James M. OWENS
". . is classed among the successful tillers of the soil and stock-raisers of Gourd Neck Township, Polk County, Ark., but was born in Van Buren County in 1844, to William Jackson and Fannie (DAVIS) OWENS, the former born in Missouri, and the latter in Middle Tennessee. When young both went to Van Buren County, Ark., where they met, married and lived until about 1855, after which they spent a short time residing in different counties, and about 1862 settled in Polk County, Ark. In 1862 they started for Texas, but Mr. Owens died before they located, and after the war the family returned to Polk County, Ark., where Mrs. Owens and four of her children still reside. Mr. Owens was a farmer and teacher, and was justice of the peace for some years. He was, as is his wife, a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and was a soldier in one of the early Indian wars. His father, Horner Owens, died in Missouri, of Scotch-Irish origin, and his wife's father, Jesse DAVIS, was one of the early settlers of Van Buren County, Ark., where he died, a farmer. James M. Owens is the eldest of three sons and five daughters, his brothers and sisters that are living being as follows: Mary, Sarah C. (wife of William REED), William Pinckney, Martha (wife of James BARLOW), and Huldah F. (wife of Frank WERBER of Hot Springs). Although James M. was reared on the farm, he was given rather more meager educational advantages than is usually given the farmer's boy, but being naturally intelligent and a quick observer, he is an exceptionally well informed man. He resided on the Texas frontier during the war, and for three years served in the Home Guards in Burnett County. His marriage, which took place in Polk County, Ark., was to Miss Angelana, daughter of Raleigh M. and Louisa L. (DEARBERRY) WHITE, both of whom died in Polk County, Ark., when Mrs. Owens was a little child, her father having been a farmer throughout life. They were among the early settlers in this section, and on the farm on which they first settled, the subject of this sketch and his family are now residing. Mrs. Owens was born in Mississippi, and has borne her husband eleven children, seven of whom are living. They have been occupants of their present farm since 1868, it being situated seven miles north of Dallas on the Ouachita River, and comprising about 400 acres, with 100 acres cleared. He is a well known and prosperous farmer of this section, and as a neighbor and citizen, too much can not be said in his praise. His land is well improved, and excellent buildings are the rule and not the exception, his fences and orchard being also of the best. Nearly all his land that is under cultivation he has cleared himself, and all his property has been obtained by his own industry and with the aid of his wife, who has proved a true helpmate to him. He belongs to Dallas Lodge of the A.F.&A.M., Owens Chapel Lodge of the Farmers' Alliance, and has been steward in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church for a number of years, his wife being a member of the Missionary Baptist Church."
A descendant of James Owens
has updated the original biography and submitted it for posting
here.
His name is Don Webber and his email address is
fathiker@volcano.net
‘.. is classified among the successful tillers of the soil and stock-raisers of Gourd Neck Township, Polk County, Ark., but was born in Van Buren County in 1844, to William Jackson and Fannie (DAVIS) OWENS, the former from Missouri, and the latter from middle Tennessee. When James’ parents were young, both went to Van Buren County, Ark., where they met, married and lived until about 1855. During that period William Jackson was a farmer and teacher, as well as justice of the peace for some years. He was, as was his wife, a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and was a soldier in one of the early Indian wars. After 1855 the family left Van Buren County and spent a short time residing in different counties, settling in Polk County about 1862, They then started out for Texas, where the elder Mr. OWENS died before they located. After the war Fannie and the children returned to Polk County Ark., where she and four of the children still live. William's father, Horner OWENS, was born of Scotch-Irish origin and died in Missouri. Fannie’s father, Jesse DAVIS, was one of the early farmer-settlers of Van Buren County, Ark., where he died. James M. is the eldest of three sons and five daughters, those still living are as follows: Mary, Sarah C. (wife of William REED), William Pinckney, Martha (wife of James BARLOW), and Matilda Frances (wife of Frank Webber of Hot Springs, Ark.) Although James M. was reared on a farm, he was given rather more meager educational advantages than is usual for a farmer's boy, but being naturally intelligent and a quick observer, he is an exceptionally well informed man. He resided on the Texas frontier during the war between the states, and for three years served in the Home Guards in Burnett County Following the return to Polk County, James M. was married to Miss Angelana, daughter of Raleigh M. and Louisa L. (DEARYBERRY) WHITE, both of whom died in Polk County, Ark. Raleigh M. had been a farmer throughout the life of Angelana. They were among the early settlers in this section, and on the farm where they first settled, Angelana and her husband now reside. She was born in Mississippi, and has borne her husband eleven children, seven of whom are still living. They have occupied the present farm since 1868, it being situated seven miles north of Dallas on the Ouachita River, and comprising about 400 acres, with 100 acres cleared. Mr. James M. is a well known and prosperous farmer of this region, and as a citizen, too much can not be said in his praise. His land is well improved, and excellent buildings are the rule and not the exception, his fences and orchard being also of the best. Nearly all his land is now under cultivation, and all his property has been obtained by his own industry, with the aid of his wife, who has proved a true helpmate to him. He belongs to the Dallas Lodge of the A.F.&A.M., Owens Chapel Lodge of the Farmers’ Alliance, and has been steward in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church for a number of years, his wife being a member of the Missionary Baptist Church."