Randolph County, West Virginia Biography of HARRY K. OWENS, M. D. This file was submitted by Valerie Crook, E-mail address: The submitter does not have a connection to the subject of this sketch. This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit organizations for their private use. All other rights reserved. Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other means requires the written approval of the file's author. This file is part of the WVGenWeb Archives. If you arrived here inside a frame or from a link from somewhere else, our front door is at http://www.usgwarchives.net/wv/wvfiles.htm The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume III, pg. 552-553 Randolph HARRY K. OWENS, M. D. Incomplete indeed would be the history of West Virginia, or any other state for that matter, without distinctive and honorable mention of that large body of men and women who labor in the broad field of medical service. Some have chosen a particular path and some work under special combinations of method, but all can be justly credited with scientific knowledge and a due regard for the preservation of the public health with a faithful devotion to their own patients that has, on occasion, been heroic. Dr. Harry K. Owens, of Elkins, early devoted his energies to the practice of medicine, and after an honorable and successful practice of more than twenty-seven years stands as a representative of all that is best and highest in this line of human endeavor. He is also one of those who, when his country stood in need of his services, volunteered in the World war in spite of the fact that he was long past the military age, and had a large and lucrative practice at home. The day will come when the sacrifices made by the physicians of middle age who put to one side all personal considerations, and because of their love of country and desire to provide for the soldiers proper and expert atten- tion, went into a service which was arduous to the limit of endurance, will receive proper appreciation. When such a day arrives Doctor Owens will be highly honored, even if it comes too late for his personal acceptance of it. Doctor Owens was born at Bloomington, Garrett County, Maryland, September 18, 1869, a son of William M. and Mary Ellen (Kight) Owens. The Owens family is of Welsh extraction, and the Kights are of French origin. Both have long been established in Maryland, where the progenitors settled during the Colonial epoch of the country. They settled on the eastern shores of Maryland, and the parents of Doctor Owens were born on the western slope of that state. William M. Owens was a civil engineer by profes- sion. He and his wife had four sons and two daughters that reached maturity, but Doctor Owens is the only surviving son. From the age of seven years, Doctor Owens was reared at Westernport, Maryland, where he attended the public schools. Subsequently he attended Dickinson Seminary at Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and Wesleyan University at Delaware, Ohio, where he took an optional or selected literary course. For one year he was a medical student at Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York City, and then entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Baltimore, Maryland, where he obtained his degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1895. From then until 1897 he was engaged in practice at Davis, West Virginia, from whence he went to Hambleton, West Virginia, and remained there until 1906. In the latter year he came to Elkins, where he has since remained with the exception of the time he was in the army. Doctor Owens has taken post-graduate courses under Professor Simon of Baltimore, Maryland, in microscopic work, and also under Professor Rytina of Baltimore, Maryland, in genito-urinary work. He is a mem- ber of the Tri-County Medical Society, of the West Virginia State Medical Society and of the American Medical Association. For three years, from 1903 to 1906, Doctor Owens served as a first lieutenant in the Medical Corps of the West Vir- ginia National Guards. In May, 1917, he volunteered in the United States army for the World war, and was commis- sioned captain. He took his training at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indianapolis, Indiana, and remained there until November, 1917, -when he was transferred to Camp Meade, Maryland, and there attached to the Seventy-ninth Division. When the division sailed for overseas service, Doctor Owens, on account of his age, he then being over forty-eight, was returned to Camp Meade and placed in charge of one of the camp hospitals. He continued in the service until, at his own request, he was honorably discharged, February 1, 1919. In September, 1918, he was commissioned major, and is now acting assistant surgeon for the Veterans Bureau. After receiving his discharge Doctor Owens returned to Elkins and resumed his private practice. It will always be a source of gratification to him that he was able to enter the service, but, like the majority of his profession, is very modest with reference to his military record, and if the subject is men- tioned will contend that he only did what was his duty to his country and to the boys in the army. In 1901 Doctor Owens married Gertrude Horton, of Hunt- ingdon, Pennsylvania, and they have two children: Harry H. and Barbara Gertrude. Doctor Owens is a republican. In the creed of the Methodist Episcopal Church he finds expression for his religious faith, and he has long been a consistent member of that denomination. Well-known in Masonry, Doctor Owens had been advanced to the Knight Templar degree, and he is also a Noble of the Mystic Shrine. He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows as well, and is very popular in his fraternities. During the time he has been in practice he has built up an enviable reputation for professional reliability. He has always been a close student and has borne his part in research work. Beyond performing the duties which he feels are the re- sponsibilities of good citizenship, he takes no very active part in public affairs. After his long residence at Elkins he has every reason to be proud of the fact that he is recog- nized as one of the ablest physicians and surgeons in Randolph County, and one of the most public-spirited of its citizens.