Orson Owen

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30 April 2006

ORSON ANDERSON OWEN

Orson Owen's grave marker in the Parkerville, Morris County, Cemetery (Hahn Collection) (He is listed in listed in Volume II of the Parkerville Cemetery Records.) What a shame that this is the only Orson Owen photograph! Someone in the family out there must have one. There are extant several photos of his spouse, Addaline "Addie" Curtis.

His Signature at Age 50 (Hahn Collection).

Chronology:
1842 - Born in Chardon, Geauga County, Ohio. In 1840, Lake County was organized from Geauga County.
1850 - With father Benjamin, mother Sarah at Sandford, Broome County, New York (census)
1855 - With family at Sanford, Broome County, New York (census)
1860 - With family at Sanford, Broome County (census)
1862 31 - January to 1865 27 February - In the Civil War
1865 - Was in Sanford Broome County, New York (census)
1867 - Was in Sanford Broome County, New York (census)
1867-26 February - Was from Gulf Summit, Broome County. Marriage data
1868 - In Michigan (birth of daughter Elizabeth)
1870 August - Was in Washington Township, Bremer County, Iowa (census)
1871 - Was in the Solomon River Valley, Kansas (letter)
187x - Was in Solomon City, Dickinson County, Kansas (letter)
1878/1879 - Went to 1893 Parkerville, Parker Township, Morris County, Kansas (letter)
1880 - Was in Parker Township, Morris County, Kansas (census)
1881 17 November - Bought land in Township 15, Morris County, Kansas
1887 November 7 -Bought land in Township 15, Morris County, Kansas
1888-1907 - Address was Parkerville, Kansas (pension record)
1893 - Lived on a Farm near Parkerville (letter)
1898 7 December - Submitted claim for total disability (pension record
1900 [1905?] - Was in Parker Township, Morris County, Kansas (census)
1908 26 April - Died at Parkerville (pension record)
1908 - Was buried in the Parkerville Cemetery (cemetery record)

General

Orson Anderson Owen was born on 1 September 1842 in Chardon, Geauga County, Ohio. It is not known why his parents where at that place, but they were in Broome County, New York, about 1836-1837 when their daughter, Catherine M. Owen was born there. (1850 Census) Orson was at Sanford, Broome Count with his parents in 1850. (1850 Census) Orson grew up in in probably a rural setting at with his three sisters at Sandford, Broome County, New York, as his father, Benjamin Owen, was a farmer. Orson worked on the farm and attended school. In 1855 at Sanford, Broome County, Orson was age 13, his father, Benjamin Owen, age 44, his mother Sarah Owen, age 38, his sister Kate, age 18, and his sister Francis, age 7. (1855 Census). He was listed as "Arson." The 1860 Census indicates that at age 18 he was living with his family, was a [farm] laborer at Sanford, Broome County and had attended school. His father, Benjamin Owen was 49, his mother, Sarah Owen, was 45, his sister Catherine was 20, and his sister Frances was 12 According to his charge Papers from the Civil War, We know that he was and had a 5 feet 6 1/2 inches high, and had a dark complexion, dark eyes, and black hair. Orson joined the Union Army in 1862 and was discharged in 1865. Later, in 1865, at age 22, he was enumerated with his family at Sanford, Broome County, New York with his father, Benjamin Owen, and his mother, Sarah Owen. He had joined the Army 16th New York as a private and had served for three years with no wounds. (1865 Census)

Civil War Service

According to his Battery Muster-in Roll dated 10 December 1861, Orson Owen mustered into service in the Union Army on 31 January 1962, at Binghamton, for a period of three years at age 19. Much of the data in the following Service Records are duplicated, but each adds something different to his life and military service.

