OWENS FAMILY
NOTES
From
Jennings
Family Papers
The following notes were donated by Jonathan
Lopnow who is researching the Owens family trying to find connections to
his
line Willis C. Owens via William Jackson Owens. If you have any information
on George Casteel Owens and relatives in Jefferson County, (Graham Township)
please let him know. These Owens were in Jackson & Scott Counties along with
Jefferson County.
Jonathan Lopnow
These notes are
also a great example of notes from a large number of papers and gleaning useful
information from them.
Jennings Family Papers - Indiana
Historical Society
Comprised of letters back and forth between the George W.
Jennings family and various Owens relatives. George W. Jennings' wife was
Susannah Owens, a daughter of Thomas Owens, who was a son of Capt. George Owens
who was killed by Indians in Kentucky.
Notes taken by Jonathan R. Loppnow directly from letters in November
2009
--------------------------------------------
File 2
Loose
piece of paper, no names:
January 18, 1842
Crossed the Falls of the
Ohio river February... morning got in the Mississippi River---8 day at Plum
Point ... Point of Scola Arkansas...Sold duck at the shirtail ... state of
Mississippi to John - rabl. for 50 dollars bill (too faint to get it
all)
Letter
July 26, 1842
From D. N. Alley, husband of
Lucy Ann Owens , also daughter of Thomas Owens Sr.
To his brother in law,
Thomas Owens Jr . This Thomas Owens Jr eventually moved to Texas per Alley's
urging. He encourages Thomas Owens (jr) and his sister Mary to come by boat to
New Orleans then to Shreveport (passage will be 15.00 for ?, cabin 25, deck
5.00
He advises to bring apple, cherry and raspberry seeds.
Alley
says "You are a young man. You can come on deck." Fascinating letter he urges
Thomas to come out and gives step by step details how to get to Texas, going to
Louisville, then by boat to Shreveport, then land.
From Dan
Alley
Location: Dangerfield, Cass County, Texas
"Father and Mother
(Alley) and wife of Thomas (? Not Thomas Owens) were well the last time we heard
from them, They are being 65 miles from where I live. " He is referring to James
and Catherine Alley who live in Cass County Texas. Dan Alley is also in Cass
County. They have a Thomas Weaver, age 24, born in IN with them. Thomas Weaver
is the son of Cassandra Owens, daughter of Thomas Owens Sr, hence nephew to Lucy
Ann Owens Alley, and Thomas Owens Jr.. Thomas Weaver writes a letter later
calling them Aunt and Uncle.
(Note: Thomas Owens Jr calls is "Thomas H.
Owens" who married Jane Hough 3-27-1845).
"We would all be glad to see
you (Thomas Owens Jr) and Mary (Owens) this fall. Lucy Ann (Owens) would be very
happy to have Mary come out and live with her. ...And by the by there are some
very likely lads in this country and some of them have the flat noses about
them..." (?)
---
folder 6 box 1
Letter
May 15,
1844
From Dan N. Alley
to George W. Jennings and Thomas H. Owens
(Jr)
"Beloved brothers Owens and Jennings"
Speaks of just receiving
their letter of October 1843.
Relates health of family, concerned about
Thomas Owens statement "no deaths of late"
His wife Lucy (Owens) sickly
for a year; son James Alley "thinks himself a man takes his double barrel
shotgun and knocks a squirrel or crow out of a tree and thinks he could up an
Indian or Mexican Moccasin with no trouble at all"; Thomas Alley is hearty and
grows fat; Mary Alley is "growing up slim and tall and is getting quite
delicate." "Dan our youngest son is a whole sale Texan decidedly the stoutest
child of his age, he can whip his weight in wild cats and a panther thrown in
(such as one as I killed the other day measuring nine feet and on inch.
Catherine Ann our youngest two months old, the 4th of ___ and to make your
believe she is the Queen of Texas.
Father and mother (Alley) are well,
all being the same place and settled in,
"I wish you to write to me
concerning Father and Mother Owens (Thomas Sr and Priscilla presumably so both
alive May 14 1844). their health and where they live etc etc - Abednego-John-Cas
(Cassandra)-Mary-Martin-Belinda-Minerva-George." (All presumbably brothers and
sisters).
"P.S. James Clark, Nancy and child are well and being in one
mile and half of us he is very young.) (These Clarks were next door to Thomas
and Jane Owens in 1850, Cass County, bears further investigation to see if
related.)
