Meredith William OWEN (47) was born on Jun 3 1810 in Newberry Co., S.Carolina. (44)
He Deeded in 1833 in Franklin Co. Alabama. Inheritance from Father's estate: 6 South-12 West- Huntsville Meridian Alabama. W1/2 of SW1/4 80 .30 acres.12 Aug. 1833 Certificate # 6285 Meredith W. Owens BLM - All SE1/4 Benjamin Clements (Tennessee) 1818.p112.
He was living between 1834 and 1848 in Eutaw, Green County, Alabama. (45) He was living in 1847/48 in Madison Co. Miss.. The family moved from Alabama to Mississippi between 1847 and Aug. 1848.
He Deeded on Aug 10 1848 in Madison Co. Miss.. (48) M.W. Owen purchaces land from Samuel D. Hill in Canton, Madison Co. Miss., 367 acres, $540. (MCDB-N p.90-91)
He appeared on the census in 1850 in Canton, Madison, Miss.. (49) William Owens 40 years, male, planter with $900 real estate value, born in Alabama. Wife Dianna 35 years, born in Alabama. Children: (1) Elizabeth, 15 yrs., born Ala. (2) Stephen, 13 yrs., born Alabama ( 3) John W. , 11 yrs. born Alabama (4) Piess, 9 , Ala.(5) Mary 3 , Ala. (6) Eugene, 6mo. Alabama.(p.179)
He appeared on the census in 1860 in Madison Co. Miss.. (50) M. W. Owen 50 yrs. Planter : Real Estate valued at $5,200. Personal Estate Valued at $17,000. Born in S. Carolina. Wife , D.L. 46 yrs., born in Tenn. Children: (1) Jno. W. 21, Ala. (2) Elizabeth 20, Ala. (3) Emma,17, Ala. (4) Eugene, 14, Ala. (5) Mary, 11,Ala. (6)W.B. 8, Miss. (7) Walter, 5, Miss. Incretia E. Sadler, 56 yrs., female is living with them. She lists Real Estate Value of $800, and Personal Estate of $5000, She is born in S. Carolina. (p.54)
He Deeded on Aug 12 1865 in Madison Co. Miss.. (51) 12 Aug. 1865 , M W Owen deeds land to Stephen A. Owen,(Book-Q, p.8)
He Deeded on Sep 17 1866 in Madison Co. Miss.. (52) M. W. Owen deeds land to Eugene B.Owen. (MCDB-Q, p. 481)
He died in 1870 in Canton, Madison, Miss..(45) He was buried in 1870 in Canton, Madison, Miss.. (45) "10 Miles South of Canton, Miss." He appeared on the census in 1870 in Madison Co. Miss..(53) William Owen is 65 Yrs. occupation is farming, real estate valued at $3200 personal estate valued at $1000. He is born in S. Carolina. Wife, Dianna is 50 yrs., keeping house, born in Ala. Daugher, Elizabeth Barksdale is living with them. she has a personal estate of $300 and is born in Alabama. Emma -23yr,Mary-21yrs, James-18yrs-farming-born in Miss. Granddaughter, Birdie is 6yrs. William Stewart,12yrs - Jefferson Webb, 8yrs- Coree Dunnagee ,8yrs are also residing with them. (p.21-22)
He was named after Dr. Meredith William Moon. (54) According to Anna Sweets letters most of Lucy and David's children were named after the doctors who delivered them. Dr. Meredith Moon was from Scotland and came to this country in the year 1790. He was a man with a high education. He had a large practice some times extending as far as ninty miles from his home. He lived in the Chapell's Ferry neighborhood. He was also a Methodist preacher and his language was said to have an especially Scotch broque. He lived to be a very old man.
Dianna L. Monnett and Meredith William OWEN had the following children:
+19 i.
Rachael Anna Elizabeth Owens.
+20 ii.
Stephen Augustus Owen.
21 iii.
John William Benjamin Owens was born on Mar 19 1840 in Greene Co. , Alabama.
(55) He died in Richmond, Va..
(45)(56) "Died next day
after charge at 'Malvern Hill', shot in the left side."
"John Wm. Owen, brother of Stephen, was born in Green Co. Ala. Was 19 years old when he enlisted in " Madison Guards", at Canton, Madison Co. Miss. which became Co. G 21st Miss. Infantry. after serving one year, he sickened and died in "Camp Winder" hospital, Richmand, Va. and his remains were interred by his brother Eugene, in Hollywood Cemetery".
22 iv.
Piess? Owens was born in 1841 in Alabama.