Orson Owen served in the Union Army in the Civil War. From his Discharge Papers, we know that:

Orson A. Owen [was] a private of Captain R. H. Lee's 16th Independent Battery of New York Artillery VOLUNTEERS who was enrolled on the Thirty-first day of January one thousand eight hundred and sixty-two to serve three years or during the war. Is hereby Discharged from the service of the United States this Seventh day of February 1865, at Federal Point North Carolina by reason of Expiration of service. ... Said Orson A Owen was born in the State of Ohio, [data missing?], 19 years of age, 5 feet 6 1/2 inches high, dark complexion, dark eyes, black hair, and by occupation, when enrolled, a Farmer. Given at Federal Point this Seventh day of February 1865. [signed] Edwin Hughes 12th_________________________3d Div 25th Army Corps/R. H. Lee Captain 16th N.Y. Battery. [Seal] Bounty paid Sep 17 $100 A.D. Robinson, Paymaster U.S. Army. [Reverse] Headquarters U.S. Forces Fort Fisher, N.C. To be discharged by reason of expiration of Service By Order of Maj. Gen. A.H. Terry, Admin Services Major and A. A. Genl. [General]//Approved by Command of Major General Ord[nance] Feb. 18 1865//Mail to Orson A. Owen Gulf Summit, NY//Broome Co [NY] as Recorded August 4th 1866 in Liber [book] 1 of Miscellaneous Records page 59 &c C.O. Root, Clerk.

Similar information is available from his GAR (Grand Army of the Republic) Certificate:

He served in the Civil War 31 Jan. 1862-7 Feb. 1865 in the 16th Independent Light Battery NY. Invalid Nr 720937. Service NR120937. GAR Certificate from Department Kansas Post gives his occupation as Farmer. He entered the Service from NY as a Private. Pension Nr 667,446 12 dollars a month. GAR Certificate gives discharge from service on 8 Feb as a Private. Re Muster Out Roll he entered the Service at age 19 on 31 January 1862 at Binghamton NY; he mustered mustered into Service 31 Jan 1862 at Washington DC; mustered out of Service. 7 Feb 1865 at Federal Point NC.

We know where he served from the OFFICIAL RECORDS OF THE UNION AND CONFEDERATE ARMIES IN THE WAR OF THE REBELLION, GPO, Washington, DC, 1901 ("Compendium of the War of the Rebellion"):

[ New York], 16th Independent Battery Light Artillery ("Dickinson Light Artillery"), p.1,400:
10 March 1862 Organized at Binghamton, New York. Left State for Washington, District of Columbia [Can't tell whether this is the date of organization or departure.]
Mustered in at Washington 27 March to date from 10 December 1861.
To April 1863. Attached to Artillery Camp, Military District of Washington
April 1863. Unattached, Suffolk, VA 7th Army Corps, Department of Virginia
To June 1863. Reserve Brigade, 3rd Division , 7th Army Corps
Wistar's Brigade, 3rd Division, 7th Army Corps to June 1863.
To October 1863. US Forces, Yorktown, VA, Department of Virginia and North Carolina
To June 1864. Newport News, VA Department of Virginia and North Carolina
To August 1864. Artillery Brigade, 18th Army Corps, Army of the James,
To September 1864. Artllery Brigade, 10th Army Corps
To December 1864. Artillery Brigade, 18th Army Corps
To March 1865. Artillery Brigade, 24th Army Corps
To March 1865. Attached to the 2nd Division, 24th Army Corps, and 2nd Division, Terry's Provisional Corps, Department of North Carolina
To July 1865. Artillery, 2nd Division, 10th Army Corps, Department of North Carolina

SERVICE [same source]:
Duty in Artillery Camp of Instruction and Defences of Washington, District of Columbia, till April 1863.
Ordered to Suffolk, Virginia April 1863.
Siege of Suffolk 19 April-4 May.
South Quay Bridge 1 May.
Moved to Yorktown, Virginia and duty there till November.
Dix's Peninsula Campaign 24 June-7 July.
Duty at Newport News VA November 1863 to June 1864.
Before Petersburg 15-18 June.
Siege operations against Petersburg and Richmond 16 June-7 December 1864.
Battle of Chaffin's Farm, New Market Heights 28-20 September.
Duty before Richmond north of the James till December.
Expedition to Fort Fisher, North Carolina 6-27 December.
Second Expedition to Fort Fisher, North Carolina NC 3-15 January 1865.
Assault and capture of Fort Fisher 15 January.
Cape Fear Intrenchments 11-12 Feb. Fort Anderson 18-20 February.
Capture of Wilmington 22 February.
Campaign of the Carolinas 1 March-26 April
Advance on Kinston and Goldsboro 6-21 March
Occupation of Goldsboro and Raleigh, North Carolina.
Bennett's House 26 April.
Surrender of Johnston and his army.
Duty in the Dept of North Carolina until July. Mustered out 6 July 1865.
Battery lost during service 44 enlisted men by disease.

