California Biographies

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

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

Source:
History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin 
Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from 
its earliest settlement to the present time.
Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M.
The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905
Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176


RICHARD HUGH OWEN. Among the enterprising and progressive citizens of Tulare 
county whose efforts have been productive of the growth and upbuilding of the Exeter section, 
prominent mention belongs to Richard Hugh Owen, a member of the firm which owns and 
controls the Rocky Point Granite Works. He was born in Anglesea, Wales, May 26, 1863, the 
fourth in a family of five children, all of whom are living. His parents, Hugh and Mary 
(Evans) Owen, were natives of the same place, where they spent their entire lives, dying at ad- 
vanced ages. The father was employed in the slate quarries. 

Richard Hugh Owen is the only member of his father's family who is located in California. 
He was reared on the home place in Wales, attending the public schools in boyhood. At thir- 
teen years of age he began to work on the various farms in the vicinity of his home, and at 
sixteen found employment in the slate quarries. In March, 1882, he came to America, working, 
in the slate quarries in Fairhaven, Vt., until December of the following year, when he came to 
California. His first work in this state was at Penryn, Placer county, where he was appren- 
ticed as a granite cutter. Three years later he began work at his trade in San Francisco, and 
in 1888 came to Tulare county, looking for a location which he soon found, then returned to 
San Francisco and interested Messrs. Hughes and Griffith in a quarry which they opened in 
the spring of 1889, near Exeter. After five years (during which time Mr. Hughes disposed 
of his interest to his partners) , they bought ten acres of land and opened their present quarry, 
known as the Rocky Point Granite Works. They expect to have a spur of the proposed electric 
railway, leading from Visalia to Lemon Cove, run up to the quarry, when they can ship by 
car, and will also have their works operated by electricity. In addition to his interest in this 
business Mr. Owen also owns one hundred and six acres adjoining the Griffith property, on sec- 
tion 6, township 19, range 27, upon which he engages in stock-raising, while he also owns 
a fine pasture of forty acres near Farmersville and a farm of one hundred and sixty acres three 
miles southeast of Exeter, where he makes his home. He also owns a handsome residence in 
Exeter, and is interested in the People's Canal Ditch Company. 

In Visalia Mr. Owen was united in marriage with Rose Ella Fly, who was born near Exeter, 
and they are the parents of five children, namely : Hugh, Leland, Oliver, Viola and Zylpha. 
Mr. Owen was made a Mason in Penryn and is now a member of Visalia Lodge No. 128, F. & 
A. M. He also belongs to the Knights of Pythias, of Exeter, of which he is past chancellor, 
and the Uniformed Rank, Knights of Pythias. Religiously his wife is, a member of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church, while he is a Presbyterian. Politically he is a Republican.