagine the ten thousand difficulties with which we had to contend.” [Recollections of Early Texas, Memoirs of John Holland Jen- kins; Edited by John Holmes Jenkins III; University of Texas Press, Austin, 1958; available online at http:// www.utexas.edu/utpress/excerpts/exjenrec.html]

Jenkins goes on to describe food preparation of these times when he noted, “...it seems difficult to understand how corn could be ground into meal without machinery of some kind; then we had no sieve, and no oven, but our old mortar and pestle was a first-rate grist mill, though very tedious as compared to present processes. Our sieve consisted of a wooden hoop, over which buckskin was stretched, and this in turn was perforated with a red-hot steel or wire. Upon our “Johnny Cake” boards, as they were called, was baked good bread as was ever taken from oven or stove. Our coffee was tied in a piece of buckskin and beaten upon a rock with another rock.” [Recollections of Early Texas]

Times did not stay peaceful for long and on July 25, 1835, David enlisted in Captain Williamson’s Mounted Riflemen which was a part of Colonel Moore’s Ranger Company. The companies were organized as the In- dian tribes wrecked havoc on the frontier. (to be continued in the March 2006 issue) December 2005 Volume 20, Issue 4 Owen Family News Page 5

Thank You For Your Service: Owen Brothers in Arms

The information for the following article was submitted by younger brother, Elliott Owen, and is largely taken from articles published in the Texarkana Gazette in 1951 and 2005.

This Owen family numbered eight, Mom Daisy Brothers James, Dwight, and Joe Owen grew up in Old Boston, Louise Owen, Dad James Wilson “J.W.” Owen Texas and served in the Korean War. Photo courtesy of The Tex- and their six sons and two daughters. One eve- arkana Gazette, staff photo by GREG FELKINS. ning in 1950 at the dinner table, J.W. voiced his concern, “I’m afraid, boys, that ya’ll will be in a war before long.” This premonition had occurred before on Dec. 7, 1941 as sons James and Dwight lay in bed listening to the home-built crystal radio when the news of Peal Harbor was announced. Like everyone else, they joined the military for patriotic reasons. James joined the US Marine Corps at age 18 in Dec, 1944; Dwight joined the US Navy at age 16 with his parents consent in November 1945. After their service, they returned home to find jobs and re- Photo from The Texarkana Gazette, August 5, 1951. James, Dwight and Joe Owen, brothers at arms in service of their sume a normal life. However, they joined the country during the Korean War. Marine Corps Reserve Unit, 2nd 155th Howitzer Battalion, C Battery, in Texarkana, Texas.

Just as their Dad had surmised, their unit was activated in July 1950. On Aug 1 1950 James and Dwight were among the huge gathering of servicemen who paraded down State Line Avenue in Texarkana TX to the waiting trains. Joe was on inactive status attending the University of Texas as a sophomore. He was recalled December 13, 1950. 60 of the hundreds men on the train that day would serve in Korea, including the three brothers. James and Dwight both participated in the Inchon invasion September 13 1950. “Fighting bitter, sub-zero weather all the way back to Hungnam port, nearly 200,000 U.N. troops including James Owen and Korean refugees made the most heroic fighting retreat in military history. James Owen will forever wear the mantel as one of the “Chosin Few” as he continues to suffer from the effects of the frostbite to his legs and feet. ‘One of the things that makes me proud to be a Marine is that Marines never leave their dead behind, recalled James. As we fought our way back to Hungnam, we carried our dead with us.’” [John Fooks, Texarkana Gazette, 2005]

Through the years, all six Owen sons served in the military. Kenneth, the youngest, served in the Navy, Air Force and Army National Guard and was in Vietnam. Elliott was a Marine Reservist. Bobby served in Navy submarines. Joe, a Marine Reservist, served in Korea. Dwight was in the Navy, Marine Reserve and Army Reserve; served in Korea and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. James served in the Marines both in WW II and Korea. Owen brothers, we thank you for protecting our freedom and this dear land.

December 2005 Volume 20, Issue 4 Owen Family News Page 6

GENEALOGICAL RESEARCH ONLINE

By Josephine "Jody" Moeller, our Genealogist

Genealogical research is changing so fast it is hard to keep up. If you do not have a computer online you are missing a lot of help and opportunities. But a warning, beware of the millions of errors and mistakes that are online, being passed on and on. Always check online family trees against accurate original documentation.

My first recommendation is that everyone should do their federal census online. There are several sites where the actual census is online and most of them are fully indexed. Ancestry.com is a subscription site, but I’m sure you can find a library which carries a full subscription and at the library you can use it free. [Genealogy.com, another subscription site also has the U.S. Census online, ed. ] Also check Heritage Quest online. [from them you can purchase U.S. census on cd-rom, ed.] Everyone should have the census for their families from 1790 through 1930.