According to the hand-written "Discharge Papers of Broome County Soldiers in the Civil War, County Clerk's Office, Binghamton, New York," titled "Miscellaneous Records," provided by Deanna Peterson:

"Orson A. Pvt. in Capt. R. N. Lee's 16th Independent NY Artillery, enrolled Jan. 31, 1862, discharged Feb. 7, 1865 at Federal Point, N.C.; born in Ohio; age 19 years; 5"6" and one half; complexion dark; hair black; occupation farmer."

The available "Battery Muster Rolls" show him present as a Private of the 16th Independent Battery of the New York Light Artillery: 28 February 1862; 30 April 1862; May and June 1862 Mustered in March 27 1862 [with a note, "Added Aug. 2 1910.]; July and August 1862; September and October 1862; November and December 1862; January and February 1863; May and June 1863; 10 April 1863; July and August 1863; September and October 1863; November and December 1863; January and February 1864; March and April 1864; May and June 1864; July and August 1864; September and October 1864; November and December 1864; January and February 1866 Mustered out of service by reason of expiration of term Feb 8.65. His "Muster-out Roll" said that he was last paid to 31 August 1864; that his clothing account was last settled 30 June 1864 and that he had drawn $19.92 since; that he was due $100 for bounty and that transportation was due from his place of discharge to place of enrollment; and, shoppage for one canteen lash. 45cents and one haversack 67cents, total $1.12. He appeared on the Battery Muster-out Roll dated Elmira, N.Y. July 6, 1865. The paper that said he was to be discharged was signed at the Headquarters, U.S. Forces, Fort Fisher, N.C., so that is perhaps where he was last assigned.

(Florence Hahn Letter of November 1982) Dad I went to Gettysburg the time we went with the Blanks to [postal] convention. We didnt want to go but didnt say so, as was their trip too and am glad we went. She was looking up an uncles gravesite. So Ive been to Gettysburg [too]. And watching the movie last night I thought about Grandpa Owen. I never heard mother say anything about his [Civil] war experiences. or him telling about it to her as a girl.

As mentioned, Orson was discharged on 6 July 1865 and his mail was to be delivered to Gulf Summit, Broome County, New York. According to a newspaper item on his wedding in 1867, he was from Gulf Summit. As also mentioned, Orson Orson was enumerated with his family at Sanford, Broome County, date of enumeration not known. Are Gulf Summit and Sanford one and the same, Gulf Summit being the mail address? Or did he in fact live separately from his family at Gulf Summit? Owen was married to Addaline "Addie" T. Curtis on 26 February [1867] at Deposit, Broome County New York by Reverend J. G. Oakley. There was a Certificate of Marriage, but so far we haven't found it. (Bureau of Pensions, Department of the Interior, letter of 26 February 1867.) An item in a Deposit newspaper said that "Orson A. Owen of Gulf Summit, NY married to Addie T. Curtis of Cannonsville, NY at Sherwood Hotel "in said village 26 Feb. 25 Feb 1867." Mary Cable of the Broome County Historical Society at Deposit, stated to Tom Hahn that, "The Sherwood House ... was first built as a store. Taylor Sherwood bought the store, enlarged it, and called it the Sherwood House. The date of its opening is unknown. Its name was changed in 1880 to the Central Hotel." Adaline Curtis was born on 22 April 1851 at Cannonsville, Delaware County, New York. She was the daughter of Nathan Curtis and Clarinda Hood. See her Biography for a more complete description of her life. Addaline Curtis.

There is no record of what Orson did for a living after he and Addie married, but he was probably a farmer as he had been and continued to be much of his life. It appears that Orson and Addie, his father and mother, and other members of the Owen and collateral families emigrated from New York to Iowa c1868. Orson was married on 26 February 1867, so Benjamin and his family probably left some time after that. There is no mention of Orson or his father or mother in the 1867 Census for Bremer County, Iowa, where they eventually moved.

