James Clark Owens 2^nd

Snowflake, Navajo County Arizona, March 29, 1920

A short sketch of James Clark Owens 2^nd

He was the son of James Clark Owens 1^st, and Abagail Cordelia Burr. He was born July 7, 1832 in Independence, Kaw Township, Jackson County Missouri. His father was born the 7^th of July 1797. Died February 1847. He came from Canada to New York when a boy. He never knew any more of his people.

His mother Abagail C. Burr was the daughter of Horrace Burr and Concurrence Hungerford of Bloomington, Ohio. The 5^th generation from Benj Burr the founder of the Hartford branch.

James was baptized in 1843 by Abram Hansaker in Hancock Co. Illinois. He knew the Prophet Joseph Smith and loved him. He saw him play ball and wrestle with the boys. He also went to the jail with his mother to see Joseph and his brethren. She talked to them thru the bars of the prison. He was present at the Conference held in Nauvoo Aug 8^th, 1844, when Sidney Rigdon claimed to be the leader of the Church. When Brigham Young arose to speak the mantle of Joseph fell upon him. He appeared like the Prophet in gesture and spirit. He spoke with great power to the people.

James tho a boy said he knew Brother Brigham was the chosen one to lead the Church. He always defended the servants of God. In those days of mobbing, he saw hard times and knew what it was to go hungry. His father escaped several times form the mob. On one occasion where the mob was driving the saints they said to his father, "Owens we don’t want you to go. We want you to work for us." As he was a mason by trade. When James was 14 years old, his father started from Mt. Pisgah to Missouri in the winter 1846. He lost his way in a heavy snow storm, also lost his horse and froze. When found by some ranchers, he told them his name and where his family were and died.

James worked hard and for low wages to support his mother and sisters whit tow children who was a widow. He saved a little, got a outfit and in the spring of ‘52 they started for Utah in Capt. Hodges Company.

Several of the company died of cholera. James and Frank Hodges were generally called upont ot prepare the dead for burial. See to digging the graves. When he arrived in Utah he went to Provo and wintered. Provisions were hard and very little work, and the Indians bad. He was one of the minute men in Indian trouble. He was on guard with Wm. Maxwells company. When the Indians came upon them, they got in the Kane, none of them were shot. But Henry Tindell was out in the open. The Indians killed him and took his clothes. Then they fled. James was the first one to find Br. Tindell. He took off his under clothes and put on the dead man. Then they took him home to his family.

In the spring of 1853 James went to Fillmore. He went to quarrying rock for the State house there. he was called as a teacher in the ward.

James was one of the leading men to build up Fillmore City. As he was a mason and stone cutter by trade. His work can be seen on all sides of town. He served in the Walker and Black Hawk War a minute man always ready when called upon by those over him. He was Captain of Police. He held the office of Sheriff for years. He was also Captain of the Militia, also sexton.

He helped to build the first school house, also tannery, court house and State House. On January 14, 1856 he was called to Salt Lake to cut stone for the Temple. We started march 30 a distance of 150 miles with ox team in camp any with others. we arrived in Salt Lake the first of April, rented a room, was re-baptized to Conference and received our Endowments.

He then reported ready for work. He and others were sent out 12 miles to Big Cottonwood Canyon to cut stone. we all lived in tents till we had slab house put up by Wm. Calhoon and Henry Nisbit. They also built a Tithing Office, kept by Jacob Hutchins when the garden stuff grew. Bro Holliday brought in tithing so we fared better. In October 1859 he was released to go home. He was also called to work on the St George and Manti Temples. He joined the united order and worked at Black Smithing. In 1870 he was called again to cut stone for Salt Lake Temple. Also in 1877 he cut stone for Temple till President Young died. He did some of the west work, there in those arches over the doors and windows. He also attended the Dedication of the St George Temple and received blessings there in. By consent of President Taylor and a recommend from him. He moved his family to Arizona 1878. We camped at Show Low till spring then went to Bush Valley.

In September 1879 he and his sone J. C. Owens 3^rd came to Conference at Snowflake. President Woodruff called James to go to Woodruff on the Little Colorado, Apostle Erastus Snow set him apart as Bishop of Woodruff Ward. We arrived in Woodruff in December 3, 1879.

James and sons and others worked on the Dam for 4 years before the water came out to rise a spear of anything. High water would take out the dam. 7 times it went out before it was completed. Men working summer and winter only when they had to go and earn something to eat. In September 1893 James and family still unmarried (children) went to Utah, remained 4 years sending children to school. He working at Black Smithing. In October 1879 we went to Salt Lake Temple and done some work. In November he and family returned to his home in Arizona. When the railroad was being made he and sons labored on it. He always desired to do his duty. He was a kind husband and father. He died in full faith in the gospel. He died of heart failure Feb 1, 1901, at his home in Woodruff. Loved and respected by all who knew him. He was the father of 12 children.

