Biographical Sketch of Charles Baker Owen, Greene County, Missouri, 
Wilson Township

>From "History of Greene County, Missouri," St. Louis: Western
Historical Company, 1883.

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Capt. Owen is the son of Solomon H. and Mary E. (Bushong) Owen, and was
born in Marshall county, Tennessee, February 28, 1827.  At the age of
about nine years his parents came with him to Greene county, Mo., and
the father entered land four miles north of Springfield.  Charles Baker
grew up on the farm, and received his education in the neighborhood 
schools.  When he arrived at manhood he began trading in stock for him-
self, and at the age of twenty-seven was made deputy under Sheriff Sam
Fulbright.  In April, 1855 he went on "Pool's Gold Hunt" out to Kansas,
on which the party made quite a trip, killing plenty of game, but find-
ing none of the metal which is heavy to get, but light to hold.  They
were gone about four months.  In September, 1856, Mr. Owen was married
to Miss Sarah Ellen Garbrough, a native of the same county as himself.
Two sons, John S. and Stephen A. Douglas, were born of that marriage,
both of whom still survive.  His first wife died March 18, 1862, and he
was a second time married, January 31, 1865, to Nancy C. McCroskey.
Eight children were born of this second marriage, all of whom are liv-
ing at this writing.  Until the civil war began, Capt. Owen was contin-
uously engaged in farming and stock raising.  Being Union in principle,
he at once became a supporter of the national government, enlisting in
the Home Guards in the spring of 1861.  On the night of the 9th of 
August, 1861, he guided Gen. Sigel to the Wilson Creek battle ground.
On the 19th of the same month, he enlisted in 24th Mo. Infantry, U.S.A.
but saw no active service till the next year.  March 1st, 1863 Mr. Owen
was promoted to the capitancy of Company D, and thus served till must-
ered out October 14, 1864.  He was at Fort DeRussey, Pleasant Hill, and
Yellow Bayou.  At the close of the war he returned to Greene county and
engaged in farming.  In 1866, he went to Texas and soon after traded 
for a lot of cattle from the Chickasaw Indians, which herd he drove to
Leavenworth, Kansas.  In 1868, Mr. Owen was defeated as the Democratic
candidate for sheriff.  He was elected as an independent candidate in
1870, but beaten as the Democratic nominee in 1872, by only five votes.
In 1874, he was elected by 154 majority.  He again received the Demo-
cratic nomination in 1882, but his Republican opponent was elected.
Captain Owen owns 1,133 acres of land in this and Christian counties,
the best of which lies along the James river, the bottom of that stream
being exceedingly rich and productive.

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