Tehama County
Biographies
RICHARD OWENS
RICHARD OWENS, a successful citizen and rancher of Tehama County, is a native of Wales, born October 8, 1836, the son of William and Ellen (Williams) Owens, both natives of the same county. They were the parents of five children, four of whom are now living. Mr. Owens, our subject, came to America in 1857, when twenty-one years of age, and worked in the State of Wisconsin for two years. In 1859 he came to Tehama County, where he has improved his fine ranch and since resided. He purchased 400 acres first, then took the homestead, in 1866, and later 285 acres was purchased, and he now has 1,085 acres of choice fruit land, with a nice dwelling-house and good farm buildings. Their home is surrounded with flowers and shrubs. He built his present residence in 1872.
In 1865 he was married to Miss Ellen Jones, a native of his own country. Their union has been blessed with four children, all born at their home and all living except one. Their names are: Mary Jane, Richard Roy and Vera Edna. The one they lost, their eldest, Maggie Ellen, died at the age of two years.
Mr. Owens is raising on his ranch hay, grain and stock. He has sown as high as 400 acres in a single year, and he has harvested 6,666 bushels in a year. He is breeding improved Clydesdale horses and Durham cattle. Mr. Owens purchased a portion of his place from a man who camped on it under a tree, and was there shot by Indians. The early days of troubled and danger have passed away, and the residence with its flowers and well-tilled fields and fine stock take the place of the rude life of the past. Mr. Owens now goes over his ranch on a swift gray horse, without danger from the Indians. He is a Republican in his political views, and is now one of the substantial farmers of that section.
Memorial and Biographical History of Northern California, Lewis Publishing Co., 1891
Transcribed by: Betty Wilson August 2004