Ida May Owens was the daughter of William Jackson Owens, a Baptist/Methodist preacher from Jackson County, Indiana, and Serelda Lewis Owens (a daughter of the largest land owner of Jennings County, Indiana, Daniel Lewis).
Ida May's parents followed Serelda's brothers and migrated to Kansas around 1868-1870, from Indiana. Her brothers had gone by wagon train just after the Civil War, along with many others from Jennings County. Ida May's parents homesteaded in Republic County, Kansas, but she was born in Greenleaf, Washington County, Kansas, likely at the home of her Uncle Eli Lewis. After Serelda and William obtained their land they sold it and moved back to Indiana for a short time. They may have moved back due ot the death of William's mother, Sarah M. Cox Owens in 1873, but we know they were there by April 5, 1874 for the birth of their son Allen Clifford Owens. However, between then and 1876 we know they moved to Delta County, Texas (which is where brother Charles Owens lived).
It was in Texas that Ida May Owens met a traveling farm implement salesman named George Newton Rogers. When the Owens family had temporarily moved back to Indiana, George Newton Rogers traveled by train to Jennings County, Indiana, and married Ida May at the home of her grandfather, Daniel Lewis. This house still stands there in Jennings County.
Ida and George returned to Texas, and eventually built a house in Paris, Lamar County, Texas where they raised nine children (4 boys, 5 daughters). The house still stands but looks very different from its early years. They had the upstairs set up like two large dormitory rooms, one for the girls and one for the boys (this according to Billie Musgrove Smith).
Ida May was only 55 when she lost her husband, George Newton Rogers to a sudden heart attack. The children were mostly grown and out of the house, however she still cared for her daughter Isabel Rogers (named after Isabel Keith, Serelda Lewis' grandmother); and daughter Mae Rogers Smith soon moved back in with her son and remained there most of her life.
Ida May was said to be a very strong woman, small in stature but ruling the house with an iron fist in a velvet glove. She was well educated and had passed that value on to her children. She rented out a room to make extra money, and raised rabbits in the back for meat.
The house in Paris was always a touchstone for the Rogers family and for many years everyone would gather at the holidays when they could. Ida May would include her divorced brother, Allen Clifford Owens, who lived in a small home on the edge of Paris. They got along for the most part but once got in into a legal battle because he wanted to sell their parents home (William Jackson Owens/Serelda Lewis Owens) which was just down the block from Ida May. Apparently she didn't want to do it. (Aside: her son Avery Wesley Rogers' famiy briefly stayed there while he attended Coyne Electrical School in Chicago in 1940.) Uncle Clifford filed suit, and so George Newton bought out Uncle Clifford's share as well as from Ida May's sister, Aunt Effie Helen. The house stayed in the family for many years, being rented out. It is gone now sadly.
There is an interesting relic of this conflict with Uncle Clifford, a letter written by Ida May, describing the struggle caring for Serelda in her last days. Serelda died in Ida May's home there in Paris, Texas.
Ida May passed in 1942, all the children gathered for the funeral, and there are some nice pictures of this somber event; with everyone gather at the home in Paris.
Afterwards, the siblings told Aunt May she could have the Paris house if she cared for Aunt Isabel, which she did for many years. May also took in her brother's child and raised her there.
Ida May's home at what was 129 South 26th Street, now 509 8th SE, Paris, Texas, saw a great deal of history within its walls. I was only able to be inside twice as a child, and visited the outside once as an adult. George Newton and Ida together had that house built and it served them well over the years.
I write all this so others can see what a wonderful tapestry family histories are.
Ida May's parents followed Serelda's brothers and migrated to Kansas around 1868-1870, from Indiana. Her brothers had gone by wagon train just after the Civil War, along with many others from Jennings County. Ida May's parents homesteaded in Republic County, Kansas, but she was born in Greenleaf, Washington County, Kansas, likely at the home of her Uncle Eli Lewis. After Serelda and William obtained their land they sold it and moved back to Indiana for a short time. They may have moved back due ot the death of William's mother, Sarah M. Cox Owens in 1873, but we know they were there by April 5, 1874 for the birth of their son Allen Clifford Owens. However, between then and 1876 we know they moved to Delta County, Texas (which is where brother Charles Owens lived).
It was in Texas that Ida May Owens met a traveling farm implement salesman named George Newton Rogers. When the Owens family had temporarily moved back to Indiana, George Newton Rogers traveled by train to Jennings County, Indiana, and married Ida May at the home of her grandfather, Daniel Lewis. This house still stands there in Jennings County.
