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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Craighead County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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J. W. Owens, Jr., postmaster at Jonesboro, Ark., received his appointment in 1885, and has been a most courteous, obliging and efficient official. He was born in Rutherford County, Tenn., February 29, 1856, and is a son of J. W., Sr., and Frances H. (Tune) Owens, the father a native of Kentucky, and the mother of Virginia. They were married in Rutherford County, Tenn., where their parents had immigrated in an early day. J. W. Owens, Sr., a blacksmith by trade, came to Craighead County in 1870, and located in Jonesboro, where he followed his calling until 1874, when he went to Southern Illinois, where he died in 1879. The mother died in 1859. She was the mother of seven children, J. W. being the only one now living. The father had married three times. By his second wife he had one child, Robert H., and by his third marriage eight children, six living: Joseph E., George W., Lizzie, Jennie, Willie and Lura. J. W. Owens, Jr., came with his parents to Arkansas when thirteen years of age, and was reared partly in Tennessee and partly in this State, receiving his education in the county schools of the former and in the Jonesboro schools. Reared to farm life, he followed that occupation until 1881, and then entered the employ of J. B. Colt & Son, railroad contractors, and remained with them eighteen months. In October, 1883, he went into the Jonesboro post-office as assistant postmaster, where he remained in that capacity until he received his appointment as postmaster. May 20, 1885, he was united in marriage with Miss Nannie E. Hannah, a native of Craighead County, and their union has been blessed with two children, Mollie and Morris B. Mr. Owens is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and belongs to the K. and L. of H. He is energetic and industrious, enjoys an enviable popularity, and richly deserves the official favor accorded him.

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This family biography is one of 98 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Craighead County, Arkansas published in 1889.  View the complete description here: Craighead County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Craighead County, Arkansas family biographies here: Craighead County, Arkansas Biographies

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