Santa Clara County Biographies


This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm



 
HON. J. J. OWEN
Publisher, San Jose Mercury
 
Was born in Onondaga county, New York, July 22, 1827. He was the second son of a 
family of seven sons and two daughters. His father, who was a farmer, dying when 
he was 12 years old, he shortly thereafter left the paternal roof-tree, and 
struck out to make his way in the world. He served an apprenticeship at the 
printer's trade in Auburn, New York, graduating as a journeyman printer at the 
age of eighteen, in the meantime devoting his unemployed time to a thorough 
course of study. He was married at the age of twenty-one to his present 
companion, by whom he has raised six children, two sons and four daughters. He 
continued to work at his trade until the Spring of 1850, when, catching the 
California fever, he sailed from New York to Panama, where he remained for two 
months, being unable to procure passage to San Francisco. He was a participant 
in what was known as the Panama war, which occurred that Spring, in which a 
number of Americans lost their lives. Returning to New York, he followed the 
business of farming and school teaching until the Fall of 1851, when he came to 
California, and obtained employment as messenger on the Sacramento river, for 
Gregory's Express. He continued with Gregory until the failure of that house, 
the business of which was mostly transferred to the new express company of 
Wells, Fargo & Co. Mr. Owen continued as messenger for the new company until the 
Summer of 1832 (as printed), when becoming anxious to see his family, he 
returned to his home in Cayuga county, going in charge of the Alaska furs. He 
remained at home for about eight years, pursuing the business of farming, and a 
part of the time of school teaching. He was elected Superintendent of School for 
three years, and subsequently, in 1857, as representative in the New York 
Assembly. He was appointed in that body Chairman of Military Affairs, which 
committee had the disposal of the New York Arsenal property to the city of New 
York to prepare the way for the great Central Park. He was also of the 
sub-committee of the whole. In the Spring of 1861 he returned to San Jose; and 
at once assumed the publication of the San Jose Mercury, in which business he 
has been engaged ever since. Two years and a half after his arrival he brought 
out his family and made his permanent home in San Jose. In 1862 he was elected 
to the California Assembly, and again in 1863. He was elected Speaker pro-tem of 
the legislature of '63-64. Mr. Owen has been through life an active Republican, 
for which party he has worked with much zeal and ability, while his editorial 
management of the Mercury has been such as to gain for that periodical a high 
position among its contemporaries in the country.

The Pioneer, published San Jose, California, Saturday, February 11, 1882
transcribed by jchavnar