Lucretia P. Robinson Owens, scribe

James C. Owens my husband

Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia
Volume 3 pg. 191
Biographies

Owens, James Clark, Bishop of the Woodruff Ward ( Snowflake Stake), Navajo county, Arizona, was born July 7, 1832, in Jackson county, Mo., the son of James Clark Owens and Abigail Cordelia Burr. With his parents he passed through the trials and drivings of the Saints, first in Missouri and afterwards in Illinois. He was baptized in 1843 in Hancock county, Ill., attended the conference at Nauvoo, Aug. 8, 1844, and remembered how Brigham Young was transformed in the eyes of the people. With his father's family he located temporarily at Mt. Pisgah, Iowa, at the time of the exodus in 1846. From this point his father started out in search of work, but was caught in a severe storm and badly frozen. He died from the effects of this exposure, leaving his widowed wife and children as follows: Horace Burr Owens, James Clark (the subject of this sketch), Amelia and Julia. The family crossed the plains in Captain Hodge's ox company, in 1853. Bro. Owens wintered at Provo, Utah county, and early in 1854 moved to Fillmore where he quarried rock for the State house. In January, 1856, he married Lucretia P. Robinson, and the following year cut stone for the Salt Lake Temple; he did the same labor also in 1870-77. He also worked as a stone mason on the St. George Temple in 1876; was ordained an Elder April 4, 1866, by Samuel L. Sprague; ordained a High Priest March 9, 1869, by Erastus Snow and served as a High Councilor; served as sheriff a number of years in Southern Utah and was captain in the militia during the Walker and Black Hawk wars. In November, 1878, he moved to Arizona and the following year was ordained a Bishop and set apart to preside over the Woodruff Ward by Wilford Woodruff. Together with other settlers who suffered the loss of their dams and crops for a number of years, he had to find employment on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad to earn bread for his family. After serving as Bishop at Woodruff about twelve years he removed to Fillmore, Utah, where he remained four years and then returned to Woodruff, Arizona, where he died of heart failure Feb. 1, 1901. Bishop Owens was the father of twelve children and was survived by his wife, Lucretia P. Robison Owens, daughter of Joseph Robison and Lucretia Hancock. The children are the following: James Clark (now Bishop of Showlow, Arizona), Marion Alfred, Clarence Edward, Zina, Franklin Horace, and Adelia.
 

From “Builders of Early Millard,” pp. 543, 544:

The Life of James Clark Owens
Written by Josie Owens Swallow, Granddaughter

James Clark Owens, son of James Clark Owens Sr. and Cordelia Abigail Burr Owens, was born July 7, 1832. He was the youngest in a family of five. Horace Burr, Cordelia Rebecca, Caroline Amelia, Julia Minerva, and James Clark Jr.

The saints were being driven from place to place at this time. When James was about six years old some of the children took refuge in “Haun's Mill” during a raid. Several were shot, but James escaped by hiding and remaining quiet. Hunger and violence were not strangers to James.

James was baptized by Abraham Hunsaker in 1843. He knew the Prophet Joseph and loved him. He went with his mother to visit the prophet while in prison. He was present at the conference of the Church after the Prophet's death Aug. 8, 1844. When Brigham Young arose to speak, the mantle of Joseph fell upon him and he was like the Prophet in voice, gesture and spirit. He spoke with great power to the people. Even as a boy James said he knew Brigham Young was the one to lead the church.

James' father was a stone mason by trade. Often working for 25 cents a day because he was a “Mormon.”
While James was 14 his father died of exposure during a severe snow storm while seeking work. For six years the family worked to get enough money to cross the plains. His two sisters lost their husbands and came home with their children. This made a family of 10 to be cared for. They arrived in Utah in 1852. They first went to Provo. The next spring they moved to Fillmore and as a stone mason was soon cutting and laying up stone for the State House and other buildings.

James married Lucretia Proctor Robison Jan. 16, 1856 in the new State House with Brigham Young officiating. The next year they were called to go to Salt Lake City and cut stone for the temple. There were 12 men and their families. They lived on tithing which sometimes were very scarce. By July a load of green garden products and fresh butter was brought to the hungry appreciative people.

James was at the celebration when word was received about Johnson's Army coming to Utah. He with the other stone masons, were called to prepare provisions and ammunition for thirty days and then register as “Minute Men.” They did as bidden, but each of the three times they were called they were released to continue cutting stone.
James worked on both the St. George and the Manti temple. He always responded to any and every call made of him. In 1878 he was called to go to Arizona and settle. They made several moves and in 1879 President Woodruff called James and his family to go to Woodruff, Arizona to oversee the construction of a dam across the Little Colorado River at that point.

For four long years the men labored before they finally had a successful dam and water available for their crops. Seven families were living at Woodruff in very difficult condition. He worked in that area for 13 more years and then moved back to Fillmore where they lived for four years before going back to Woodruff, Arizona where he died February 1, 1901.

His friends recall with pleasure, his sincere hospitality and his willingness to give food and lodging to friends and strangers. His home was a rendezvous for all church authorities and his table, though at times almost bare, was set for anyone who came.

He had been a good father and comrade to his children. He and Lucretia had, had twelve children in all.