One of his Civil War pension papers said that he was in New York until 1868. Orson's daughter, Elizabeth Owen, was born about 1868 in Michigan, as she appears at age 2 in the 1870 Census as being age 2. It seems likely, then, that at least some members of the family would have been there about that time, perhaps only long enough for Elizabeth's birth. Orson and the other members of the family who left New York were in Iowa in the 1870 Census. Most of them, including his parents, were at Waverly, Washington Township, Bremer County in the 1870 Census. Orson Owen -- enumerated as "Austin A.," the head of family, born in Ohio, was age 26, and a [probably farm] laborer, Adaline Owen, keeping house, was age 20, and Elizabeth Owen was age 2. Elizabeth, born in Michigan, was not listed in subsequent censuses, so she must have died young.

The next decade brought great changes to Orson Owen and his family. Their daughter, Margaret "Maggie" Louise Owen, was born on 13 September 1870 at Waverly, but about 1871, Orson and his family moved by oxcart from Iowa to the Solomon River Valley in Dickinson County, Kansas. She wrote in 1939 at Topeka, Kansas:

I wrote this one winter night after dad [her husband, Thomas "Tom" Torgeson] passed away. It all seemed so real I had to write it. A Pioneer Life. When I was 1 year old [about 1871] my parents [Orson Anderson Owen and Addaline "Addie" T. (Curtis) Owen moved to Kansas from Iowa where I was born. My father hired a man to bring us as they were moving out here. There were five families in all moving at that time in moving wagons drawn by oxen. [We wish we knew who the other four families were.] It took six weeks to make the trip. We landed in the Solomon [River] Valley and lived for a time in a sod house with [a] ground [dirt] floor and when it rained the only dry place was under the table. Our table was home made and our chairs were nail kegs and boxes. It was hard living for a time. Finally my father got a job on the [railway] section. As time wore on he was made section foreman, and that was his work for a good many years. Then he moved to Solomon City, still held his job. When I was between 8 & 9 [1878-1879] we were moved to Parkerville, Kansas. For 4 years he was a section foreman, then he took over a job as a grain buyer for a man by the name of Joe Drake. When I was 13 years old [1883] my father bought a farm 3 1/2 miles from Parkerville. There was a large family of us, twelve in all. Never was there more than 4 at a time as sickness and death took from our loved ones. I had 5 brothers and 7 sisters. I never had a brother live to be 5 years old.

Although there was an 1875 Kansas Census, Orson Owen and his family were not found in that census in Dickinson County or Morris County. However, the writing of the microfilm was very faint and difficult to read, so he m might have been missed. Their daughter, Mary Owen was born about 1876, but it is not known where. (1880 Census) Their son, Willie Owen, was born about 1879 in Parkerville, Parker Township, but he died on Wednesday, July 6th 1879. (The Morris County Enterprise, July 1879) Curiously, in June 1880 it appears that Orson was in Council Grove: " O. A. Owens of Council Grove was interviewing his friends in Parkerville and White City yesterday. Also, later in that year, "O. A. Owens has moved into the house of the Minney property." (Morris County Enterprise, 4 November 1880) In the Census 1880 for Parker Township, Morris County, Kansas, Orson Owen , listed as O. Andrew Owen, was age 36 and a railroad foreman. Addie Owen, listed as A. Francis T. Owen, was age 26 and keeping house. Their daughter, Maggie Owen, was age 10 and had attended school; daughter Mary Owen was age 4 and had attended school; son Jackson A. Owen was age 9 months. [He died young. in Parker Township.] Their daughter, Elizabeth Owen, who had been born in Michigan, about 1868, was not in this census, but it is not known whether she died in Iowa or Kansas. O. Anderson on 31 October 1881 was paid an indenture of $553.93, but we don't know what this was for. Regarding his job on the railroad was this newspaper item, "O. A. Owens, section foreman at this place [Parkersville, probably], is now working six men on the road and he will still want more. Now is a good chance for parties to secure work through the summer at $1.20 per day." (The Morris County] Enterprise, 2 June 1881)

