Character Traits of 12 More Ancestors

Character Traits of 12 more Ancestors

Because I am on a roll, here are 12 additional character trails of 12 more ancestors.  Details about these family members can be found in other blog entries as well.

Service-John Griffiths
For fifteen years John Griffiths walked all over Lancashire County, England spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  He was the President of the Rose Park Branch for 15 years.  Then the PEF (Perpetual Emigration) Funds became available and they moved with many in the branch to become part of the Martin Handcart Company.  He lost his two sons on the trek and died the day after arriving in Salt Lake Valley.  His two daughters survived him, both faithful to the end. 

Education-Max Leslie Weiss
Max grew up in a home where education was important.  He did well in high school and went to college first at Princeton, graduating in Math Science.  He obtained his Master's Degree at Cornell. He did further graduate work at Reed College in Portland, Oregon and then received his Doctorate at the University of Washington.  He worked at the University of California at Santa Barbara for many years as an outstanding math professor and as Provost. 

Activism-Ralph Eugene Owen
Alcoholism had destroyed the family of Walter Bruce Owen. Ralph had to protect his mother from his alcoholic father.  His mother eventually divorced her abusive husband in 1909 because of "the bottle."  As a direct result of observing his father's addiction, Ralph joined the Anti-Saloon League and went around the country trying to teach about the evils of alcoholism.  


Sacrifice-Reva Maxine Moulton Owen Webb
She instantly became a "nurse" when her 31 year old husband had polio. Maxine would travel by bus to the Veterans Hospital to feed her husband while he was in an iron lung.   She worked to help him through Chiropractic School in Portland.  She later became the office manager and insurance biller during the days at Willamette View Chiropractic Center.  She was the legal transcript composer and always supported her husband in his "freedom fight".  She was the unofficial general contractor of building a home in Leeds, Utah.  She returned to her role of nurse and ran the dialysis machine in Leeds.  She acted as an editor to help her second husband publish his writings.  She brought into the world nine children who honor her for her many sacrifices during her 93 years on earth.  

Hope-Marilyn Ballegooie Weiss
Marilyn was clinging to "hope" for many years.  She raised her family with good values.  She supported her husband as he grew his business.  After 40 years of marriage, her divorce caused her to look to her own spiritual growth.  She prepared to receive her endowments in the Portland Temple.  She served faithfully in the Relief Society.  She always hoped for greater happiness and contentment. 

Teaching-James A. Owen
Jim frequently found himself as "the teacher".  He taught in the Army Radio school during WWII.  He taught seminary for 3 1/2 years in Burley, Idaho.  He taught as a Stake missionary in two different stakes.   Frequently he was called to teach the Gospel Doctrine classes.  He loved to teach the nine children in his family and besides regular Family Home Evenings, he held special "Ask Gospel Questions" sessions with his children on Sunday afternoons.

Desire to Learn-Clarissa Dean Chase Weiss
Claire was married at 18 years of age.  She was always a great student and extremely well read in the classics.  She loved discussing philosophy and took great pride in her ancestry, especially being related to one of the Mayflower Pilgrims (John Alden) and the early LDS pioneers of 1847 (Isaac & Phebe Chase).  She encouraged her three children in their pursuits:  her daughter who became a school teacher, her first son who became an inventor and businessman, and her youngest son in his academic pursuits.  

Hard Work-Ida Ellen Fish Owen
Ida was left as a widow in 1938 after being married to her husband, Ralph, for 19 years.  She started a boarding house for students and later worked as a cook at the Weslyan University to support her family.  She moved from Nebraska to Oregon to be closer to her two children. 


Cheerfulness-David Simon Weiss
Dave was a great salesman because people liked being around him.  His native cheerfulness made people happy.   He enjoyed playing with his grandchildren.  He enjoyed sailing, flying, and restoring his 1941 Packard.  His playful personality endeared many to him and he was well respected in the RV Industry and among those he worked with the in the Boy Scouts of America.  
 
Spiritual-Annie Wahrhaftig Weiss
Hannah (Annie) was a devout Jew.  As an Orthodox Jew, she found it difficult to live on the frontier away from a synagogue.  When she came to America, she was uncomfortable until she lived in the City of the Great Salt Lake and could attend the newly built Montefiore synagogue during the High Holy Days. Her husband worked in Vernal and commuted by train to his home in Salt Lake City. 

Being a Helpmeet-Hannah Eastman Clegg
Hannah was the mother of two sons.  In faith she crossed the ocean with her husband, Henry Clegg and anticipated the joyful day when she would gather with the Saints in Utah.  Unfortunately, her journey ended near Mormon Grove in Kansas where she died of cholera.  Her young son was buried in her arms. 


Devotion to God-Phebe Owen Fish
Phebe was one of the founding members in the Liberty Church in Norman, Indiana.
She loved singing from the old Methodist hymnal and did until her death.  She was a gardener and kept a lovely garden. She was loved and respected by her neighbors and family.

Hastening the Work of Salvation

Map hanging on the wall at Maxine Owen Webb home.

I was recently considering the great missionary tradition in our extended family.   

 

Great definition of a missionary!

