John H. Owen

Surnames: Bickelhaupt, Black, Button, Burdick, Chambers, Jones, Loomis, Potter

From Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette, Wisconsin, publ. 1901 - page 688-689

JOHN H. OWEN, junior member of the firm of CHAMBERS & OWEN, jobbers of notions and cigars, Milton Junction, holds high mark in Rock County as a business man. Aggressive in the prosecution of his trade, cautious in manner, keen and comprehensive in judgment, he has rapidly won recognition and success. He was born in Oneida, Oneida Co., N.Y., Dec. 31, 1856, son of John and Mary (JONES) OWEN, and grandson of Richard OWEN, a native of Wales, a miner in early life and later a farmer of Oneida County, N.Y., where he died well advanced in life, leaving a family of twelve children. His wife survived to the age of ninety-nine years and six months. Richard OWEN was of poetic taste and ability, and composed many writings in his native tongue. John OWEN the father of our subject, was born on the island of Anglesea in 1815. He was a miner in Wales in his early life, but in 1834 came to America, and for several years followed mining in Pennsylvania. He then engaged in farming in Oneida County, N.Y., until 1865, when he migrated to Wisconsin, locating at Randolph, and engaging in farming and dairying; he started the first cheese factory in Wisconsin. He died in September, 1893. His second wife, Mary (JONES) OWEN, was born at Welshpool, Wales, in 1824, daughter of a wealthy farmer of that place, who lived to the age of eighty-seven years. She died in 1886, aged sixty-two years, like her husband, a devout and faithful Methodist. To John and Mary OWEN were born eight children, two sons and six daughters, as follows: Mary E., wife of Edward JONES, of Waupun, Wis.; Catherine, widow of George H. BUTTON, of Milton Junction; Margaret L., wife of Freeman R POTTER, of Wonewoc, Wis.; John H., of Milton Junction; Fannie E., who married Gilbert BURDICK, of Randolph, Wis., and is now deceased; Allie S., who died aged fourteen years; Ida E., wife of W. G. BICKELHAUPT, formerly of Aberdeen, S. Dak., now of Everett, Wash.; and George L. of Bucklin, Mo. Mr. OWEN had two children by his first marriage: Jane, wife of John J. LOOMIS, of Oneida, N.Y.; and William R., of Randolph, Wisconsin.

John H. OWEN, our subject, when three years old removed with his parents in 1860, from Oneida to Rome, N.Y., and five years later, in 1865, came with them to Randolph, Wis. There he grew to manhood on the farm attending the district and graded schools, and later taking up farm life, which he continued to the age of twenty-seven years. In January, 1884, he came to Milton Junction, accepting a position in the wholesale notion and cigar store of his brother-in-law, George H. BUTTON, in 1891. The business was then purchased by Mr. OWEN and S. C. CHAMBERS, who have ever since conducted it most successfully, under the firm name of CHAMBERS & OWEN. Mr. OWEN is now vice-president of the State Bank of Milton Junction. He is one of the most enterprising and progressive business men of the village and though yet comparatively young in years has amply attested his eminent capacity for commercial and public affairs.

Mr. OWEN married, Oct. 26, 1887, Miss Margaret E. PAUL, daughter of Alexander and Mary (BLACK) PAUL, of Milton Junction. To our subject and wife have been born four children, Jessie L., Alexander Paul, George B., and Margaret. Mr. OWEN is a prominent member of the Methodist Church, now serving as trustee and steward. Fraternally his is a prominent Mason, and a member of Milton Lodge, No. 161, F & A.M.; Janesville Chapter, No. 5, R.A.M.; and Janesville Commandery, No. 2, K.T. Politically Mr. OWEN is a Republican. He served four years as postmaster, and for two years was a member and president of the school board.