---------------------------
Letter
August 4,
1844
To George W. Jennings
From Levi Jennings (his brother; not
related to Owens)
Location: (direct your letter to Livingston County, town of
Sparta Dansville Village)
two boys one girl, youngest is a girl about 4
years old ..."I have moved 8 miles form the place where I keep tavern" Speaks of
moving back to Indiana and having his land made
ready
----------------------------
Document: Deed
Deed
involving Salmon Jennings and Maria his wife; Moses and Margaret Beavers, Nathan
Arbuckle and Catherine; Sherwood Jennings and Flavia ; John Trulock and
Cynthia.
---------------------
Letter
July 15, 1849
Multiple
authors: Thomas Weaver (son of Cassandra Owens) to Minerva Owens (her
nephew)
Jane (Hough) Owens (wife of Thomas H Owens jr) to Minerva
Owens
Thomas H. Owens (jr) to Thomas Owens Sr
Note indicates Thomas Sr
alive in July 1849 but is gone by 1850
"As I have little to say I will
say bit little. At present dear parents I have some sad reflections relative to
your circumstances. I am well aware that the infirmities of your old age must
necessarily require succor and were if it were in my power it would be a great
satisfaction to me in my humble circumstances to ... unto your wants and
alleviate as much as possible the sufferings of old age. Sis wrote in her letter
to Winke? that Father had not been well for some time past but we are in hopes
that we will soon hear that he has recovered his health. I will now close by
saying I hope these few lines will find you all alive and well. I remain your
affectionate child Thomas H. Owens
P.S. Write and tell us a little about
everything and everybody more too if you can think of it. "
SO THOMAS
OWENS SR DIED BETWEEN JULY 14, 1849 AND THE 1850 CENSUS
Letter:
From
Jane Hough Owens to Minerva Owens (who is still unmarried at this
point)
relates her chronic illness
Thomas (Owens Jr) not doing well,
weight, is 140
"You tell me that "P..." is a ...g well I declare that
tickles my funny for I thought that her and ... ... was too much ... ... to ...
but success to them now. "
"We are sorry to hear that the old man (Thomas
Owens Sr) is so poorly, give my love to your mother and tell her that I would
like to take a smoke in the corner with her once more and think if I and her
should live a little longer I will have the pleasure of doing so. But I must
wind up by saying peace be with you all. Till I come give my love to all, Jane
Owens."
From Thomas Weaver to Minerva Owens
"Dear Aunt,
...it
appears that Philena hasn't forgotten me yet.... But I haven't gone to
California yet and I don't expect to go soon ... "Uncle Dan (Alley) and Aunt
Lucy (Owens Alley) says they are going to Indiana this winter….I don't expect to
stay much longer here, I don't know which way I may go..."
END OF FOLDER
6 IN BOX 1
---------------------
Box 1, File 7
From John Owens
(in Iowa) to George W. Jennings (in Scott County Indiana)
Location:
Iowa
May the 12, 1850
"I haven't seen sis (Cassandra Owens) nor
John (Wilson) since I moved them back to Keokuk. They are now living in five
miles from West Point in Lee County Iowa, that was all well a few days ago. Dick
and John is coopering for Y. B. Tull. Martin (Owens, John's brother) is about 13
miles from me. They was all well a day or so ago. Cy k?? live about one mile
from me. I see them every day or two...
Mr. Smock has lost his wife she
died on the ninth day of May I want you all to write."
(These Smocks came
from Indiana too wonder if related)
---
A letter form Hiram E. L.
Jennings to George W. Jennings
March 27, 1850
From St. Augustine
IL
"Dear cousin"
Discussion of a law suit.
Unrelated to
Owens
--------
June 16, 1850
A letter form Thomas H. Owens (Jr)
to Minerva Owens
From Jefferson, Marion co. Texas
He got a letter
from Minerva written April 25. Jane (Hough) Owens is sickly but being tended.
The doctor " seems to think that she ins not incurable"
"Your letter
gave us some pleasure and some pain. We are happy to hear that you were all
well, but we are much grieved to learn the unfortunate circumstances into which
J. Leving (? Sp) is plunged by their own foolish disgrace... It seems to me that
mother's cup of trouble must be full to running over... " (He may also be
referring to death of Thomss Sr)
He refers only to Mother so presume that
Thomas SR died .
He then warns his sister of someone. She seems to be
courted by someone (likely Irvin Harrod whom she later marries) "if some old
bear (sweet I mean) still pays you his regular visit in order to keep up a
protracted courtship the best policy in my opinion is to bring him to terms
immediately or bluff his shorts off, give him his choice; then let him rip, but
recollect that procrastination is the thief of time…I have told you before in
some of my letters that I intended to come back to live there but I have changed
my notion about that since I received your last epistle, tell mother we would be
very glad to see her and have her to live with us but we are unable to call old
Scott (county Indiana) our home anymore. We would also like to have you here
with us but at present I am not able to come after you, if knew you would be
willing to come out and live in Texas. You will please let Jane's people
(Houghs) know that you have heard form us."