Ida and George returned to Texas, and eventually built a house in Paris, Lamar County, Texas where they raised nine children (4 boys, 5 daughters). The house still stands but looks very different from its early years. They had the upstairs set up like two large dormitory rooms, one for the girls and one for the boys (this according to Billie Musgrove Smith).
Ida May was only 55 when she lost her husband, George Newton Rogers to a sudden heart attack. The children were mostly grown and out of the house, however she still cared for her daughter Isabel Rogers (named after Isabel Keith, Serelda Lewis' grandmother); and daughter Mae Rogers Smith soon moved back in with her son and remained there most of her life.
Ida May was said to be a very strong woman, small in stature but ruling the house with an iron fist in a velvet glove. She was well educated and had passed that value on to her children. She rented out a room to make extra money, and raised rabbits in the back for meat.
The house in Paris was always a touchstone for the Rogers family and for many years everyone would gather at the holidays when they could. Ida May would include her divorced brother, Allen Clifford Owens, who lived in a small home on the edge of Paris. They got along for the most part but once got in into a legal battle because he wanted to sell their parents home (William Jackson Owens/Serelda Lewis Owens) which was just down the block from Ida May. Apparently she didn't want to do it. (Aside: her son Avery Wesley Rogers' famiy briefly stayed there while he attended Coyne Electrical School in Chicago in 1940.) Uncle Clifford filed suit, and so George Newton bought out Uncle Clifford's share as well as from Ida May's sister, Aunt Effie Helen. The house stayed in the family for many years, being rented out. It is gone now sadly.
There is an interesting relic of this conflict with Uncle Clifford, a letter written by Ida May, describing the struggle caring for Serelda in her last days. Serelda died in Ida May's home there in Paris, Texas.
Ida May passed in 1942, all the children gathered for the funeral, and there are some nice pictures of this somber event; with everyone gather at the home in Paris.
Afterwards, the siblings told Aunt May she could have the Paris house if she cared for Aunt Isabel, which she did for many years. May also took in her brother's child and raised her there.
Ida May's home at what was 129 South 26th Street, now 509 8th SE, Paris, Texas, saw a great deal of history within its walls. I was only able to be inside twice as a child, and visited the outside once as an adult. George Newton and Ida together had that house built and it served them well over the years.
I write all this so others can see what a wonderful tapestry family histories are.
Ida May Owens was the daughter of William Jackson Owens, a Baptist/Methodist preacher from Jackson County, Indiana, and Serelda Lewis Owens (a daughter of the largest land owner of Jennings County, Indiana, Daniel Lewis).
Ida May's parents followed Serelda's brothers and migrated to Kansas around 1868-1870, from Indiana. Her brothers had gone by wagon train just after the Civil War, along with many others from Jennings County. Ida May's parents homesteaded in Republic County, Kansas, but she was born in Greenleaf, Washington County, Kansas, likely at the home of her Uncle Eli Lewis. After Serelda and William obtained their land they sold it and moved back to Indiana for a short time. They may have moved back due ot the death of William's mother, Sarah M. Cox Owens in 1873, but we know they were there by April 5, 1874 for the birth of their son Allen Clifford Owens. However, between then and 1876 we know they moved to Delta County, Texas (which is where brother Charles Owens lived).
It was in Texas that Ida May Owens met a traveling farm implement salesman named George Newton Rogers. When the Owens family had temporarily moved back to Indiana, George Newton Rogers traveled by train to Jennings County, Indiana, and married Ida May at the home of her grandfather, Daniel Lewis. This house still stands there in Jennings County.
Ida and George returned to Texas, and eventually built a house in Paris, Lamar County, Texas where they raised nine children (4 boys, 5 daughters). The house still stands but looks very different from its early years. They had the upstairs set up like two large dormitory rooms, one for the girls and one for the boys (this according to Billie Musgrove Smith).
Ida May was only 55 when she lost her husband, George Newton Rogers to a sudden heart attack. The children were mostly grown and out of the house, however she still cared for her daughter Isabel Rogers (named after Isabel Keith, Serelda Lewis' grandmother); and daughter Mae Rogers Smith soon moved back in with her son and remained there most of her life.
Ida May was said to be a very strong woman, small in stature but ruling the house with an iron fist in a velvet glove. She was well educated and had passed that value on to her children. She rented out a room to make extra money, and raised rabbits in the back for meat.
