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Below is a family biography included in the book, The History of Knox County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1887.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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William H. F. Owen is a son of S. W. and Elizabeth (Edwards) Owen, and was born in New York State in 1826. The father was a native of Delaware, and born in 1803. He followed various occupations until he became twenty-five years of age, and then learned the shoemaker’s trade. He went to New York State, lived until 1829, then sailed down the Susquehanna River upon a raft, and landed at Plymouth, Penn., where he located and followed his trade for a number of years. He is now a resident of Farrandsville, Penn. The mother of our subject was a native of New Jersey, and was married to Mr. Owen in 1825. She died in Pennsylvania in 1885. Our subject learned his trade of his father and remained with him until he became of age. In 1850 he went to Illinois, and located at Crystal Lake, McHenry County, where he remained about two years, and then removed to Monticello, Lewis Co., Mo., but made a final move to Novelty, Knox County, about 1858, where he has resided ever since, following his trade, in which he is very proficient, and where he carried a stock of goods that would do credit to a much larger town than Novelty. While in Pennsylvania, in 1849, he was married to Phoebe A. Roat, daughter of Daniel and Sarah Roat, by whom he has had six children, five of whom are living: Frank D., Ella E., Carrie M., Oscar Isidor and Lucy A. Our subject is a member of the I. O. O. F. and the Masonic fraternity, and in politics is a Republican. He is a public-spirited man, and takes great interest in all educational matters, to which he donates as much as he is able.

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This family biography is one of 204 biographies included in the Knox County, Missouri portion of the book,  The History of Lewis, Clark, Knox and Scotland Counties, Missouri published in 1887.  For the complete description, click here: Knox County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Knox County, Missouri family biographies here: Knox County, Missouri Biographies

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