Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 08.djvu/178

OWENS OWSLEY

and a descendant of David and Mary Jennings. He attended the Indiana State university in 1865, and studied law, which he relinquished in 1868 to become a minister of the Christian church, serving as sucii until 1878. He was married, Sept. 8, 1869, to ^Mary, daughter of John P. and Ada Ross of Oxford, Ind. He edited the Western Journal, Logansport. Ind., and was a presi- dential elector on tiie Garfield and Arthur ticket in 1880. He was a Republican representative from the tenth Indiana district in the 49th, 50th and 5lst congresses, 1885-91. He is the author of Success, and The Genius of Industry.

OWENS, James W., representative, was born in Springfield. Ind., Oct. 24, 1837. He was graduated at Miami university, Ohio, B.S., 1862, A.M. 1865 ; and served in the 20th and 86th Ohio volunteers respectively, 1862-64, rising to the rank of captain. He attended the law school of the University of Michigan, 1864-65, was ad- mitted to the bar in 1865 and settled in practice in Newark, Oiiio. He was married. July 23, 1867, to Martha, daughter of Elias Kumbler of Oxford, Ohio. He served as prosecuting attorney of Licking county, Ohio, 1867-71, was a member of the state senate, 1876-80, and president 2)^'0 tem- pore of that body, 1878-80. He was a Democratic representative from the sixteenth and fourteenth Ohio districts in the 51st and 52d congresses, 1889-93. He was a trustee of Miami university, 1878-1900. He died at Newark, O., March 30, 1900.

OWENS, John Edward, comedian, was born in Liverpool. England, May 4, 1824, of W^elsh parentage. He immigrated to the United States ■with his parents in 1827 ; settled first in Balti- more, Md., and in Philadelphia, Pa., in 1837, where his father engaged in the drug business. He was educated in private schools, and after- ward assisted in his father's store and as a clerk in a wholesale house in the same business. His first stage appearance was a small and gratuitous part in the support of Charlotte Cushman at the National theatre, Philadelphia, in 1841, of which William E. Burton was manager. In 1843 he quarreled with Burton, left the company and returned to the drug business. He appeared in Baltimore at the HoUiday theatre in 1844, and at Peale's museum in 1845. In 1846 he accepted the role of Jack Humphries in " Turning the Tables," in a benefit to D. P. Bowers at the Piiiladelphia museum, and in 1847 an agreement with Burton having been effected, was seen as Jakey in " A Glance at New York " in Philadelphia and Balti- more, receiving .$300 per week. He was associa- ted with Mr. Hann in the management of the Baltimore museum in 1849, and was sole proprie- tor, 1850-53. In New Orleans he made the ac- quaintance of Joseph Jefferson, with whom he afterward played in "The Poor Gentleman." He

opened at Brougham's Lyceum, New York city, in 1852, and made a professional tour of Europe, 1852-53. He gave a panoramic entertainment il- lustrative of his ascent of Mount Blanc, in various cities in the United States, 1853, and in the same year became manager of the Charles Street theatre, Baltimore, where he personified Uncle Tom in Mrs. Stowe's novel dramatized. He then starred for several seasons and was the principal comedian at the Varieties theatre in New Or- leans, La., in 1858, and manager, 1859-61. He opened at Wallack's theatre. New Y'ork city, in August, 1864, in " Solon Shingle," which had a run of eight months ; appeared in the same play at the Adelphi theatre, London, in July, 1865, where he attracted immense audiences, and re- turned to Wallack's in. 1866. He was repeatedly seen in all the leading cities of the United States in the roles of Dr. Ollapod, Caleb Plummer, Aminadab Sleek and Dr. Pangloss. He bought the Academy of Music at Charleston, S.C, in 1872 ; and while in California in 1880 lost a large proportion of his acquired fortune through spec- ulation. He accepted an engagement at the Madi- son Square theatre in "Esmeralda." 1882-83, and afterward traveled. He died at his country house Aigburth Vale, near Towson, Md., Dec. 7, 1886.

OWSLEY, William, governor of Kentucky, was born in Virginia in 1782 ; son of W^illiani and Catharine (Bolin) Owslej' ; grandson of Thomas and Mary (Middleton) Owsley, and a descendant of the Rev. John and Dorothea (Poyntz) Owsley. He removed to Lincoln in 1783 with his parents ; taught school and served as deputy sheriff, his father being sheriff of Lincoln county ; studiei law under John Boyle, and es- tablished a successful practice in Lancaster, Garrard county. He served in both branches of the state legislature several terms, and was a judge of the state supreme court, 1812-28. He maintained the principle of anti-repudiation advocated bj' Henry Clay in 1824, and remained firm when the majority in the state legislature tried to abolish the supreme bench, which act was declared unconstitutional by the U.S. supreme court. In 1828 lie resumed the practice of law, again represented Garrard county in the state legislature and served on the bench of the court of appeals. Retiring from tlie prac- tise of law in 1843, he lived on a farm near Dan- ville, Ky., and in 1844 was elected by the Whig party governor of Kentucky, defeating Col. W^il- liam O. Butler. Democrat, and re-elected in 1846, serving, 1844-48. Owsley county, Ky..was named in his honor. Centre college conferred upon liim the honorary degree of LL.D. in 1843. He died in Danville, Ky., Dec. 9, 1862.