Memorial Record of Western Kentucky, Volume I and Volume II, Lewis
Publishing Company, 1904, pp. 57-61.  Carlisle Co.

JOHN R. OWEN, M.D.

     For more than a quarter of a century Dr. John Reese Owen has engaged 
in the practice of his profession in Arlington, and his active connection 
with the calling dates from 1868.  He has long occupied a position of 
prominence in the medical fraternity of western Kentucky, and receives 
the respect and admiration which arise not only from professional success 
but also from the possession of sterling traits of character.  Honored 
and esteemed by all, there is no man more worthy of mention in the 
history of Carlisle county than is Dr. Owen.  He was born in what is now 
Carlisle county, but was then a part of Ballard county, his natal day 
being September 15, 1839.
     His paternal grandparents were Rev. John H. and Elizabeth (Humphreys)
Owen.  The former was a native of Halifax county, Virginia, and from the
age of twenty-one years until his death devoted his life to the work of the
Christian ministry as a preacher of the Missionary Baptist Church.  He
became one of the pioneer preachers of the denomination in Kentucky, to
which state he removed from the Old Dominion when a young man.  Who can 
say what good has resulted from the seeds of truth which he sowed.  His
influence was widely felt, and the localities in which he lived owed their
early moral development in large measure to his efforts. He also followed
agricultural pursuits, rearing his family upon his farm.  He possessed
sterling qualities of heart and mind, and left a deep impress for good upon
his generation.  His wife was a native of Caswell county, North Carolina,
and to them were born several sons and daughters, who were reared amid the
refined influences of a cultured Christian home.
     Thomas Jefferson Owen, the father of Dr. Owen, was born in Warren
county, Kentucky, June 8, 1808, spent his youth under the parental roof and
when a young man of twenty-two years removed to Calloway county, Kentucky, 
settling upon a tract of land which he occupied for about two years. He 
then sold that property and removed to Ballard county, taking up his abode 
near the village of Cunningham, but later removed to a farm near Spring 
Hill, and here he spent many years, devoting his attention to agricultural 
pursuits with creditable and gratifying success.  He married Miss Garthena 
Willingham, who was usually known by the given name of Gettie.  Her father, 
Jarrett Willingham, was one of the pioneer settlers of Hickman county.
Mrs. Owen died in 1844, leaving three children:  Margaret Elizabeth, who 
became the wife of Joel B. Reese and died in 1902; John Reese, whose name 
introduces this record; and James Thomas, who died in 1851, aged nine years 
and some months.  The father, long surviving his wife, died at the home of 
the Doctor in Arlington, on the 22d of December, 1888, having passed the 
eightieth milestone on the journey of life.  Both were laid to rest in the 
family graveyard upon the old home farm near Spring Hill.  They were ardent 
and faithful members of the Missionary Baptist church, and for many years 
the father was a notable and prominent citizen of this region.  He engaged 
in merchandising for some time, and also served as postmaster at Obion, a 
postoffice now extinct.  In his political views he was a Democrat of the 
Jeffersonian school.  A man of strong convictions, of marked courage and 
of fearless loyalty to whatever he believed to be right, he was regarded as
one of the influential citizens of the county, and largely aided in molding
public thought and feeling.
     Dr. John Reese Owen was reared on the home farm, and began his
education in the country schools nearby, while later he attended Milburn
Academy.  Determining to devote his life to the practice of medicine, he
entered upon his preparation in the month of September, 1865, with Dr.
George Beeler, for years one of the most eminent physicians of western
Kentucky, as his preceptor.  After studying for two years under the
guidance of Dr. Beeler, Mr. Owen attended a course of medical lectures at
the University of Louisville, where he completed the regular course and was
graduated on the 1st of March, 1872.  Following his graduation he then
returned to his country home, and resided and practiced there for five
years more.
    In December, 1876, Dr. Owen located in Arlington, where he has since
continued his residence, and throughout the years which have since elapsed
his practice has been both extensive and lucrative.  He is a member of the
Carlisle County Medical Society, of which he has served as president, and
he also belongs to the Southwestern Kentucky Medical Society and the
International Association of Railway Surgeons.  Since 1878 he has been the
local surgeon for the Illinois Central Railroad at Arlington.
Concentration of purpose and persistently applied energy rarely fail of 
success in the accomplishment of any task, however great, and in tracing 
the career of Dr. Owen, it is plainly seen that these elements have been 
the secret to his rise to a position of prominence.  He possesses a genuine 
love for his work and for scientific investigation and research, and he 
has kept fully in touch with the advance which is continually being made 
by the medical fraternity in methods of practice.
    In his political views the Doctor is a Democrat, and during President
Cleveland's second administration he served as postmaster of Arlington.
Fraternally he is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows,
and is a Master Mason and has served for several terms as the chief officer
of the blue lodge.  Dr. Owen also has a creditable military record.  When
twenty-one years of age he left the farm, and in June, 1861, volunteered
for service in the Confederate army, becoming a member of Company A, 
Second Kentucky Infantry.  He was soon promoted from private to second 
sergeant, and participated in the battles of Fort Donelson, Hartsville, 
the sieges of Jackson and Vicksburg, the battle of Chickamauga and many 
skirmishes. At Hartsville he was wounded in the body, on the 7th of 
December, 1862, and was disabled for service for three months.  At 
Chickamauga, September 20, 1863, he was wounded in the arm, just above 
the wrist, but he never faltered in the performance of his soldierly 
duty, no matter how much hardship it entailed.  In March, 1864, he was 
detailed for service in the quartermaster's department, and continued 
to act in that capacity until the close of the war.  He is now a member 
of James W. Moss Camp No. 1287, United Confederate Veterans, and is 
assistant surgeon of that organization for his brigade.
     On the 7th of January, 1866, Dr. Owen was married to Miss Fannie J.
Wray, a daughter of James H. and Celia Horn (Ward) Wray.  She was born in
Calloway county, Kentucky, October 27, 1844, and died in Arlington, October
4, 1897.  By this marriage nine children were born:  James T., now living
in St. Louis, Missouri; Lenna Buckner, a druggist of Arlington; Ada Fannie,
the wife of Tom C. Pettit, of Bardwell, Kentucky; John William, of
Morehouse, Missouri; Ernest Holt, also living in Morehouse; Robert Emmett,
a physician of St. Louis, Missouri; Elbert Brit, a bookkeeper in St. Louis;
Errett Lee and Verna Ann, at home.
     In addition to his residence in Arlington, Dr. Owen owns the old
family homestead, and is engaged in farming and in the culture of bees,
having a fine apiary.  He gives his personal supervision to these business
interests, but his attention is chiefly devoted to his practice, which has
steadily increased in volume and importance as the years have gone by.  He
votes with the Democratic party and is an active member of the Missionary
Baptist church, to which he has contributed liberally of his time and
means.  In manner he is agreeable and courteous, sympathetic and kindly,
and in public affairs is generous and progressive.

Owen Humphreys Willingham Reese Beeler Wray Horn Pettit
=
Ballard-KY Halifax-VA Caswell-NC Warren-KY Calloway-KY Hickman-KY MO

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/carlisle/owen.jr.txt