BIOGRAPHY OF PRESTON OWEN
This biographical sketch of Preston Owen
appeared in A Memorial and Biographical History of Navarro,
Henderson, Anderson, Limestone, Freestone and Leon
Counties, Texas (1893).* Bracketed matter has been added.
PRESTON OWEN, a successful business man of Navarro county [Texas], was born in Montgomery county, Texas, in 1844, a son of Nelson Owen, a native of Louisiana, born in 1812. The latter grew to manhood in his native State, afterward engaged in freighting and farming in Harris county, Texas, later moved to Montgomery county, and in 1852 came to Navarro county, where he died in 1879. He was a man of limited education, but acquired an extensive general knowledge, was universally recognized as a man of sound judgment,and was a devoted member and Steward of the Methodist Church. His parents, Samuel and Hettie (Prather) Owen, were natives of Kentucky. Our subject's mother (nee J. White) was born in Louisiana, a daughter of Solomon and Mary White. Mr. and Mrs. Owen were married in Louisiana, in 1835, and were the parents of nine children, viz.: Jesse, deceased; Eliza, deceased, was the wife of William Nobles, of Navarro county; Preston, our subject; the fourth child died in infancy; Martha, deceased, was the wife of J. L. Gage, of this county; Nelson and Valentine, died in infancy.
Preston Owen came with his parents to Navarro county in 1852, and his early life was spent in attending school and stock-raising. From 1862 to 1864 he was engaged in furnishing beef to the Confederate army, after which he enlisted in Company A, under Captain Warren, and in Johnson's battalion. The command disbanded at Houston, and our subject then returned home and began farming on leased land. The following year he bought land where he now lives, and in 1883 came to his present home. Mr. Owen began life for himself at the age of nineteen years, with comparatively nothing, but has since inherited $3,000, owns 2,000 acres of land, 350 acres under cultivation, 60 head of cattle and 150 head of horses. Socially, he is Secretary of the Masonic order, and is also a member of the I. O. O. F.
In 1872 he was united in marriage with Anna Fortson, a native of Mississippi and a daughter of Ben Fortson, also a native of that State. Mrs. Owen came with her parents toTexas, locating near Chatfield. Our subject and wife have had four children: Minnie Lee, a student of the female college at Waco; Loyd Nelson and William, deceased; and Pearl, at home. The family are members of the Methodist Church, of which Mr. Owen has been Steward for many years.
*A Memorial and Biographical History of Navarro, Henderson, Anderson, Limestone, Freestone and Leon Counties, Texas (Chicago, Ill.: Lewis Pub. Co., 1893), pp. 762-63, online here.