---
Letter from S.
Alley (not Dan) but child of Dan Alley
To: cousins, William Jennings (William
is a son of George W. Jennings I belive)
February 30, 1850
They
are all well but "uncle Thomas (Thomas H. Owens Jr) has (been) taking a little
sick spell".
He refers to grandmother (presume Priscilla Worthington
Owens, wife of Thomas Owens Sr), where she is
living.
-------
Letter from Cassandra Owens Wilson and her husband
John Wilson
To: Priscilla Owens (widow of Thomas Owens Sr)
Sept.
3, 1850
From Fort Des Moines, Polk County IA
Appears to be written by
John Wilson and not Cassandra
"I was all night at Marten Owens and they
are all well"
"Marten is looking well and D. Z Laforce tells me that Mart
has drank but one dram this summer"
Laforce and Marten going into
coopering business
Talks about George (W. Jennings) coming out in fall
and for her (Priscilla) to come with him
"and it would be a great
satisfaction to Davy for she is very home seek to see Indiana" "I suppose you
are living amongst the children… and come and live a while with me..."
Has plenty of potatoes and expects skin flint Robertson has cabbage a
plenty
"I must ssy to you I have the best stepmother in Iowa for my
children" (Cassandra became stepmother to several children)... "we have had it
all uphill in Iowa yet Cassandra and myself goes hand in hand
together"
When you write to Marten direct your letters to Liberty Ville
Jefferson County Iowa.
"I received a letter from Winkles this day... and one
from Jacob and Betsy..." ;
Also to Minerva Owens
Indicating that
he knows Minerva will marry soon (to Irvin Harrod, note that Irvin and Minerva
move to Iowa later). "he has been catching at you for 8 years and never could
get you in hand..." They (John Wilson and Cassandra Owens Wilson) are moving to
Fort Des Moines in two weeks, 150 miles from where they are now.
John
writes to "brother" says he had gotten a letter form brother Ebednigo (Abednego
Owens, son of Thomas Sr) and brother J. C. Stodgel (this was to George Jennings)
"tell Susan (Susannah Owens wife to George W. Jennings) that I would
like to see her and hear her laugh till her ... tell Lind (?) to keep her head
up ...
----
Letter from John Owens and wife Nancy A.
(Gibbs)
From Ashland IA
To George Jenning and Susan B (Owens)
Jennings
February 10, 1851
"Old John (Wilson) and Cass (Cassandra
Owens) is here at this time."
"You wanted to know something about
Marten's business in that country, Martin expects to lend by John Menaugh for
his money and he wants you or Bedney to see to the collecting of his money for
him.. and send it with John Menaugh to him in Iowa. Old John (Wilson) was at
Marten's last night and they are all well and has another heir a girl washer
(?)...nd since she has got in this ... she don't give milk enough for her child
but she is very good.
...If you write to Marten direct your letter to
Flores Davis County IA
Another part of letter is from John Wilson and
Cassandra and is to George Jennings as well
They (the Wilson’s) live in
Davis County two miles from Bloomfield, the county seat.
Cassy wants to
go back (home presumably) and they will send a telegraph
"Cassandra
wants you to send her two wheels and her Reel by Benetts Boys to this country if
you do not come yourself to this country I think you might come and see this
country and then you would go back home well... that we have the best farming
country in the world. John Wilson and Cassandra Wilson.
letter via
Ashland Ia
---
August 4 1851
This next letter is from
Minerva Owens Harrod as she has married Irvin J. Harrod
First is from
Irvin to George W. Jennings and Susannah
Mentions trouble with using a
land warrant against some land he wants because Cranton's
another...?
"365 panels of fence to be made to me by William D.
Montgomery"
"give mother Owens my love and respects through
life..."
My note: MINVERA MARRIED TO HARROD AND MOVED TO IOWA, PRISCILLA
LIVNG WITH George W. Jennings now I believe.
Next in same letter is
Minerva (Owens) Harrod to mother and sisters
to mother "I think I see you
often tottering round as usual - think (of you) smoking your pipe ... "want
a smoke out of your pipe, I think I can taste one yet"
"we've had nothing
but bad luck since we left there"
Dec 7, 1851 or 7
from Ft
Desmoines
From Irvin Harrd to George Jennings and Sister
(what
about mother?)
They got a letter form Thomas H. Owens (Jr) a few days
before they got the one from George.. "They informed us that they was all well
but they sounded like they was not so well. And they talked like they would like
to see our country here. Jane(Hough Owens) said she thought she could enjoy
herself better if she was in this country Thomas thought he would like it if it
wasn't for the cold weather. He said he wasn't making anything there he said
though there was ...acres of land that they wouldn’t raise anything on this
year...
