The Owens Family
Owens is one of the most illustrious names ever to have come out of Wales. Many records exist which show it to have been held in high esteem throughout history.
�Owens: derived from Cadivor ab Dyniawal, the gallant captor of Caridgan Castle in 1164, who descended from Rhodri Mawr, King of Wales. The representative of this ancient and distinguished family, the late gifted and highly esteemed William Owen, of glan Severy Esq. King�s Counsel, third son of Owen Owens, of Glan Severn, knight high sheriff of Montgomeryshire in 1314, died deeply regreeted in November 1837, having bequeathed his property, including the beautiful seat of Glan Severn, to his widow, Anne Warburton, only child of Captain Thomas Sloughter, and grand-niece of Sir Peter Warburton.�
Hereditary surnames in Wales are a post 16 century development and many of the modern surnames derived from old Welsh person-names arose in England and became hereditary in the 14th century or earlier. This was long before surnames were known in Wales. Owens is used in Ireland as a synonym of Mackeown, for which MacOwen and Owenson are other occasional substitutes.
One of the most famous Owens was born in Plas Dhu, Carnarvonshire about 1560. He became a schoolmaster, first at Trelleck, near Monmouth and then at Warwick, where he was master of the school endowed by King Henry VIII. The continental scholars and wits of the day used to call him �the British Martial. He was a staunch Protestant and could not resist the temptation of turning his wit against the Roman Catholic Church. This practice caused his book to be placed on the �IN ex Prohibitorious� in 1654, and led a rich old uncle of the Roman Catholic communion to cut him out of will.
The name is spelled �Owen� and Owens, the �s� indicating �son of,� �servant of,� etc. One of the most impressive coats-of arms granted to the name has a red background with a chevron between three lions. The chevron and the lions are gold.
Samuel Owens, lived and died in Virginia.
James Owens, son of Samuel, was born in Virginia, and emigrated to Kentucky, and from there, to Indiana, before it was a state, settling in what became Crawford County In 1827 he moved to Franklin Township of Johnson County, where he died 24 June 1866.
Samuel Owens, son of James Owens, was born 13 March 1808, and died in Johnson County, Indiana, 15 October 1846.
He was married to Millie Fisher, who was born in Rowan County, North Carolina, 22 February 1810, living at the time the history was published. They were the parents of 10 children, 7 of whom grew to adulthood. Birth order of children is uncertain.
Children:
John Owens, was born 14 March 1792, in Kentucky. His father is probably the above Samuel Owens from Virginia.
He was married in Montgomery County, Kentucky, probably in 1807 to Mary Ewens (Ewen, Evans, or Evens) who was born 30 May 1789. He was 16 years old, and she was 19.
They moved to Preble County, Ohio, in 1825, and to Warren County, Indiana, before 1830. Mary died 30 July 1870; John died 5 February 1873, aged 80 yrs, 10 mo, 22 day, both in Fowler, Warren County, Indiana. They may both be buried in Rensselaer Cemetery, Carbondale, Indiana.
Children:
George Owens, son of John Owens and Mary Ewens, was born 29 June 1808, in Montgomery County, Kentucky.
He was first married 9 October 1834, in Preble County, Ohio, to Jane Dooley, who was born in Preble County, daughter of Moses Dooley and Palentine (Rhine) or Ryan. Jane died in 1835.
He was married/2 20 November 1836, in Ohio or Virginia, to Sarah (Sally) Williams, who was born 18 September 1819, and died 30 May 1853, Warren County, Indiana
He was married/3 28 October 1855, in Benton County, Indiana, to Abigail Sargent, who was born 22 May 1834, in Benton County, Indiana, daughter of Jesse Sargent (buried Jones Cemetery, Boswell) and Margaret Rhoads (or Rhodes.) Abigail had been married before, to William Barcus, and had 2 sons: Wesley, 19 in 1860; John, 12 in 1860.
George died 7 March 1875, and was buried in the Smith Cemetery, Boswell, Benton County, Indiana. Abigail was married again, 22 July 1879, to Samuel T. Hurst. She died 8 May 1905, in Templeton County, Indiana, and was buried beside George. Her funeral was held at West Pine Chapel, in which she had been a member for 55 years.
The Chapel built in 1857, is on the farm formally owned by her father, Jesse Sargent, who donated the land, and supervised the building. It was the principal religious center for both Warren and Benton Counties.
Children: