Maria DeMoss Troutman, Schopp, Germany, March 26, 1997. Union Co. troutman@snoopy.bunt.com Mathew Henry Owens, of Union County, Ky, born April 1822 in Jeffersontown, Jefferson County, Ky to William Owens and Fanny (Zilhart) Owens of Jeffersontown, KY. Little is known about the subject's father, other than census records indicate he was born in TN. The subject's mother was a seamstress and after her husband died remarried to John Muster. The subject's mother's family were wagon makers. Mathew seems to have had itchy feet or maybe lack of finances kept him on the go. After marrying, Mathew left Jefferson County, KY and went to Iowa, though no records to prove it yet, other than FHC stating his marriage in Iowa to Elizabeth Jacobs. His first three children were born in Johnson Co., IN, though no records have been found yet to show Mathew living in Johnson County, IN. From IN, he went back to Jefferson County, KY, and then in later years went to Union County, KY, and once during the same census year, was found in Union and Webster County, KY. Mathew was a carpenter, rumored to have taught school in Johnson County, IN, and said to have preached at the Walnut Grove Church of Christ, as well as he helped to build the church. Old family members say that they remember their parents talking about his love of reading. Mathew 1st married July 1841 in Shelby County, KY to Elizabeth Jacobs, daughter of Martin Jacobs and Judith Jacobs, Elizabeth b. 1814 KY and died before 1857. They were the parents of 4 children, James b. 1842; John b. 1844; Frances Marion b. 1846; and Emily b. 1848. Mathew 2nd married in Iowa to Eveline Nelson, daughter of John Woodford Nelson, widow of William Williamson. Eveline b. 1828 IA, died before 1867. Shortly before or after the marriage, Eveline gave birth in 1851 to a daughter by her deceased husband William Williamson who was named Mary Eveline. This step daughter was welcomed into Mathew's family and later went on and married a brother to Mathew's 3rd wife, making her step daughter and daughter in law. Mathew and Eveline also had Woodford b. 1857 in Marshall County, IA; Robert b. 1862 IA; and Susan b. 1865. Mathew 3rd and lastly married Nov. 1867 Morganfield, Union County, Ky to Nancy Jane Tripp, b. Mar. 1844 d. 1916 Union County, KY. Mathew and Nancy had the following children; Ed b. 1869; Mary Evalyne b. 1870 (note; not to be confused with the daughter by the 2nd wife); Bluford b. 1873; Sylvester b. 1874; Roxie b. 1876; Charles b. 1879; Baird Waldon b. 1880; Florence. B. 1883; and Harvey b. 1887. Mathew was rumored to have had 28 children but proof of 28 have not been found. It was also rumored that he had a 4th wife by which no children were born, but once again, no proof has been found to back that up. According to older family members, Mathew died 1901 and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery in Union County, Ky. No death records or cemetery records have him listed however. But, there is a hand carved stone in old section of the cemetery with the initials of MHO on three sides. His last wife Nancy is supposed to be next to him, however, there is no stone to indicate which side she may be on if she is there. Owens DeMoss Troutman Tripp Williamson Jacobs Nelson Zilhart Muster = Jefferson-KY Johnson-IN TN Shelby-KY Marshall-IA Webster-KY http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/union/owens.mh.txt