Shaver, F. A., Arthur P. Rose, R. F. Steele, and A. E. Adams, compilers.  "An
Illustrated History of Central Oregon." ("Embracing Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam,
Wheeler, Crook, Lake, & Klamath Counties")  Spokane, WA: Western Historical
Publishing Co., 1905.  p. 668.
 
GEORGE V. OWENS

     who, resides two miles east of Antone and devotes his attention to mining
and stock raising, was born in Stockholm, Sweden, on May 6, 1829. When fifteen
years of age, after completing his early educational training, he shipped under
the Swedish flag as a sailor. He continued thus until 1847, then was a sailor
under the Norwegian flag.  After that we find him again on a Swedish vessel for
a short time and in 1851 he went aboard a German ship and later shipped on an
American vessel. In Liverpool he left this vessel and sailed under the Union
Jack for British Guiana. Then he came back to Liverpool and shipped on an
American vessel bound for Boston, when he took another trip to Malta. Returning
to Boston he sailed to California and left the ship at Frisco in February, 1853.
He has practically visited all parts of the globe and is especially well
acquainted with the Black and Mediterranean seas. On July 15, 1853, he went to
the mines in Josephine county, Oregon, the sailor diggings, and remained until
the following spring when he started out for Galice creek on Rogue river. In the
fall of the same year he left that section and went to Yreka, California, where
he was made a United States citizen. We find him there until the fall of 1860,
when he went to Sterling, Oregon, and the next year was working on Applegate
creek. After that he mined on Jackass creek, remaining there until the spring of
1862. From there he went to Canyon creek, Oregon, and ten days later went on to
Granite creek. After that we find him on the North Fork of the John Day until
1870, when he came to his present location. Since then he has divided his
attention between stock raising and mining.                
     On November 8, 1881, while in Wheeler county, Mr. Owens married Frances P.
Fancher, who was born in Iowa. Her father, Joseph Fancher, was a native of Iowa
and of French extraction and his father was born in France. The children born to
our subject are Victor Frances, on December 15, 1883; Gustave Frederick, on June
24, 1885; Norma Anna, born January 13, 1887; Paul Hoberger, born April 27, 1889;
George E., born March 25, 1891 and died September 10, 1892.
     Mr. Owens is a member of the A. F. & A. M., Canyon City Lodge No. 34, and
also of the Blue Mountain Chapter No. 7. Politically he is a Democrat and in
religious persuasion Swedenborgian. He has had an extensive and varied
experience, both on sea and land and deserves to be classed as one of the sturdy
pioneers of the Pacific coast. As a citizen, he is broad minded, substantial and
upright, and his labors have done much for the improvement and upbuilding of
Wheeler county.


*******************

Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in December 2010 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.