Memorial Record of Western Kentucky, Lewis Publishing Company, 1904,
pp 573-574 [McCracken]

     WILLIAM VALENTINE OWEN, D. D. S.  There is no family of Paducah
better and more favorably known than the Owen family, of which the
subject of this sketch is a member.  Dr. Owen was born in Paducah,
September 27, 1877, and is a son of Robert and Ella (Johnston) Owen. 
The father, too, was born in the city, his parents being the late
Valentine and Bettie (Walters) Owen.  Valentine Owen was a native of
Virginia, but left that state as early as 1818, going west, where he
secured and settled on land in southern Illinois, bordering on the
Ohio river, opposite Paducah, of which city he subsequently became a
founder, and resided there until his death in 1872, his wife
surviving him for two years.  He acquired much real estate in
Paducah, in which city he erected the first brick residence.  He was
a carpenter by trade, and many of the early buildings of the city
were put up by him.  This worthy pioneer of Paducah and his wife
were born in that portion of Virginia now comprising the state of
West Virginia.  When they made their trip west, they came with
wagons and horses to the Ohio, down which they floated on a flat-boat. 
In politics he was an old-line Whig.  Ten children were born
to him, five sons and five daughters.  One son, Adolph, became a
steamboat man, but in 1871 enlisted in the Confederate army and
served in the war until he was killed at the battle of Gettysburg. 
James and Robert Owen are owners and operators of the steamer Bettie
Owen, a ferry or transfer boat at Paducah.  Brack Owen is a well
known capitalist of this same city. Of these brothers, Robert Owen
is the father of our subject and one of the prominent business men
of Paducah.
     Dr. Owen was born, reared and educated in Paducah.  He was
graduated from the Indiana Dental College at Indianapolis in 1899,
since which time he has practiced his profession in Paducah with
marked success.  Being a skilled dentist he has gained a good
practice, and is one of the popular young men of the city where he
has spent his entire life and is so well and favorably known.

Owen Johnston Walters
=
VA IL WV

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/mccracken/owen.wv.txt