They held a railroad meeting, "they was railroad company
organized for Iowa City...Fort Desmoines and council bluffs railroad and if we
can get this in operation and river navigation in the spring which i suppose we
will by the first of March there is a eastern company ahold of the river
improvement... we have a fine daughter and named her Mary marincy? and tell
mother owens that here is a lock of her hair (no here isn't still a
lock)
Note: So Priscilla Worthington Owens is still alive in
1851
She was born the 6th of September
---
last letter in
folder 7
to George (Jennings) and Susannah
from John Wilson and
Cassandra
they want George to sell Cassandra's wheels and reel and send
her the money
if ballooning get popular look for Old John and Old
Dave
---------
file 8
From Minerva Owens Harrod to Jane
Owens (from Iowa to Indiana, not sure what Jane this is)
October 23,
1852
She heard mother was not well (Priscilla)
talks about bad
luck
wants Jane to come and bring mother
Philene has got a man at
last
Marie can't hardly hold her water as she use to say... Philene will
soon graduate.
Tell Rebecca and Polly (?) I thank them very much for
their answer to my letter.
give my love to mother
---
Feb
25, 1854
from Lucy Ann (Owens) Alley
To: Priscilla
Owens
From Location: Alley's Mills, Cass County, Texas
"tell us
whether Mart has come form California" (So Marten Owens went to California from
Iowa)
Thomas and Jane are well (Thomas Owens Jr and Jane Hough now in
Texas)
Winks are all well
3 children at school: James Alley, Mary
Alley, Catherine Alley
They are building a real house with a foundation.
She has always hated to ask Priscilla Owens to visit since they were in a cabin
all this time.
She couldn't visit because Vick wasn't well?
end of
file 8
----
file nine not useful
---
file
10
January 25, 1891
Letter from Dan N. Alley JR to William T.
Jennings (son of George W. Jennings I think)
"Dear Cousin and Aunt
(Susannah Owens Jennings presume George W Jennings is dead),
With sad
heart I pen you the news of dear Mother's (Lucy Ann Owens Alley) death which
occurred on the morning of the 18th, this month at 2 a.m.. Mother was stricken
with paralysis of her entire right side on the night of the 13th" and was
unconcious most of the time and apparently speechless and so was not cognizant
till died if I read this correctly.
he lived one block
away
"Mother was (Lucy Ann Owens Alley) was 78, last Nov 17th,
1891
Uncle John A. Owens (brother to Lucy Ann Owens, son of Thomas Owens
Sr) was here in December and stayed with us only a short while and went back
home to Missouri. He was quite well and got back all right, so he wrote me.
Uncle seemed to be sorta lost , that is he told me he had sold out and he did
not know when he or what he would do. I tried to get him to move here but he
said he had not collected his money ___ I wanted him to stay longer with us but
he said he must get back home by Christmas and he was afraid that bad weather
would set in, and I am so glad he came… (and that) Mother saw uncle ... as it
had been over 50 years since they had been together. They had not seen each
other since Mother (Lucy Ann Owens Alley) left Indiana to move to Texas in 1838
(so Lucy Ann Owens and Dan N. Alley moved in 1838 to Texas)
"I am the
only one of mother's children left" (This has been confirmed all his siblings
were passed on.)
---
1895 April 7
From Minnie to
sister
from Paris Crossing (is this Minerva Harrod I don’t think
so)
they were there five weeks but haven't done much the family that was
in the house moved out Thurs
she cleaned kitchen and pantry, dirtiest house
she ever saw helping clean the store
Albert says he is going to get along
all right, straightening up the store
Russell is going to
school
from Little Willie, Jess and Jimmie?
how is Jim and Effie,
going to write to mother today
Oliver Whitsett was here yesterday
Hon? Morrison
give my love to Harry,
give my love to Aunt
Susie (presume Susannah Owens
Jennings???)
-------------------------
Paper Document: 1834 Estate
of Aaron Jennings
Names mentioned:
Ebednego Owens
Martin Owens
Others
Thomas Montgomery
George A. Bicknell
J. C.
Stodgell
John Jones
Thoas Glendy
Matthew Rea
John L.
Jones
Wm Bennett
William Richerson
Joseph Humer
Wm
Harty
Elias Bridgewater
Joseph Hines?
Mames
Markwellford
John Wilson (son in law)
Abner
Marden
---
My note in 1840 a Thomas B. Wilson lived next door to a
Thomas Owens in Scott County. Remember that Cassandra Owens married a
Wilson.
Additional information about this story
Description
Jennings Family Papers M 0445
http://www.indianahistory.org/library/manuscripts/collection_guides/man_j.html
Date