Many family members have made great sacrifices so that others could go and preach the Gospel full-time. When our children were young they sang "I Hope They Call Me On a Mission".

Here are the links to some great missionary songs:     

https://www.lds.org/training/wwlt/2013/hastening/special-broadcast#media=47537905441776330780-eng

https://www.lds.org/training/wwlt/2013/hastening/special-broadcast#media=77154214576189546470-eng

1 Peter 3:15 teaches us to:

•  be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.
  
  Our ancestors showed us their willingness to sacrifice in order to share the Gospel Message with others.  We can see through their lives the great blessings that came from their sacrifices.
  
  

Early Missionary Service Tradition

First modern day missionary of the Weiss Family.

Isaac Chase was a Quaker living in New York when he heard the Gospel message from Elder Petaliah Brown.  Later Isaac was called as a missionary to New York.  He was serving as a missionary in 1844 when he learned of the martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph Smith.  Isaac's mission was to increase understanding of the "Mormon" Church through promoting the political platform of Joseph Smith as a candidate for US President.

John Griffiths-Missionary in England.

 (The following information is found at the cleggfamilyhistory.org site:  John Griffiths History.)

John Griffith-Missionary in England

John Griffiths met the first four missionaries to arrive in England. He and his first wife, Margaret, were baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in the river Mercy in Liverpool, England on January 20, 1840. They were baptized by John Taylor while serving his first mission to England. 

John Griffiths went to London to what was called the Latter Day Saints Depot. There were only four Mormon Elders there at that time. They laid their hands on him and ordained him an Elder and sent him preaching. He would work all day from six in the morning until six at night. Then he would eat his supper and go preaching. Some times it would be eleven and twelve o'clock before he would get home. 

There were no conveniences and no railroad in Woolwick at that time, so he had to walk. He raised up many branches of the church in England, including Woolwick, Welling, Elton, Greenwich, Aeptcord and many others. 

The first men to join the church in Woolwick were Arron Paintor, Mr. Bates, Thomas Fisher and William Blacksnore. John was a boiler maker by trade and so was Mr. Bates. One day while Mr. Bates was at work a large piece fell on him and they took him to the hospital. While they were taking him there his last words were calling John's name. He died a short time later. The people all thought it was John who was dead.

John and his wife were with the mourners and they could hear the people say, "Now Griffiths is dead, down with Mormonism". They were surprised when they heard John preaching the next Sunday. They thought it was him that was dead. 

He got along nicely after that and raised quite a nice branch. He would go and preach on Sundays as well as Sunday night. He was a faithful Elder in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Moulton Missionaries

My Great Great Grandfather, Joseph Moulton, crossed the plains as an eleven year old in the Willie Handcart Company.  He was married with three wives when he was called in 1885 as a missionary in West Virginia.  1885.  "After serving a year, President Hatch sent for him to come home, feeling that his family needed him." (See p. 460 of How Beautiful Upon the Mountains.)

My Uncle, Duane Moulton was on his mission in the South Pacific when his father, Hyrum Chase Moulton, died.  Duane served in the Cook Islands and in the Samoan Mission.

My Aunt, Deaun Moulton (Weed) went to the California Mission in 1944.  It was a time when it was less common for sisters to serve missions.

My Uncle, Rex Moulton served as a missionary in the Western States Mission.

Deaun Moulton and Floyd Weed would serve as mission presidents in the Thailand, Bangkok mission and then as missionaries on Temple Square.

Mardene Moulton and Ron Folkerson were mission presidents in Stockholm, Sweden during the same time Cyndy Owen was serving in the Italy Rome (South) Mission.  Folkersons returned home and served another mission as Directors of all Church Service Missionaries from 1974-1979.

Rex and Jaquie Dansie Moulton served in New Zealand in a kind of building mission for the LDS church in the 1960’s.  Their family lived in 3 areas and supervised construction of many chapels during the 3 or so years they lived in New Zealand. (Jacquie served a mission in Oslo, Norway before she married Rex.)

Maxine Owen Webb and LaVarr Webb served as Public Communications Missionaries in the New Jersey area.

James Owen Family

List of missionaries from wall.

My father, James Owen, joined the LDS church while in the US Army.  He freely shared the Gospel of Jesus Christ with all in his immediate family, but non of them joined the church.

James Owen joined the LDS Church during his 3.5 years in the US Army.

He then came to BYU and met his future wife, Reva Maxine Moulton.   Jim went to Hugh B. Brown, a respected BYU religion professor, and asked for counsel as to whether he should serve a full-time mission or get married.  Brother Brown said it was time that Jim fulfill his mission of raising a righteous posterity.  James later served as a Stake Missionary first in the Columbia River Stake and then while living in the Portland Oregon Stake.

This was the missionary card carried by James A. Owen in 1971 while serving as a Stake Missionary in the Portland West Stake.  This was in his wallet in the Owen Family trunk of memorabilia.

James A. Owen is listed under the 12th Ward Missionaries in 1965.

James A. Owen's Release Letter from Columbia River Stake Mission President.

These red handwritten notes were to help Jim Owen in presenting discussions.