+23 v.
Martha "Emma" Emily Lucretia E. Owens.
24 vi.
Eugene Boliver Owens was born on Feb 17 1845 in Greene Co. , Alabama.
(57) He served in the military in 1861 in
Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee. Eugene and his brother
Stephen served in the same company, Harvey's Scouts.
Author Dunbar Rowland in his book Military History of Mississippi 1803-1898 describes the activity of the "Scouts". " Harvey's Scouts were organized as a detachment of men detailed from Wood's and Starke's Regiment of Wirt Adams' Cavalry, under the command of Lieutenant Harvey of Wood's Regiment. Its subsequent organization as an independent company of scouts, attached to Gen. W.H. Jackson's Division, took place at Cave Springs, Ga., June 1, 1864. Before organizing as a company its service was confined to Mississippi, scouting on the Mississippi River between Vicksburg and Natchez, and following Sherman's raid to Meridian and back. Upon the transfer of General Jackson's Cavalry from Mississippi to Georgia, Harvey accompanied Jackson, and on arriving at Cave Springs was promoted Captain and permitted to increase his command by receiving enlistments to a full company. It had been composed of about forty detailed men. From this time until surrender, with varied fortunes the scouts watched the movements of the enemy around Atlanta, followed raids and made dashes on the railroad between Chattanooga and Atlanta, went into Tennessee with General Hood, returned to take part with General Forrest against the Wilson raid through Alabama, following the enemy to Columbus, Ga., where Captain Harvey was basely assassinated by a citizen of that place, and finally ceased the struggle upon the surrender of General Taylor.
In his report of the Meridian campaign, Gen. W. H. Jackson wrote; ' I beg leave to call the attention of Major-General Lee to the part performed by Lieutenant Harvey and his gallant band of forth scouts. He was everywhere doing good service; killed and captured of the enemy four times his own number.'
Harvey's command of twenty-three men was the only part of the Confederate Cavalry Corps that remained about Meridian while Sherman was destroying the military depots and railroads, and also alone attended the Federal army to Canton. He reported that his men occasioned a Union loss of about 130 killed and captured, and captured two wagons and forty seven horses and mules.
Report of General McCook, Union army, June 26, 1864; 'These men in the rear who have been doing the mischief near Tilton's belong to this division (Jackson's). They call them Harvey's Scouts.'
In a letter from Eugene's' 1st cousin, Augustus David Sadler. Augustus David writes to Thomas McAdory Owen about the Civil War record of Eugene, and his two brothers John William and Stephen.
"Chappell Hill, Tex.
8-26-1908
Dear Cousin Thos:
Complying with your latest request, we have written to our daughter. Mrs. H.K. Jones, at Aberdeen, Miss., requesting her to have a photo made, and forward same to you as early as possible.
We had not heard of the death of cousin Chanbers, and thank you for the information, as well as for other items concerning the kindred.
In the extinction of the Jas. McAdory issue, my name as well as that of our Uncle Thos Owen; we are still feeling the effects of the disastrous War between the States.
It has been left for the daughters of very many of our old Southern families to perpetuate the race and the name dies, as did the Confederacy.
Of my own family, only I have given male issue of the name and neither of my two sons have living children. My father and mother reared 3 sons and 7 daughters.
In your "Owen Book" are you following the Owen-Sadler families or Sadler name?
My Uncles William and Joseph and Allious Sadler, as well as my father married Owen daughters,
Have you the record of the Wm. Owen family? He was brother of my Mother and reared a large family.
Three of his sons served gallantly in the Confederate Army: two of them in the same company I was a member of. These three boys were native Alabamians and "Owen" byname and I hope you will carry their names into your book.
Stephen Augustus Owen, eldest son of M.W. Owen was born in Green Co., Ala. was living with his father on a plantation in Madison Co. Miss. in 1861 and enlisted in Capt. Ad. Harvey's Company of Cavalry attached to Gen. Wirt Adams Brigade, and known as "Harvey's Scouts".
He was known as one of Capt. Harveys most dauntless and skillful scouts, and after passing through an hundred combats and hair breadth escapes he survived the war, married, and died at Delhi, La.
John Wm. Owen, brother of Stephen, was born in Green Co. Ala. Was 19 years old when he enlisted in " Madison Guards", at Canton, Madison Co. Miss. which became Co. G 21st Miss. Infantry. after serving one year, he sickened and died in "Camp Winder" hospital, Richmand, Va. and his remains were interred by his brother Eugene, in Hollywood Cemetery.
