Owen Walker Arvin

Owen Walker Arvin married Malinda Jane (Kelley) on 2 Dec 1875 in Estill Co., KY. He was the son of William Arvin, 1815-1868, and Sallie Ann (Oldham) 1823or6-1864. She was the daughter of Josiah Kelley, 1830-1910, and Susan (Park) 1831-1907.

Obituary in the Irvine Times;
Owen Walker Arvin, age 76 near Station Camp Post Office, born Sept 30, 1856, died. He leaves three sons, Alvin Arvin of Alumbaught, William J. Arvin of Indiana and John M. of Leroy, IL. Four daughters, Mrs. R.C. Flynn of South Irvine, Mrs. William Maupin of Richmond, Mrs. R.J.Wagers of West Irvine and Mrs. E.C. Broughton of Richmond. Two brothers, A.J and W.J. Arvin of Cottonwood, TX. A sister, Mrs. Nannie Million of Richmond, also his wife, Mrs. Malinda J. Kelly Arvin, who died Sept 5, 1910.

Family story about Owen Walker Arvin, told by his daughter Mollie Franklin (Arvin) Flynn and written down by his granddaughter Sue Helen Flynn:

When Owen Walker Arvin was a very small toddler, Aunt Vine, the black cook, had given him a bath and then gave him a baked sweet potato to eat in order to keep him quiet while he dried off. While eating it, he sneaked out of the house and went walking down the road, across the creek, up the "wondrously dusty" lane, past Newton's Store, then up another dusty lane to the Station Camp Christian Church. He marched determinedly into the church, naked as a J-bird, and into the pew where his parents sat listening to the sermon. It was said that his mother (Sallie Ann (Oldham)) nonchalantly took him on her lap, wrapped him up with her "Sunday-best" black skirt and continued listening to the preacher without missing a word the preacher said.

Also, about 1868 or 1869 when Owen Walker Arvin was about twelve years old, after his parents had died, he went to live with an aunt in Madison County and attended school at Viney Fork Baptist Church in Madison County, KY.

When Owen Walker Arvin was an old man, his favorite horse was named 'Old Red' and he used to ride him holding his young granddaughter (Sue Helen Flynn), which she enjoyed immensely. Because of this, a couple of days after he had died, his young granddaughter asked her mother (Mollie Franklin (Arvin) Flynn) 'whether Grandpa would be going to Heaven riding Old Red'.