My Genealogy Hound

E. J. Owens, recognized as among the prominent business men of Little Rock, was born in the Emerald Isle, his birth occurring in Moagham County, in 1841. At the age of thirteen he began to learn the tailor’s trade from his father, who was a boss tailor. After completing that calling he worked in various places, among them being Glasgow, Scotland, and in 1863, turned his face toward the land of the free. Here he was employed in large establishments in Philadelphia and New York, and in 1864 accepted a position as first cutter in an extensive house in Pottstown, Penn. After returning to Philadelphia (where he remained for a few months) he went to the oil regions, and during the seven months with that firm he built up their trade about three times larger. At this successful point of his career his health failing him, necessitating an immediate change of climate, he went to Hot Springs, where a great improvement followed, and after a short stay he again embarked in the mercantile business, which proved very successful. Following a residence in Hot Springs for nineteen months, Mr. Owens came to Little Rock in 1871, and the trade that he has, by his own exertions, built up to its present dimensions, is indeed encouraging. In fact the establishment is second to none in the city; from 1873 to 1881 he employed more men in his business than any one house of a similar nature in the State. In 1877 Mr. Owens was married to Miss Margurete O’Connor, and to this union four children have been born, three now living: Mary E. (one of the best musicians and scholars of her age in the school of the city), Catherine M., Margurete and Edward Francis (who died when quite young). Mr. and Mrs. Owens are devout members of the Catholic Church, and are all to the front in giving their aid to worthy enterprises. Mr. Owens is an original thinker, and in his political views, though formerly a stanch Democrat, since the Union Labor party came into existence, he has supported the principles of that party. In 1888 he was elected and seated as a member of the State legislature.