Eugene Bollivar Owen brother of Stephen and John, was born in Green County, Ala. and enlisted with his brother John in the "Madison Guards", at the beginning of the War, aged 16 years.
Eugene served gallantly in Co. G 21 Miss. Regt. until after the battle before Richmond 1862 and the death of his brother John, when availing himself of his "underage" privilege he transfered from the infantry service in the Army of Northern Virginia, to Capt. ...Harvey's Calvalry Scouts, attached to Genl. Adam's Brigade Calvary in Genl. Bragg's Army.
When Genl. Sherman had advanced within 40 miles of Atlanta, Ga. Capt Harvey was ordered to gain the rear of Sherman's Army and remain there to capture dispatches, obtain information, and obstruct commumication of the Federals, as opportunity offered.
Harvey was soon inside the Federal lines, where it meant death to be captured, and thousands of Federal Cavalry were in pursuit of him.
To elude pursuit, Harvey would, when too hard pressed, break his company into "fours" and scatter them through the mountains and by roads of North Georgia, with instructions to meet at a designated rendezvous at an appointed time.
It was on such an occasion when the "four" to which Eugene belonged, which was in Charge of George Harvey, a younger brother of the Capt. was first to reach the appointed rendezvous, which was a farmhouse on a public road with a running creek, rock-bottomed and its banks thick set with mountain laurel less than a quarter of a mile in the rear of the house and garden.
On arriving at the rendezvous. Geo. Harvey had his "four" to feed their horses back of the garden and near this creek and entering the house told two of the men to lay down on a bed in a room placed at his disposal while, he and Eugene Owen "keep watch" until others of the Company came up.
Harvey and Owen took off their arms, Carbines and pistols, and placed them on another bed in the room,and seated themselves on the front gallery to "watch".
It was growing late in the afternoon, when they observed the dust rising on the road that ran in front of the house; and Harvey remarked "there comes the boys now; lets go to the gate and hear the news". And he and Owen sautered out to the gate, unarmed. The dust was heavy and objects could not be discerned until the troop was near by, when two calavry men broke into view, in full Federal uniform. Yanks! cried Owen and Harvey as they ran for the house to secure their arms and wake their comrades who were sleeping soundly.
But the "Yanks" knew their men and putting spurs to their horses they came over the fence at full gallop and jumped from their horses to the gallery at the same instant that Owen and Harvey were entering the room door.
Owen was in front and laid his hand on his carbine when the Yankee Lient. thrust his revolver in his face and commanded "lay that gun down"! The second yank had thrown himself in front of Harvey commanding him to "stand still"! Holding his cocked revolver on him. The other two of Harveys "four" still snored, sound asleep.
The Yankee Sergt., seeing that Eugene Owen still held his gun with one hand, as he leaned over the bed called to him to "hand me that gun"! When Harvey saw the Sergts. eye leave him for an instant he threw his arms about him, grasping his pistol and called "Eugene Kill Him"!
Eugene jerked his gun up, and at the same instant received a bullet from the Lieutenants revolver that entered the center of his chest, passed through his lungs and out near his spine.
The blood gushed from his mouth but he still had courage, nerve and strength to seize the Lients. pisstol and hold it off of himself while he fired his Carbine, as the Lient. seized the muzzle and held it away from his body.
The two sleeping scouts, were waked by the shots, shouts and imprecations of the four strugling combatants, the room full of smoke, and dazed, they bolted out of the house, gained their horses and fled, to tell that they had excaped from a house full of yanks who had killed or captured Harvey and Owen.
Eugene, with a trememdous and as he believed dying effort jerked his carbine loose from the Lieuts. hold, just as Harvey wrenched the revolver from the Sergts. hand and as the Lients pistol was clogged and would not work both the Yanks broke for the door.
Eugene fired, killing the Lient. dead in his tracks, while Harvey pursued his Sergt. firing as he ran.
Gaining the gallery and seeing the Federal Regt. close by Harvey helped Owen to their horses, back of the garden, and seeing he was too weak to ride alone, placed him on his own horse, jumped up behind him, and putting spurs to the horse, rushed down to the creek, turned down the bed of the stream til he heard the clatter of the persueing Federals, when he helped Eugene under the overhanging boughs of thick laurel, at the waters edge, and himself made off, up the mountain side. Eugene lay still and bled while he could hear the Yanks scouring the woodws up and down the creek, telling of the "signs of blood"m they could trace to the creek and no further.
Then when night came on he rolled over to the waters edge and slaked his raging thirst; and .....from the loss of blood, he slept.