It seems apparent that Orson was farming as well. "O. A. Owens left a sample of Fultz wheat in our office this week which will be hard to beat. It is four feet in length and the heads are long and well filled, and give promise of a good yield. This was raised on high prairie land." (Ibid., 9 June 1881) And, O. A. Owens this week showed a sample of fall wheat which was grown on his farm near this city that measured 39 inches in height. It had commenced to head and Mr. Owens said he had never had a better stand or a brighter prospect for a large yield than this year. (Ibid., 18 May 1882) And, O. A. Owens showed us a sample of his wheat this week that was excellent. He will harvest within the next two weeks. (Ibid., 8 June 1882) This wheat may have been grown on land that bought in November 1881: "17 November 1881. Owen, O. A. Grantor Union Pacific Ry Company. Vol. O, p. 4-7 N 1/2 of NW 1/4 of Section 5 Twp 15 R7 83.88 acres [An Indenture dated 31 Oct. 1881 $553.93 duly paid ma be associated with this transaction. ]" (Morris County Deed Book. Orson was involved in local matters, as in April 1882,Orson was on the Parkerville City Council (Ibid., Morris County Enterprise, 6 April 1882). Orson seems to have been proud of the products he grew on his far, "O. A. Owen left with us this week a sample of corn that would be hard to beat. It was grown on sod; the first crop, and it is better than the average grown on old land." (Ibid., 19 September 1884)

For some reason, Orson Owen and his family could not be found in the 1885 Census for Parker Township, Morris County, Kansas, even though they should have been there. That is a shame, as there was an Agricultural Census that year which would have provided interesting information about the family. She was known as "Sarah Clara." Orson bought additional land in 1887. " 7 Nov. 1887. Owen, O. A. UP Ry Co. Warranty Deed Vol. Y p.555. SW4 [of] NW4 Sec [of ] Sec 5 T15 R7 40 acres. [$265.15 9 Sep.]" Their daughter, Sarah Clarinda "Clara" Owen, was born in probably Parker Township in 1888. (1895 Census) In the 1895 Census for Parker Township, Orson "O. A. Owen," a farmer, was age 51; Addeline Owen was age 51; daughter Mary Owen was age 18; daughter Clara Owen was age 7 and had attended school; daughter Margaret "Maggie" Owen was not in this census with the Owen Family because she had married in 1886 and was living in White City, Morris County, Kansas, with her husband, Thomas "Tom" Torgeson." The good thing about this census is that there was an agricultural census un which the Owens were included. From it we have a better picture of their "farming life." O. A. Owen had 90 acres in farm with 55 acres under cultivation, 40 acres under wire fence. The value of the farm was $900, the value of improvements and machinery was $400. There were 35 acres corn planted, 20 acres of oats and 100 pounds of butter were made. He had 4 horses, 2 milk cows, 21 other cattle, and 2 swine, with the value of animals $27. There were 40 apple trees, 60[?] peach trees, 50 cherry trees, 60[?] apple trees not bearing, and 1 dog.

In the Census: 1900 Kansas, Morris County, Parker Township, Orson is listed at the same dwelling as John Lunde and daughter, Josephen, Family 64. [I am not sure what this means. It may be that these two were tenants on his farm. Editor] Orson's was Family 65. Orson Owen, a farmer, was age, 57, born in September 1842 in Ohio, and his father was born in Massachusett and his mother was born in New York. He owned free farm No. 38 free of mortgage. His wife, Addeline Owens, was age and was the mother of 9 children, 4 living. Clara Owen was age 12 and had attended school 6 months. Martha Owen was age 3. In the Agricultural Census: 1905 Kansas, Morris County, Parkerville Township, Kansas Historical Research Center, Topeka, Kansas, A. Owen, at age 62, was a farmer, and Adaline Owen was age 54. They now only had 2 1 1/2 acres with a cash value $600, $20 cash value of buildings, with 30 chickens sold. Of general interest, the following prevalent wages, in dollars and cents, were taken from this census:

Farm labor 20 [per month] with board. In cities, [per day] laborer 1.50. carpenter 2.00, mason 2.00, house painter 1.50, servant 2.50 per week, clerks 1.50. Wheat 80c/bushel, corn 50c/bushel, fat cattle 5c/ lb., milk cow $30, fat hogs 4 1/2c/lb, shoat hogs 4c/lb. Also, according to the Morris County Enterprise, 28 April 1883: There were 772 inhabitants in Parkerville Township.

