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Historical records matching James Thomas Owens, Sr.
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About James Thomas Owens, Sr.
From the Graham Guardian Newspaper dated April 4, 1922, Page 1: The people of Safford and the valley were greatly shocked Saturday morning when it was learned that our esteemed and respected citizen, James T. Owens, had died early that morning. While it was known that Mr. Owens had been in poor health for more than a year, his death at this time was unexpected by his friends, as it was only the day before that he was attending to his many business interests and talking with his friends whom he met on the streets. Death was due to heart failure, the attack coming on about two o'clock Saturday morning. Medical help was summoned immediately, but despite every effort to prolong his life, the end came about thirty minutes after two o'clock.
At the bedside at the time the end came were his wife, his two daughters, Mrs. Ella Madsen, and Mrs. Viola Fuller, his son Beauregard, Mr. Madsen, Mr. Fuller, and his step-daughter, Miss Edna Marriam, and several neighbors. His two sons, Oance and J.T., who live on farms east of town, were summoned but did not reach the home in time to see their father before he passed away. A message was immediately sent to the other daughter, Mrs. Cora Jacobson, who lives in San Francisco, and she arrived on the Apache Monday morning.
Funeral services were held in the Layton church at 2:00 o'clock yesterday afternoon and were attended by one of the largest congregations ever assembled on an occasion of this kind. The house was beautifully decorated with white bunting and flowers and the casket was covered by many lovely floral offerings sent by friends and relatives of the deceased. It is regretted by the family that the beautiful flowers sent by A.H. Ferrin of Tucson did not arrive until the evening train. Later they were taken to the cemetery and placed upon the grave.
The services were conducted by Bishop Greenhalgh and consisted of the following program: Song by the choir, "O My father," Prayer, Bishop J.R. Welker. Song by the choir, "Sometime we'll Understand." Bishop Greenhalgh then spoke on the earlier life of the deceased and told of his enterprise and ability in the business world and how he had helped to make this valley what it is today.
Professor H.L. Payne, By Smith, Mrs. C.D. Wlker, and Mrs. Amos Cook sang the beautiful song "Jesus, Lover of My Soul," which was followed by a brief talk by L.M. Ferguson who spoke on the subject of the "preexistence and our mission in this life." "My Redeemer," was the next song and was rendered by Mrs. C.D. Welker. The next speaker was R.G. Layton of Thatcher, who told of the early life of Mr. Owens and the many pleasant dealings he had with him.
Professor H.L. Payne made the closing remarks and spoke briefly of how we should look for and praie the good qualities of each other, rather than disagreeable ones. The choir sang, "Mid Scenes of Confusion," and the services were closed with the benediction of President C.M. Layton. The remains were taken to the Union cemetery for burial and the dedication of the grave was made by William Ellsworth.
James T. Owens was born on his father's farm in Alabama, August 2, 1854, and died in Safford, Arizona, April 1, 1922, at the age of 68 years. When 24 years of age, Mr. Owens left his home in Alabama and went to Kansas, later going to Mississippi, where he lived for about a year, returning again to his Alabama home. In 1886 he decided to try his fortune in the far west and came to Arizona, landing at Bowie. From Bowie he went to Thatcher, where he secured work and later went into the mercantile business, and from that time until a year or two ago, he was actively engaged in business in Safford, and at the time of his death was associated with S.A. Sowell in the hay and grain business and was also a part owner in the Safford Water Company. At one time he owned and conducted the Hotel Olive, selling the business about two years ago to Ted Waughtel.
During the years of 1919 and 1920 he was a member of the board of supervisors of Graham county and he gave to the affairs of the county the same care and attention that he gave to his own personal business enterprises and made a faithful and conscientious officer.
Before coming to Arizona, Mr. Owens was married to Miss Lona Ragsdale at Springerville in 1879 and to this union eight children were born, six of whom are living. They are Mrs. Ella Madsen, Mrs. Cora Jacobson, Mrs. Viola Fuller, Oance, J.T. and Beauregard. About ten years ago Mrs. Owens died and on September 9, 1915, Mr. Owens was married to Mrs. Hattie Marriam of this place, who survives him.
Besides being a successful business man of Safford, Mr. Owens was a loyal and consistent member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was for several years a member of the board of education of the St. Joseph Stake Academy at Thatcher, Arizona.
The following is from Find A Grave.com:
Traveled to Safford, Arizona, by covered wagon from St. Clair County, Alabama, after marrying Clarisa Atha (Lonie) Ragsdale on January 30, 1879. They were one of Safford's pioneer families who helped make the city and county become what it is today. He acquired property and became a community builder of stores, mills, hotels and farms. He was mayor of Safford from 1920 to 1922. His picture hangs in the Graham County Courthouse with former mayors of the city. He and his wife became converts in the Church of the Latter-day Saints. They had 13 children. The youngest, Beauregard, is my grandfather, who died in 1968 in San Francisco. James T. Owens died of a stroke in 1922 at the age of sixty-seven. He and his wife are buried in the Family Plot in the Safford Cemetery.
Spouse:
Clarisa (Lonie) Atha Ragsdale Owens (1860 - 1913)
Children:
Mary Ella Owens Madsen (1879 - 1949)
James A. Owens (1885 - 1887)
Dora Anna Owens (1887 - 1903)
Charles Marion Owens (1889 - 1890)
John Alfred Owens (1890 - 1892)
Jennie Della Owens Ferrin (1892 - 1919)
Created by: Ken Owens
Record added: Jan 11, 2005
Find A Grave Memorial# 10303277
- Reference: FamilySearch Family Tree - SmartCopy: Jul 21 2021, 23:13:09 UTC
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James Thomas Owens, Sr.'s Timeline
| 1854 |
August 2, 1854
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Branchville, St. Clair County, Alabama, United States
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| 1879 |
December 22, 1879
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Branchville, St. Clair, Alabama, United States
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| 1881 |
August 22, 1881
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Branchville, St. Clair, Alabama, United States
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| 1882 |
November 16, 1882
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Springville, St. Clair, Alabama, United States
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| 1885 |
March 2, 1885
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Springville, St. Clair, Alabana, United States
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| 1887 |
February 6, 1887
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Branchville, St. Clair, Alabama, United States, Springville, St. Clair, Alabama, United States
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| 1889 |
September 22, 1889
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Safford, Graham, Arizona, United States
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| 1890 |
November 7, 1890
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Safford, Graham, Arizona, United States
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| 1892 |
September 18, 1892
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Safford, Graham, Arizona, United States
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