by John A. Owens is the son of Thomas Owens and Priscilla Worthington Owens of Scott County, Indiana. Thomas and brother George were the sons of Captain George Owens, renowned for his defense of Fort Jefferson on the Ohio River. He was burned at the stake by Indians in his elderly years near Vincennes and shot by an acquaintance to put him out of his misery. Captain George's father was Trader John Owens of Pennsylvania, and his brother was Captain David Owens.

John A. Owens left Indiana and moved to Iowa, his sister Cassandra Owens Wilson (and husband John Wilson) went there as well; as did sister Minerva Owens Harrod eventually. John's sister Lucy Owens Alley went to Marion County Texas, as did his brother Thomas Owens Jr. There are family letters preserved at the Indiana Historical Society; some of which I'll quote below.

John A. Owens married at least one Nancy. (There seems to be another couple, John Owens and a Nancy that get conflated with this John Owens). However here is what I have:

Spouse Nancy Ann Gibbs
1827 – 1890

Children:
, Harriett Evaline Owens
1846 – 1922

George Washington Owens
1851 – 1935

Martha Texas OWENS
1853 – 1922

Julia A Owens
1854 – 1930

Andrew Jackson Owens
1856 –

Derritt Owens
1858 –

Priscilla Jane Owens (probably named after Priscilla Worthington)
1860 –

Francis M Owens
1862 – 1917

John M Owens
1862 – 1917

Nancy Elizabeth Owens
1864 – 1899

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

--------------------------------------------
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 (John A Owens)-Cas (Cassandra)-Mary-Martin-Belinda-Minerva-George." (All 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.)

---------------------------

Box 1, File 7
From John A/ 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)

---

--------

-------

----

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 (?)…and 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

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"

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

---

----

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.)

---