Civil War Pension Papers

There was a considerable amount of correspondence between Orson Owen and the United States Pension Bureau concerning his modest Civil War Pension. Most of it concerns the amount of the pension based on Orson's pension based on his declining health beginning about 1890 when he was 48-years old. It appears that most of Orson's health problems were those that would have been to most farm-working men at the time: (1890) "He was unjustly reduced from $10 to $6 [per month]. "Unable to earn a support by reason of rupture." (1891) "Had inguinal hernia." (1897) "New disabilities rheumatism and dispepsia [dyspepsia]." "Mo medical records found [from Civil War Records." "I can do light work only." (1898) General Affidavit; Age 30, residing Parkerville, "Most of the time is incapacitated for manual labor. He is a man of temperate habits." "Wife's maiden name Addaline T. Curtis, married at Deposit NY 26 February 1867 by Rev. J. G. Oakley and had Certificate of Marriage from the same." (1898) Age 56. "I claim to be totally incapacitated for the performance of manual labor by reason of said disabilities." (1900) "Zadock Baker declared him to be honest and industrious and sober" (1900) "Ailments came on gradually and "was not due to vicious habits." (1900) Living child Sarah Clarinda Owen born 4 Apr 1888, Martha N. born 22 February 1897." "Now has disease of kidneys. height 5'9", weight 155." (1902) (Age 59) "Marked increase in the disability. "Gray hair, dark complexion, brown eyes, chest 38-36-39, recommended $12 per month." (1904) Declaration for an Increase of Pension and New Disability; Age 62, of Parkersville, pensioner enrolled at Topeka at $10 per month." "We believe him totally disabled manual labor." (21 February 1907) "Declaration for Pension; Age 64, Resident of Parkersville, height 5' 6 1/2", dark complexion, dark eyes, black hair, farmer, born ---------- died 1 Sep 1902 [To be checked.], [born?] Chardon, Ohio. Places of residence; NY1865 to 1868, Iowa 1868 to 1871, Kansas 1871 to present time. Bureau of Pension document. (9 June 1907) "Age at enlistment, 19." Civil War Pension Index, Orson A. Owen , Orson A. Owen, Widow Addaline Owen, State Filed Kansas, Claim Invalid No. 962 Certificate No. 220937 Kansas, Widow 891788 Certificate No. 67466 Kansas, ? XC2680 13-0. (Ancestry.com Internet 25 Dec. 2000, Image 1254) (1909) Addaline Owen Pension Claim 18 July 1909; he died 26 April 1908.

Orson Owen died 26 April 1908 at Parkerville, Parker Township, Morris County, Kansas. "He was found in the barn dead. He had diabetes but I dont remember that, or that he had been sick. (Florence Hahn to Nat Hahn in July perhaps 1978.) He was buried in the Parkerville Cemetery. His grave had a Civil War Veteran's marker. The inscription on the stone monument says, "O. A. Owen 16 N. Y. L. A. [New York Light Infantry] ((Ancestry.com Internet 25 Dec. 2000, Image 1254) Thomas Hahn, Orson's great-grandson, has a photo of his burial stone but he and Chris Hahn, Orson's great-great-grandson, could not find grave site on 26 June 1998. Darrel Haley says that Charles Bob Strom of White City confirms that the grave marker is still there. (Village Press, White City, KS 66872-9303) He has, or there is, a plat of the cemetery that was founded by a Masonic Lodge. Email 6 March 2001 to Thomas Hahn from Tammy Tillich (ttillich@tctelco.net): I found Orson A. Owen's well as Adeline listed in Volume II of the Cemetery Volumes...Owen is simply listed as O. A. Owen. 6th NY, L. A. (no dates). Adeline is listed under the Varner name. It just says, Adeline Varner 3/3/44, 92 yr

Orson Owen's Daughters. Margaret "Maggie" Owen left. Her sisters, Mary Owen and Sarah Clarinda "Clara," right, but which is which?. (Thomas Hahn Collection)

Orson's Daughter, Mary Owen and Her Husband, Herbert Akey (Provided Darrel Haley)