Secondly find the web sites for your counties. Almost all of the counties now have a web site and many of them put up original documentation. They give addresses, they have people who will do look-ups of published material and sometimes even go to courthouse or cemeteries to do further research (pay them if you ask for special research). The best place to find these county sites is at www.usgenweb.com. You can also go to www.cyndislist.com, she has over 240,000 links to places and topics. Or you can just Google the county asking for genealogy. [www.google.com is the premier search engine for genealogy, ed.]

Next connect with someone researching your line. I recommend the use of Rootsweb’s WorldConnect family trees for tips and contacts. [http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com] I believe that everyone should frequently search the WorldConnect family trees to locate others researching their same line and to get ideas of where you should conduct more research. You should know these family trees are replete with errors, some have much accurate documentation and some have none whatsoever. Always beware. Don’t ever take what is there and publish it in your genealogy, always double check the research, and e-mail the person who entered the family tree asking about their sources. Sometimes you can get lucky and find a long family tree that seems more or less accurate with copies of documentation. And sometimes you find a totally wrong connection. I recently found the name of a child and her marriage that fit right in with my research. Her husband was named in a will to care for underage children. He would have been a brother-in-law and I had not made that connection. So I heartily recommend checking out the WorldConnect family trees on Rootsweb, it is free and has millions and millions of people listed and you can easily e-mail the researcher. Also go to www.familysearch.org for the family group sheets collected by the LDS researchers. And go to Ancestry. com for a name search. In all three of these huge databases there are millions of names, and you can connect with the researchers. You can also go to cyndislist.com for surnames and for personal home pages. When you are leaving messages for a surname, be very specific with information that clearly defines the ancestor or you will get many unrelated replies. Do make contact with others but always re-document what they tell you. [www.genforum.genealogy.com/owen/ or owens/ for Owen(s) surname bulletin boards, ed.]

This is just a brief listing of some important online sites with genealogical information. I will have more suggestions in the future. If you have questions please e-mail me at [email protected]

December 2005 Volume 20, Issue 4 Owen Family News Page 7

Owen Family News to be Distributed Electronically

Beginning with the March 2006 issue, we will be distributing the Owen Family News both in hard copy form and electronically. We are modernizing for two reasons. First and foremost, the dollar savings to the association will be significant both in copy costs and postage. Second, the huge job of maintaining the mailing list, folding, sealing, labeling, stamping and mailing the newsletter will be lessened. This modernization will be a welcome assistance to both my husband and me for, as most of you know, I have a heart condition that greatly limits my productive hours. Additionally we are the only caregivers for our mothers both of whom are Alzheimer patients. This change will help us a great deal. If you prefer that hard copies continue to be mailed, please consider volunteering to be the publisher.

Using the December issue, a test electronic mailing will occur before the March issue is distributed. At that time, please send me a reply email if you receive this test issue. I will reconcile the problem of any not received. The issue will be sent in a pdf format which will require Adobe Reader software to open. This free software can be easily downloaded at http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html .

Those few members who do not have email will continue to receive their newsletters via the US Postal Service. Update: The Owen DNA Project By Whit Athey

Since the last issue of the newsletter, we have had two more Owens join the project from the National Geographic So- ciety (NGS kits are identified by an “N”] and three new regular members bring our total members to 48. One of the well known Owen lines, that of William Owen who married Drucilla Echols, is now represented in the project. The results for the new participant match only one participant who was already in the project. The results for both participants may be seen in the results table as “Owen Group 6.” As these Owens try to figure out their relationship, the importance of DNA results as an invaluable tool in extending your Owen line. Our Owen Group 2 has now grown to eight participants and is pressing Owen Group 1 (nine participants) for the distinction of having the most participants.

With several sets of new results in, it has become apparent that the group previously labeled as “Possibly Matching Owen Group 6,” was not really a single related group. I have defined two new groups numbered 6 and 7, and have put the remaining participants in a smaller “possibly matching group.” Hopefully, additional results within this group and results from new participants will help us sort out this group.

In searching through the public database of the Sorenson Molecular Genetics Foundation (SMGF), I found four Owens listed who are not members of our project. I have listed their results in the table since they are Owens and they have DNA results, though they do not presently match anyone in the project. The SMGF lab tests somewhat different markers from FTDNA, but there is substantial overlap. If anyone would really like to join the project, but cost has been a deterrent, the SMGF will test you at no charge, but it takes 12-15 months for your results to be posted and you won’t be notified when or if your results have been added to the database. Still, the price is right if you’re very patient.

