Dr. D. W. Owens Biographical Review

DR. D. W. OWENS was born in Lewis county, Kentucky, August 16, 1845. His father, Lewis, was born in the same county, and his father, Aaron, was born in Fauquier county, Virginia, and removed from there to Kentucky when a young man. He settled in Lewis county, bought land, raised a family and spent the rest of his days there. The maiden name of his wife was Dorotha Hathaway. Lewis was reared on a farm, where he learned the trade of blacksmith which he continued in connection with his farming. He removed from Kentucky to Kansas in 1877, and settled in Labette county, dying there in 1881. His wife, Nancy Owens, was born in Mason county, Kentucky. Her father was born in Fauquier county, Virginia, and moved from there to Mason county, Kentucky. She removed with her husband to Lewis county, where she died in 1869. She reared eight children, of whom Dr. Owens was the seventh. He was raised in his native county, received his early education in the log schoolhouse, assisting his father on the farm until 1864. He enlisted in March of that year in Company K, Sixteenth Kentucky Federal Infantry, and joined the regiment at Louisville. He was with Sherman in the Atlanta campaign and participated in some of the battles en route to the seizure of that city. After that he was with Thomas in pursuit of Hood and fought in the battles of Columbia, Franklin and Nashville. In January, 1865, he took passage on a steamer bound for Cincinnati, and from thence to Washington, District of Columbia, from there to Alexandria, and on to Fort Fisher, North Carolina, and thence to Wilmington. The regiment participated in the capture of Fort Anderson, Town Creek and Wilmington, and then was marched to Goldsboro, where Sherman’s men soon joined them. After much marching and counter marching they were placed on garrison duty near Greensboro, and there remained until July, 1865, when they were mustered out of service, and discharged at Louisville, Kentucky, and Mr. Owens returned home in August. He commenced the study of medicine in 1863. After his return he continued it and also resumed farming, and in 1878 he graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Keokuk, Iowa, and commenced practice at Hersman, Illinois, where he has been in practice ever since. He united with the Regular Primitive Baptist Church in 1870, and was licensed to preach and was ordained to the ministry at Rock Creek Church, Hancock county, Illinois, in June, 1873, and that was his first pastorate. He remained there until 1878 when he came to Hersman and was associated with Elder James Harper in the pastorate at Mt. Gilead church, and when the elder died he succeeded him, and in addition to this has supplied the congregation at Camp Creek Church for the past eight years. He married in 1867, Nanna M. Boggs, daughter of Joseph and Rachel (Means) Boggs, of Lewis county, Kentucky. He is a member of the Alumni Association of the College of Physicians and Surgeons, of Keokuk, Iowa, and is at this time its first vice-president. He is also a member of the Board of Examining Surgeons of Mt. Sterling, Illinois. He is a very successful physician and a useful citizen. His influence for good is felt in the community.