OWENS, THOMAS A., whose success as a farmer and stock raiser may be directly laid to his natural leaning toward that line of business, and the effort he makes to carry on his work intelligently and according to modern methods, was born in Jo Daviess County, Ill., January 17, 1861, a son of Johnston and Margaret (Irvine) Owens, born in County Donegal, Ireland. In 1852 they came to the United States, locating in Greene County, Ill., from whence they went to Jo Daviess County, Ill. In 1853, the father went to California in quest of gold and spent two years there, then returned to Illinois, and after a short time spent at Carrollton, he and his wife went back to Ireland. There they spent six years and then once more came to this country, and for a year made their home at Galena, Ill., and following this they lived on a farm, until 1879. Then the father bought forty acres of land in Cass County, in township 18, range 9, Oregon Precinct, where the father died August 17, 1899. The mother survived him, dying July 6, 1908.

Thomas A. Owens was the only child of his parents, and he remained at home and attended the schools of his district in boyhood. In January, 1889, he went to Chandlerville, where he opened a grocery store, but sold it within six months and returned to the homestead, and has been engaged in farming and stock raising ever since. On August 25, 1888, he married Hannah Gould, who was born at Table Grove, Iowa, and died October 20, 1889. She was a daughter of Samuel A. and Mary (Inches) Gould, natives of Ohio and Scotland, respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Owens had one daughter, Margaret May, who was born October 16, 1889, and was educated at the Science Hill district school, and is keeping house for her father.

Mr. Owens is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. he served three years as a school director, four years as constable, and has been a justice of the peace since 1904. Since 1907 he has been a school trustee. His public duties also include his service as deputy assessor during 1913 and 1914, so he is a very busy man. He belongs to the Woodman Accident Association.