JOHN C. OWEN

John C. Owen, aged 84 years, 6 mos. and 6 days, died at his home in Memphis, Neb., on 
Monday, Feb. 23, 1903. He was born in Guilsfield, England (incorrectly stated -- he was 
in fact from Guilsfield, Wales, Montgomeryshire), near Wales, in 1818. Having a cousin 
here, he decided to leave his native country and come to America. Landing in Canada in 
1839, he started to work at farming. After staying in Canada one year, he came to 
Freeport, Stephenson county, Illinois. In 1842 he was married to Miss Lydia Fox, from Ohio. 

From this union eleven children were born, to-wit: Edward J. Owen, Memphis, who died 
May 14, 1899; Mrs. Sarah J. Woods, Oberlin, Kan.; Mrs. Mary A. McGuirk, who died in 1874; 
Levi, Miss Emma M., Franklin C., Thomas E., Rosa A., Mrs. Ellen J. Harrison, all of Memphis, Neb., 
and Mrs. Alzina H. German, who died in September, 1890. After living in Illinois 28 years he 
moved with his family to Montgomery county, Mo., where he resided till 1873. Then coming 
to Nebraska he settled at Memphis, Saunders county, where he lived until his death.

In October, 1901, he became sick, and from that time until he died he was a constant sufferer. 
His first affliction was rheumatism and after suffering from that nearly a year, he became a 
sufferer of dropsy, which caused his death. He was a strong believer in the English church 
and on his death bed he appealed to God for his salvation and relied upon Jesus as his only 
refuge. He was laid to rest in the Ashland cemetery, Thursday, Feb. 25, 1903.