Owen was born in County
Tyrone. His death certificate cites his birth as 1846 but
a 1880 census states his age as 32 making his birth year
closer to 1848. "Tyrone" actually means "land
of Owen".
I do not know the exact date of Owens arrival in America
but we know Owen and Mary Jane were Married in County
Tyrone and from the 1880 census we learn their first born
(James) was 12 years old and born in Ireland. We also
learn that in 1880, their second son (Edward) was 11
years old but was born in Rensselaer, N.Y . |
This would make James'
birth year around 1868 and Edward's 1869. So we can
conclude that they probably emigrated between 1867 and
1870. We do know that Owen was in America before his
younger brother Patrick arrived in circa 1874 and Owen's
wife, Mary Jane was the sister of Patrick's, emigrating
companion, Jim Crowe
Owen lived in Rensselaer, New York for ten years before
moving his family to Chicago. He died in August of 1890
of typhoid within days of his thirteenth child's birth.
His body was sent to DeKalb County, Illinois where he was
buried by His younger brothers Patrick and Hugh in St.
Mary's Cemetery |
