California Genealogy and History Archives
Biographies
of
Sacramento County
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HARRY
DOLE OWEN The
associations of a lifetime bind Mr. Owen to Sacramento county in ties of
deepest intimacy. Here he was born in the city of Sacramento December
26, 1863; here he received a fair education in the city schools; here he
entered upon life's activities as a member of the great army of farmers
whose efforts have transformed the commonwealth into a garden spot of
beauty and productiveness ; and here he now owns and occupies a ranch of
five hundred acres near Bruceville. The raising of grain is the
principal business on the farm, but stock is also kept, and hogs
particularly have proved a profitable investment. A fine orchard of
twenty-five acres of Bartlett pears, apricots and plums is to be seen on
the farm, and the marketing of the fruit adds to the annual income in a
gratifying degree. The entire appearance of the tract indicates the
thrift and energy of the proprietor and furnishes silent testimony as to
his farming ability. The
Owen family has been identified with American history for several
generations. The first of the name in the new world settled in New
England, according to tradition. The exact date of immigration is
unknown. Suffice it to state that there were a goodly number of the name
to assist in the agricultural upbuilding of the northeast. Eben Owen was
born in Portland, Me., November 26, 1812, and at- tended the common
schools of his native city. At the age of sixteen he left school and
began to assist his father in a general mercantile store, continuing in
the same establishment until he had reached the age of thirty-six. A
desire to see something of the world led him to New Orleans, where he
taught in the city schools for one year. About that time the discovery
of gold brought California into world-wide prominence, and he determined
to join the thousands of Argonauts seeking fortunes there. By way of the
Isthmus of Panama he came to California in 1849 and landed in San
Francisco, whence he proceeded immediately to Michigan Bar, a mining
camp of great temporary importance. For one year he followed the
adventurous and exciting existence of a miner. Upon
leaving the mines and establishing headquarters in Sacramento Mr. Owen
opened a wholesale grocery establishment, which he conducted with
remarkable success. In 1857 he sold the business, returned to Maine and
at Portland, July 30, of the same year, was united in marriage with Miss
Mary Dole, who was born at Alna, Lincoln county, that state. Accompanied
by his wife, he again came to California in 1858 and settled in
Sacramento, where their happy wedded life was terminated by the death of
Mrs. Owen September 28. 1865. He long survived her, living retired from
business activities, but personally superintending his property
interests until shortly before his demise, which occurred October 28,
1892. He left two sons, Eben B., who is a farmer on a part of the old
home, and Harry Dole Owen. The latter had been of the greatest help to
him during his later years, for he personally cultivated the large ranch
of thirteen hundred acres, attended to the dairy department of the
ranch, took charge of the sowing of the grain, worked untiringly in
harvesting, threshing and marketing the wheat, and proved altogether a
genuine talent for agricultural work. His subsequent prosperity proves
that he made no mistake when he selected ranching for his chosen
occupation. His ranch comprises five hundred and twenty-two acres,
located on the Cosumnes river, about one and one-half miles east of
Bruceville. Irrigation for the ranch is supplied by means of a ditch
from the Cosumnes as well as a pumping plant. December 15, 1886, H. D. Owen was united in marriage with Miss Margaret Utter, a native of Franklin, Sacramento county, and a woman of capability and education. They are the parents of three children, namely: William E., born November 16, 1887; Mary Gladys, May 1, 1889, and Dorothy Grace, who was born November 22, 1894, and died July 5, 1910, when almost sixteen years of age. Mr. Owen is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America, and with his wife and family is associated by membership with the Bruceville Methodist church. |
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Source: Transcribed by Peggy Hooper 2011 |