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Surnames: Owens
Classification: Query
Message Board URL:
http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/Hk.2ADE/1125.3
Message Board Post:
The 1915 “History of White County” and 1883 “Counties of White..”(both of which are
accessible online via the
WhiteCountyIndiana.org website) has put a few more pieces of the
puzzle together for you…
First, the biography of Henry P. Owens:
COUNTIES OF WHITE AND PULASKI, INDIANA, HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL, Published by F.A.
Battey & Co, Chicago, 1883, pg 233
H. P. OWENS, editor and proprietor of the White Count Democrat, is a son of Robert L.
Owens, who was born in Culpeper County, Va., February 2, 1800, and who moved to Kentucky
with his parents in 1805. Succeeding his marriage with Mary Perry, Robert L. Owens engaged
in agricultural pursuits, and both he and wife are yet living on their farm in Shelby
County, Ky. He was the father of thirteen children, was three times married, but to his
marriage with Mary Perry only one son was born, the subject of this sketch. H. P. Owens
was reared in his native State, and received the greater part of his education at
Georgetown College. Shortly after completing the scientific department of that school, be
took a commercial course at Bryant & Stratton's business College of Louisville,
and then graduated from the law department of the New York State University. The spring of
1868, he entered the law office of Webb & Harlan, of Newcastle,Ky., remaining with
them two years, both as a student a!
nd an assistant. In 1873, he came to ,Monticello and formed a partnership with J. H.
Matlock, in the practice of law, which continued until Mr. M.'s death in 1878. In
about 1879, he became a partner of W. E. Uhl, and besides carrying on their law practice
this firm, in 1882, founded the White County Democrat, and continued its publication until
January, 1883, when Mr. Uhl severed his connection with the paper in order to give his
undivided attention to the practice of his profession. Mr. Owens formed a partnership with
A. B. Clarke in February, 1883, and this firm now conducts the only Democratic paper in
White County, and it is needless to add that it is a success. One son-Harry-has been born
to Mr. Owens' marriage with Miss Lillie L. Switzer, which was solemnized August 6,
1879.
The Biography of James C. Rufing indicates (excerpt): “He was twice married, his last
wife, who survived him, being Mrs. Lillie Owens, widow of the late Harry P. Owens, and
daughter of John Switzer, one of Monticello’s earliest residents.” This explains the
illegible last name reported on the 1900 census for Lillian (Elizabeth) which should be
Rufing as opposed to Ruberg.