Orson's Daughter, Mary Owen (From Darrel Haley)


Orson Owen's Daughter, left-to-right: Martha Norma Owen, Sarah Clarinda "Clara" Owen. Margaret "Maggie" Owen (From Darrel Haley)

Orson Owen and Addaline (Curtis) Owen had nine or ten children, four of them whom lived to maturity. According to their daughter, Maggie Owen, "There was a large family of us, twelve in all. [That number would have included Orson and Addie.] The five children who didn't survive were their sons. It appears that we are missing the names of one Owen son who died young. The known children of Orson Owen and Addaline Curtis were:

1. Elizabeth Owen was born in Michigan about 1868. She died sometime between the 1870 Census and the 1880 Census.

2. Margaret "Maggie" Louise Owen was born on 13 September 1870 at Waverly, Washington Township, Bremer County, Iowa. She married on 29 or 30 April 1886 at Council Grove or Parkerville, Morris County, Kansas, Thomas "Tom" Torgeson. He was born 29 September 1859 near Bygland, Easy Agder, Norway. Thomas Torgeson died on 30 March 1939 and was buried on 2 April 1939 at the White City Cemetery, Rolling Prairie Township, Morris County, Kansas. Margaret died on 29 October 1952 at Newton, Harvey County, Kansas and was buried in November 1952 in the the White City Cemetery, Rolling Prairie Township, Morris County, Kansas. (See her complete entry under Margaret "Maggie" Louise Owen. )

3. Willie Owen was born about 1877 in Parkerville, Parker Township, Morris County, Kansas and died on Wednesday, July 6th 1879 " "Died of Diptheoric Croup, Willie, only son of Mr. and Mrs. O. A. Owens, in his second year." (The Morris County Enterprise, July 1879)

4. Mary E. Owen was born in 1876 and died about 1970 in Kansas. She married Herbert Akey. I have a note that she also married Clifford Brewer? She was in the Census 1920 at Lyons County, Kansas.

5. Jackson A. Owen was born in 1879 age 9 months at Parkersville, Parker Township, Morris County, Kansas. He died young there. (1880 Census)

6. Sarah Clarinda "Clara" Owen was born on 7 April 1885 and died at age 94 on 29 August 1979 in Morris County, Kansas. She was buried in 1979 in Milford, Morris County, Kansas. She married first George Baker. He was born in 1873 and was buried in 1938 in Parkerville, Morris County, Kansas. She married second Amos Reed.

7. Andrew Jackson Owen was born on 27 July 1880 in Parkerville, Morris County, Kansas and died on 16 August 1884 in Parkerville, Morris County, Kansas. He was buried in Parkerville, Morris County, Kansas.

8. G. Washington G. Owens Owen was born on 18 Jan 1883 in Parkerville, Morris County, Kansas. "O. A. Owens now has a son who will answer to the name of G. Washington G. Owens." (The [Morris County] Enterprise, 5 April 1883.p.3 )

9. Martha Norma Owen was born on 22 February 1897. (Orson Owen Pension Folder #68, Docket A-70) he married Oscar Brown, a veterinarian. By law, because Martha was not adult when her father and because, because, apparently by Kansas law, her mother didn't automatically become her "guardian," and in answer to the requirements of the U.S. Pension Office, the Judge of the Probate Court of Morris County appointed Addie Owen Martha's guardian on 17 June 1908. According to the Social Security Death Index: Martha Owen Brown. Death Date: 10 December 1994. Place of Death: Henderson, North Carolina. Residence: Henderson, North Carolina, 97 years. Birth Date: 22 February 1897. State of Birth: Kansas

Adaline T. Curtis with Her Daughter, Martha Norma, and her nephew, Nathan Ross Curtis, ca.1900. He was the grandson of Nathan Curtis -- Addie's father -- and the son of Dwight (Dewitt) Royal. M. Curtis and Zeliaette Hawk (Houck). At this time Addie lived at Parkerville, Kansas. She does not look well in this photograph. Note that she was about age 47 when she gave birth to Martha. (Hahn Collection)

Times New Roman 12 point. Revised 26 June 2005. Internet copy 5 May 2005. Photo check A. TH