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Abraham Owen
Iowa County
Born in Rutland county, Vermont, October 27,1817. When he attained his fifteenth year he went to Massachusetts, where he engaged in the carpenter and mill-wright business. This he followed for two years, and then went to Mississippi, where he engaged in contracting cotton-gins and presses. He followed that occupation for four years and then came to this State, June 12, 1838, settling in Washington county, near the mouth of English River. There be built a saw mill in company with Mr. Haskenn, which business he followed for about two years, sold out his share to Mr. McClure and then went to Iowa City, where he engaged in carpentering. He helped to build the first frame house in Iowa. City. He was one of the company that were appointed in 1841 to explore the Iowa, Cedar and the Des Moines rivers down to the Indian agency. He then engaged in trapping and hunting. He went to California in 1849, leaving Iowa City March 31, 1849, and arrived in California October, 1849, on the Feather River upper mines, there he engaged in mining, which occupation he followed tor two years, he then engaged in the lumber business, which be continued until 1855, when he returned to Iowa City and the following spring, 1856, came to North English. He was married October 27, 1856, to Miss Cyuna Ford, a native of Virginia. Mr. Owen was elected representative from Iowa County 1888, and served his county faithfully in the legislature as well as in nearly all the minor offices with the gift of the people of his township.
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