John Owens, born in North Wales in 1839, immigrated to the United States around 1859. He initially worked in Illinois and Minnesota before settling in Yankton County, South Dakota, in 1884. In the same year, he married Henrietta Kuhler, whose parents were German immigrants. The couple had one son, William. Over time, Owens acquired 340 acres of farmland, focusing on grain and livestock. He was a respected community member, active in the Methodist Episcopal Church. Owens’s life reflects the perseverance typical of 19th-century immigrants seeking better opportunities in America.
John Owens.—Among the citizens of foreign birth now living in Yankton County, South Dakota, is numbered John Owens, who was born in North Wales in the year 1839, his parents being Thomas and Ellen (Rowlands) Owens. In their family were seven children, five of whom are deceased, the living being the subject and his sister, Ellen, who yet resides in Wales. Edward Owens, who came to this country with his brother John, died in Minnesota about seven years ago, leaving a widow and eight children.
The subject of this review pursued his education in the schools of his native country, but early he put aside his textbooks because of the financial condition of the family, it being necessary that he earn his own livelihood and also assist in the support of his brothers and sisters. Realizing that the business possibilities of the new world were greater than those afforded in Great Britain, he left home when twenty years of age and sailed across the broad Atlantic. Making his way to Chicago, he spent two years in that state, working for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. He next went to Minnesota, where his brother Edward resided, and there he made his home for several years, removing subsequently to Iowa, where he spent about five years, being employed on a farm in the latter state. The year 1884 witnessed his arrival in Decatur and his home was established in Yankton County.
In September of the same year, Mr. Owens was united in marriage to Miss Henrietta Kuhler, of Clay County, South Dakota, and a daughter of John William and Mary Catherine (Funke) Kuhler. They were natives of Germany and were married ere leaving the fatherland. Mr. Kuhler was a miller by trade and always followed that pursuit while in his native country. In the year 1849 he came with his family to the United States, settling in Iowa, where he secured a tract of land of one hundred and sixty acres. It is located in a pioneer district and he paid for it two thousand dollars. With characteristic energy he began its further development and improvement and continued to make it his home until his removal to Clay County, South Dakota. There he lived with his son, August, for two years, when he and his wife came to live with Mrs. Owens. His death occurred about eighteen years ago. His widow is also deceased. In the family of this worthy couple were nine children: August Kuhler, a brother of Mrs. Owens, is now living in LeMars, Iowa, having retired from active business life; another brother, William, is a retired farmer of Missouri; while a sister, Rosella, is the wife of August Hoppe, of Nebraska; and Julia is the wife of Peter Christina, of Iowa.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Owens has been blessed with but one child, William, who was educated in the public schools and is now assisting his father in the management of the home farm. He is an intelligent and industrious young man whose labors are of great benefit to his parents.
A short time after his marriage, Mr. Owens purchased two hundred and sixty acres of land, and since then purchased eighty acres more, which he has since engaged in cultivating and he now has a valuable property. About one-half of his land has been transformed into rich fields, planted to the cereals best adapted to the soil and climate, and he is also extensively engaged in the raising of stock. He is a man of resolute purpose and strong will and carries forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes, brooking no obstacles that can be overcome by earnest labor and perseverance. He and his family are devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal church, contributing generously to its support and doing everything in their power for its growth and upbuilding. He is, indeed, a very highly respected citizen, enjoying in unusual degree the trust and goodwill of his fellow men and his integrity stands as an unquestioned fact in his career. His word has always been as good as any bond solemnized by signature or seal and whatever Mr. Owens says can be depended upon.
Source: Robinson, Doane, History of South Dakota: together with mention of Citizens of South Dakota, [Logansport? IN] : B. F. Bowen, 1904.