You may visit our web site between newsletter issues and get the latest results by going to the URL: http://home.comcast.net/~whitathey/indexo.htm where you can join the project by clicking on “Join the Project”. Other methods for joining include, calling me at 301-570-0923, calling the testing company, Family Tree DNA, at 713-868-1438 and asking to join the Owen DNA Project. The cost for the basic 12-marker test is $99. For two of the Owen Groups, 12 markers would be sufficient to show that you belong to that group, though it would provide little information on how you were connected. The project standard is the 25-marker test, which costs $169.

Whit Athey is a retired physicist who was the chief of a medical device lab at the Food and Drug Administration. He received his doctorate in physics and biochemistry at Tufts University, and undergraduate (engineering) and masters (math) degrees at Auburn University. For several years during the 1980s, he taught for in the Electrical Engineering Department of the University of Maryland. Besides his interest in genetic genealogy, he is an amateur astronomer and has his own small observatory near his home in Brookeville, MD. [Ed.] [Chart follows on pages 8 & 9] December 2005 Volume 20, Issue 4 Owen Family News Page 8 December 2005 Volume 20, Issue 4 Owen Family News Page 9 December 2005 Volume 20, Issue 4 Owen Family News Page 10

The Ancient Estate of ABERNANTBYCHAN (PLAS Y GLYN), GLYNARTHEN, Prnbryn, Wales by Ann Owen Taylor for the Cardiganshire Family History Society

(continued from the September 2005 issue) John Owens (1834-1910) married Eleanor James (1840 -1916) daughter of Stephen (1815-1892) and Mary James nee Morris (1813-1892) of Penlanfach, Ponthirwaun. Mary was from Deinol Farm, Glynarthen probably the largest farm in the area at the time. John Owens bought Plas from the estate in 1886 for £2,400 together with Gellideg and other smaller farms in the area. He was a far- sighted and intelligent man often being the first farmer to locally introduce the latest technological innovation. He has been variously described from different sources as compassionate man who looked out for those less fortunate than himself to a hard businessman with an eye for the ladies. As a non-conformist John was involved with the Tithe Wars at Blaenporth and consequently fined. He initially took the stand that he wasn't going to pay, and presumably prepared himself for prison. His wife Eleanor took another more practical view, " Gwell i chi 'neud John neu shwd alla i fagu y plant 'ma i gyd !" ( You better had (pay) or how am I to manage raising these children) The fine was paid. Eleanor must have also worried about the reputation of the family. A tramp, John Owens, acknowledged as kin and often given a bed for the night, had his funeral paid for by Elea- nor - outside the family's parish at Betws Ifan. John and Eleanor had nine children and all survived into adulthood. There seems to have been a multilateral decision by the children to drop the "s" from their surname Owens. Although some of their living descendants, born prior to 1930, have found a surprise "s" surreptitiously slipped onto their birth certificates! James Owen (1865-1938) the eldest, farmed at Waunfawr, Glynarthen with his wife Ann Davies (1872-1945) daughter of Evan Davies of Waunfawr and Elizabeth Evans. They had five children Johnny, Ifan, Bet, Stephen and Elfyn. The children had very diverse talents and were very involved in the social and cultural life of the area. Descendants of James are still farming at Waunfawr and the Plas land. Stephen, the second son was a star pupil and was sent to a private school in Taunton, Somerset. He was the first of the children to leave the area and he joined the National Provincial and Union Bank of England later to become the NatWest Bank. He quickly climbed the promotion ladder reaching a very senior position. He married Eleanor who was originally from North Wales and whose father was the Lord Mayor of Liverpool. Stephen's headmaster in Taunton wrote to John, his father, asking if he had any more sons like Stephen. John wrote back saying he had plenty and in due course his third son Johnny was sent down to Somerset. Johnny was a completely different character to his brother and although probably the more academic of the two was very difficult to handle. The headmaster did not make the request for more potential pupils a second time. It appears that Johnny was of an independent mind with terrific drive and determination. He became the influen- tial chief medical officer for Tredegar having first qualified as a pharmacist and then a medical consultant. He amassed an incredible 20 plus degrees and diplomas during his career. In 1935 he bought Bryngobaith, Llan- granog as a holiday retreat. Son number four David (Dado) Owen (b.1873), married Elizabeth daughter of Capel Gwnda, Glynarthen. They had five children, Johnny, Hettie, Tom, Owen (Owen M Owen MBE Cardigan) and Ieuan. (to be continued in the March 2006 issue)