Capt. Harvey was close by and watched the Federal Command while they buried the Lient . Eugene had killed, and eary the next morning moved away in search of "Harvey's Scouts". Then George Harvey pilated Stephen Owen to where Eugene lay and they made a litter and ......him away to a good old Confederate's home near Cave Springs where he was secretly nursed and cared for until he was able to be carried home.
His lungs were never strong and as the result of a severe cold that settled on his lungs he died in Galveston, Tex. in 1874.
I have never written of this incident of Eugene Owen before and do not know of anyone else having done so. I write it from memory as Eugene related it to me 40 years and more ago.
As an illustration of dauntless courage. I know of nothing that is superior to it, and believe that every "Owen" should know that they had such a kinsman.
If you should desire to know more particularly of the descendants of M.W. Owen write to his widowed daughter Mrs. Emma Owen Davis, Delhi, La.
I will be glad to secure a copy of your book and pay cost of same.
With love and best wishes,
Augustus David Sadler" He died in 1874 in Galveston Bay, Tx.. (58)(45) "Shot through lungs at Cave Springs, Ga. 1864 - invalid 6 years - died after spitting up both lungs". He signed a will on Dec 27 1874 in Madison Co. Miss.. (59) The Last Will and Testament of Eugene B. Owen, decd.
I Eugene B. Owen of the County of Madison and State of Mississippi being feeble in body, but of sound and disposing mind and memory do make and publish this my last Will and Testament:
Item. first: I will and bequeat to my Sister Mrs. A. E. Barksdale and to her daughter Miss. Birdie Barksdale and to my sister Miss. Emma Owen my ...Estate described as follows....(land) two horses, mules, one a sorrell and the other a black, also all the (cannot read exact wording) ...property , or property in which I have interest at the time of my death.
Item: second: Property is to be divided into 1/3's.
Codicil - Filed Dec. 22nd. 1874.
I, E.B. Owen of the State of Mississippi...make and publish this as a codicil to my last will and testament. It is my wish, to prevent confusion and missunderstanding in the disposition and settlement of my affairs after my decease to better provide ..Mrs A.E. Barksdale(my sister) who has been too closely confined near me in her voluntary capacity as nurse to have the opportunity of personally enjoying herself as the other members of my family have for other efficient, valuable and satisfactory considerations- that the said Anne E Barksdale be and I hereby constitute and approve her executrix of my last will and testament without requiring her to give bond and security for the performance of said Office of Executrix, and I desire and empower her to take immediate control and charge of all my goods, chattels, and property of whatsoever kind both real and personal and of everything held in my name or by me and of which I may die seized or possessed to hold and use the same until disposed of according to the letter spirit of my will or until some satisfactory arrangement or agreement is made with Miss. Emma L. Owen regarding the disposition settlement of the affairs of my estate, the Emma L. Owen being one of the divisees of my Last Will and Testament. Mrs Anne E. Barksdade is also authorized and....to collect all debts, rents or accounts due me or any manner from me by James B. Owen otherwise to keep and appropriate the same is or may be a grown on a patch or piece of ground called Eugene Owens patch or my such patch or piece of ground that may be worked in my name or farmed or by my directions as all parts due to those sowed made agreement with Mrs. D.L. Owen, said agreement being that each of us (Mrs. D.L. Owen and I) should have one half after she had paid for the seed and I had had them planted. and also my undivided one half acre or more or less of oats.... by Mr. E. C. Frost as per agreement of........,.......,....., what is now called the " Farmer Spring" alton which said approprations to her unuse of accounts and oats to the said Anne E. Barksdale is to dispose of. settle my estate and affairs according to my original will as originally drawn up bearing date as signed by Eugene B. Owen and certified to by three witnesses to wit: Dickson, L.D. Brown, and J.DD.Dickerson, on the third day of September A.D. 1872 and also.... in this codicil to by Last Will and Testament which codicil I have written in my name this first day of April A.D. one thousand eight hundred seventy three. The will was filed for Probate Dec. 22, 1874.
+25 vii.
Mary Abi Owen.
+26 viii.
James Henry Bascom Owens.
27 ix.
L.E.M.D.M.C.(Ella D.) OWEN was born on Jan 26 1854 in Madison Co. Miss..
(60) She died on Sep 20 1858 in Buried at
Pearl River Cemetery, 9 mi. east of Canton, Miss..
(61)
28 x.
David Walter Montgomery Owens was born on Jan 4 1856 in Canton, Madison,
Miss..(62) He died "when quite young"
in Canton, Madison, Miss..(45)
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