Owen Owens Biography


	This biography appears on pages 612-613 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. V (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				OWEN OWENS. 

	Owen Owens carries on general merchandising in Junius and builds 
his success upon the substantial qualities of close application, 
undaunted enterprise and capable management. He is a native of 
Wisconsin, his birth having occurred in Dodge county on the 7th of 
June, 1864, his parents being Owen D. and Grace (Jones) Owens. The year 
1878 witnessed the arrival of the family in South Dakota, which was 
then still uncle; territorial rule and so remained for eleven years. 
The family took up their abode in Herman township, Lake county, where 
the father secured a homestead to which he added by later purchase 
until he was the owner of two hundred acres of rich, valuable and 
productive land at the time of his death, which occurred on the 15th of 
August, 1914. His widow still survives and yet makes her home in Lake 
county. Like the others of the family, she shared in the hardships and 
privations incident to pioneer life, for they were among the early 
residents of the eastern part of the state. 

	Owen Owens was a youth of fourteen years when the family came to 
South Dakota. He pursued his education in the schools of Iowa and 
afterward assisted his father upon the home farm, gaining a knowledge 
of the best methods of tilling the soil, cultivating the fields and 
gathering the crops. Eventually he purchased land and engaged in 
farming on his own account for twenty-three years. The result of his 
labors was manifest in the improved appearance of the place and the 
measure of prosperity which came to him, crowning his efforts with a 
well earned reward. At the end of that time he purchased stock and was 
thus engaged in Junius for seven years. In September, 1913, he 
purchased his present store of P. S. Meyers and has since engaged in 
general merchandising. He has largely increased the line of goods 
carried and has an attractive and well appointed store for a town of 
this size, being ready to meet the demands and wishes of his customers. 
Moreover, he is the treasurer of the Farmers Elevator Company and he is 
the owner of a half section of land on sections 8 and 17, Herman 
township, Lake county. 

	On the 28th of September, 1889, Mr. Owens was united in marriage 
to Miss Sarah E Tyrrell, a daughter of Preston Tyrrell. Their children 
are as follows: William; Grace, who teaches school in Junius; Francis, 
who likewise follows the profession of teaching; Winfred, who assists 
his father; Walter; Owen D.; Blanche; and Eveline. 

	Mr. and Mrs. Owens are members of the Methodist Episcopal church 
and he is also connected with the Odd Fellows lodge and the Modern 
Woodmen camp at Junius. His political endorsement is given to the 
republican party and for twenty years he filled the office of township 
treasurer. No one ever questioned his loyalty to public duty nor had 
reason to investigate his course in office. He soon became recognized 
as the soul of honor in a business transaction and in public 
connections and he has made for himself a creditable name and place as 
one of the leading men of Lake county.