December 2005 Volume 20, Issue 4 Owen Family News Page 11 Welcome New Members ●Curtis K. Owen (#369) 7927 Old Colony Line Rd., Dale, TX 78618-2646; 512-398-2017; . Earliest Owen ancestor: Larkin Owen (b. c. 1779—1849) m.(2) Margaret Elliott b. c. 1782 ●Sue Hancock (#370) 117 Mary Lane Rebecca GA 31783; Given in honor by Louise White (#353) ●Jan Jordan (Mrs. Paul Rosenberger) (#371) P O Box 631 North Troy VT 05859; 802-988-4343; [email protected]; Earliest Owen ancestor: Morris Owens (1832-1876) Wales to NY to VT [2nd great grand uncle] ●Yvonne Bledsoe (#372) 3039 Ridgetop Tyler TX 75703; 903-839-7425; [email protected]; Earliest Owen ancestor Burd Owen b. c. 1751 m. Gracey Griffin through son David F. Owen of Texas. ●Byron Owens (#373) 2508 Colgate Drive, Fayetteville NC 28304; 910-485-4902; [email protected] Earliest Owen ancestor: Solomon James Owen 1819-1880 AL m. Mary Ann Wiley If you have information about these Owen(s) lines, please contact our new member. MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION For information or an application for membership, please e-mail [email protected] or write to: Owen Family Association c/o Arnold Owen P O BOX 692, Westtown, PA 19395-0692.

Queries: We want to know!

New member, Jan Jordan, is searching for the book, Smith—Ranney—Owen Families in 1971 by her aunt, Helen Owen Sargent Michener [1898 VT—2002 ME] Please contact Jan at P O Box 631, North Troy, VT 05859; 802-988-4343; [email protected]. (Watch for the Descendants of Morris Owen in coming issues.)

Member, Lillian R. Hooks is seeking and providing information regarding her Joshua Owens [b. c. 1750]. He was discovered on his daughter’s marriage record, Jane Owens [1788-1858 Shelby Co., KY m. Elijah Smith in Fauquier Co., VA 15 Jan 1811. Another possible family member was Cuthbert Owens. Members of Joshua Owens family are buried in the Owens Cemetery, The Plains, VA. Inscriptions can be found in Fauquier County, VA Tombstone Inscriptions by Nancy Chappelear Baird. Lillian Hooks can be contacted at 1750 Perfumo Canyon Rd., Apt. 56, San Luis Obispo, CA 93105; 805-544-3195; [email protected].

Member, Jim Owens, reports the following conundrum: The sons of William and Edith Pigg Owen, documented by the will of William Owen, were John H., Hezekiah P., David, Thomas T. and Obediah Woodson. Jim descends from Obediah Owen; his own DNA test reveals a match with descendants of Richard & Eliza- beth Owen of Halifax Co., VA. A descendant of Obediah’s brother, John H. Owen, reports his DNA matches that of John and Sarah Brackett Owen of Henrico Co., VA. Jim is requesting help to sort out these curious DNA results. How can descendants of William and Edith Pigg Owen have DNA matches with two entirely separate Owen lines? Jim can be contacted at 5213 Twinkle Dr., Louisville KY 40258, 502-447- 3951; [email protected]. [Jim, this sounds like something for our Genealogist, Jody Moeller. Ed.]

Editor’s Note: Hugh Goodman, author of The Owens of Texas was to have been our speaker at the Biannual Owen Family Association reunion in September. Since the reunion had to be cancelled, Hugh was kind enough to write a manuscript of his talk. The Owens of Texas is that manuscript. Hugh has done extensive genealogical research and is considered the “go to man” for information about Owens in Texas. Owen Family News 1st class postage “Owen, a name worth knowing”

Owen Family Association Bill Grubaugh, Publisher 111 Stonegate North Boerne, TX 78006

Association Officers

. Arnold C. Owen, President P.O. Box 692 Westtown, PA 19395—(941) 629-8211 (Winter) [email protected]

. M. Fred Owen, Vice President Owen Family Association P.O. Box 4804 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 72015 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 George Shirley, Treasurer Owen and allied families. 598 Arbor Dr. Madison, MS ▪ To publish and distribute a periodic newsletter. 39110 (601) 856-9041 ▪ To bring members of the family association together for periodic reunions. [email protected] ▪ To aid association members to establish their family line and assist them in joining hereditary and patriotic societies, if they so desire. Josephine Moeller, Genealogist ▪ To ultimately produce a volume documenting the verified family histories. 401 S 14th St., St. Charles IL 60174 630-513-6808 ▪ 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 Newsletter is Board of Directors published quarterly and is subject to copyright. Robert McCrary George Shirley C. Owen Johnson