The house in Paris was always a touchstone for the Rogers family and for many years everyone would gather at the holidays when they could. Ida May would include her divorced brother, Allen Clifford Owens, who lived in a small home on the edge of Paris. They got along for the most part but once got in into a legal battle because he wanted to sell their parents home (William Jackson Owens/Serelda Lewis Owens) which was just down the block from Ida May. Apparently she didn't want to do it. (Aside: her son Avery Wesley Rogers' famiy briefly stayed there while he attended Coyne Electrical School in Chicago in 1940.) Uncle Clifford filed suit, and so George Newton bought out Uncle Clifford's share as well as from Ida May's sister, Aunt Effie Helen. The house stayed in the family for many years, being rented out. It is gone now sadly.
There is an interesting relic of this conflict with Uncle Clifford, a letter written by Ida May, describing the struggle caring for Serelda in her last days. Serelda died in Ida May's home there in Paris, Texas.
Ida May passed in 1942, all the children gathered for the funeral, and there are some nice pictures of this somber event; with everyone gather at the home in Paris.
Afterwards, the siblings told Aunt May she could have the Paris house if she cared for Aunt Isabel, which she did for many years. May also took in her brother's child and raised her there.
Ida May's home at what was 129 South 26th Street, now 509 8th SE, Paris, Texas, saw a great deal of history within its walls. I was only able to be inside twice as a child, and visited the outside once as an adult. George Newton and Ida together had that house built and it served them well over the years.
I write all this so others can see what a wonderful tapestry family histories are.
Ida May's parents followed Serelda's brothers and migrated to Kansas around 1868-1870, from Indiana. Her brothers had gone by wagon train just after the Civil War, along with many others from Jennings County. Ida May's parents homesteaded in Republic County, Kansas, but she was born in Greenleaf, Washington County, Kansas, likely at the home of her Uncle Eli Lewis. After Serelda and William obtained their land they sold it and moved back to Indiana for a short time. They may have moved back due ot the death of William's mother, Sarah M. Cox Owens in 1873, but we know they were there by April 5, 1874 for the birth of their son Allen Clifford Owens. However, between then and 1876 we know they moved to Delta County, Texas (which is where brother Charles Owens lived).
It was in Texas that Ida May Owens met a traveling farm implement salesman named George Newton Rogers. When the Owens family had temporarily moved back to Indiana, George Newton Rogers traveled by train to Jennings County, Indiana, and married Ida May at the home of her grandfather, Daniel Lewis. This house still stands there in Jennings County.
Ida and George returned to Texas, and eventually built a house in Paris, Lamar County, Texas where they raised nine children (4 boys, 5 daughters). The house still stands but looks very different from its early years. They had the upstairs set up like two large dormitory rooms, one for the girls and one for the boys (this according to Billie Musgrove Smith).
Ida May was only 55 when she lost her husband, George Newton Rogers to a sudden heart attack. The children were mostly grown and out of the house, however she still cared for her daughter Isabel Rogers (named after Isabel Keith, Serelda Lewis' grandmother); and daughter Mae Rogers Smith soon moved back in with her son and remained there most of her life.
Ida May was said to be a very strong woman, small in stature but ruling the house with an iron fist in a velvet glove. She was well educated and had passed that value on to her children. She rented out a room to make extra money, and raised rabbits in the back for meat.
The house in Paris was always a touchstone for the Rogers family and for many years everyone would gather at the holidays when they could. Ida May would include her divorced brother, Allen Clifford Owens, who lived in a small home on the edge of Paris. They got along for the most part but once got in into a legal battle because he wanted to sell their parents home (William Jackson Owens/Serelda Lewis Owens) which was just down the block from Ida May. Apparently she didn't want to do it. (Aside: her son Avery Wesley Rogers' famiy briefly stayed there while he attended Coyne Electrical School in Chicago in 1940.) Uncle Clifford filed suit, and so George Newton bought out Uncle Clifford's share as well as from Ida May's sister, Aunt Effie Helen. The house stayed in the family for many years, being rented out. It is gone now sadly.
There is an interesting relic of this conflict with Uncle Clifford, a letter written by Ida May, describing the struggle caring for Serelda in her last days. Serelda died in Ida May's home there in Paris, Texas.
Ida May passed in 1942, all the children gathered for the funeral, and there are some nice pictures of this somber event; with everyone gather at the home in Paris.
Afterwards, the siblings told Aunt May she could have the Paris house if she cared for Aunt Isabel, which she did for many years. May also took in her brother's child and raised her there.
Ida May's home at what was 129 South 26th Street, now 509 8th SE, Paris, Texas, saw a great deal of history within its walls. I was only able to be inside twice as a child, and visited the outside once as an adult. George Newton and Ida together had that house built and it served them well over the years.
I write all this so others can see what a wonderful tapestry family histories are.
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