James A. Owen Missionary Discussion Handbook.

All of the families of these missionaries have been blessed by the missionary labors of their parents:

Mark Weiss- Switzerland Zurich Mission
Cyndy Owen-Italy Rome Mission

Steven Owen-Texas Austin Mission

Donald Owen-England Coventry Mission

David Owen-Texas Dallas Mission

These four cousins were in the Missionary Training Center at the same time!  Jennifer Weiss was then teaching Mandarin Chinese while Derek Ostler, Steven Daniels, and Deborah Weiss were studying before leaving on their missions.

Many grandchildren of James and Maxine Owen have served and hanging on the wall at Maxine Owen’s home is a map with pins showing all the locations.  It was last updated in 2014.

The Mark and Cyndy Weiss Children have served all over the earth:
This video reminded me of the "Missionary Mindset" that was in our home for so many years.

https://www.lds.org/training/wwlt/2013/hastening/members-and-missionaries?lang=eng#media=33443191723762703990-eng

These are the 6 missionary plaques we have received from the wards where we lived when the missionaries were called.  We need to get 5 more of them to complete our collection!

Allison-Concepcion Chile Mission

David-Fortaleza Brazil Mission

Tamarah-San Bernardino California Mission (Spanish)

Christine-Guayaquil Ecuador Mission

Jennifer-Taichung Taiwan Mission

Deborah-Quito Ecuador Mission

Jonathan-Berlin Germany Mission

Samuel-Cuiaba Brazil Mission

Benjamin-Buenos Aires West Mission

William-Concepcion Chile South Mission

Joseph-Sydney Australia South Mission (Spanish)

Sarah Daniels (Mexico) and Tiffany Owen (Poland) -Cousins who left about the same time.

And so we are at the end of one era and the beginning of a new one.  Soon it will be Grandpa and Grandma Weiss (Mark and Cyndy) leaving on a "Senior Couple Mission". 

Where in the world will Cyndy and Mark Weiss serve as "Senior Couple Missionaries"?

Map with dots showing where missionaries have served throughout the world.

Building up the Kingdom of God on earth has been part of the heritage left to us by our ancestors.  
As baptized members we are all "Called to Serve Our King."

Joseph Weiss with his mission call to Sydney Australia South.

How did these ancestors and their latter-day descendants find the courage and strength to sacrifice and give so much in missionary service?

Elder M. Russell Ballard helped answer this question in his talk given in April 1999.
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1999/04/like-a-flame-unquenchable?lang=eng

"Somehow we need to instill in our hearts the powerful testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ like unto that of our pioneer forefathers. Remember when Nauvoo fell in September of 1846 and the unbearable conditions of the Saints in the poor camps. When word reached Winter Quarters, Brigham Young immediately called the brethren together. After explaining the situation and reminding them of the covenant made in the Nauvoo Temple that no one who wanted to come, no matter how poor, would be left behind, he gave them this remarkable challenge:

“Now is the time for labor,” he said. “Let the fire of the covenant which you made in the House of the Lord, burn in your hearts, like flame unquenchable” (Journal History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 28 Sept. 1846, 5; emphasis added).

Within a few days, in spite of near-destitute conditions at Winter Quarters, many wagons were rolling eastward to rescue the Saints in the poor camps along the Mississippi River.

"Sometimes we are tempted to let our lives be governed more by convenience than by covenant. It is not always convenient to live gospel standards and stand up for truth and testify of the Restoration. It usually is not convenient to share the gospel with others. It isn’t always convenient to respond to a calling in the Church, especially one that stretches our abilities. Opportunities to serve others in meaningful ways, as we have covenanted to do, rarely come at convenient times. But there is no spiritual power in living by convenience. The power comes as we keep our covenants. 

"As we look at the lives of these early Saints, we see that their covenants were the primary force in their lives. Their example and testimony were powerful enough to influence generation after generation of their children."

We sing:  "I'll Go Where You Want Me To Go, Dear Lord".
This video shows how we keep that promise in our every day lives:
https://www.lds.org/training/wwlt/2013/hastening/members-and-missionaries?lang=eng

Tiffany Owen serving in Poland.

The "Hastening the work" continues in our day.  We need to take the Gospel to every nation and kindred and tongue and people.

First Weiss missionary (David) and last Weiss missionary (Joseph).

(See: https://www.lds.org/training/wwlt/2013/hastening/special-broadcast.)

"There is a way for everyone … to participate in this great work. We can each find a way to use our own particular talents and interests in support of the great work of filling the world with light and truth." --President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Christ spake to his disciples in Jerusalem commanding them saying:  "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." (Matthew 28:19).

Sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ is truly a work of love:  our deep love for God and for all of God's children.  This love of God is spreading and will one day fill the whole earth.

Mark Weiss saying good-bye to Joseph as we leave him at the Provo Missionary Training Center June 2013.

BYU and You! (BY Academy and Lillian Cummings)

Maxine Moulton's BYU Orientation Brochure 1946-47

 

As I was thinking about my son who is soon to enter BYU-Idaho I began to count of all the family members who have had the opportunity of attending BYU over the years. 

BYU was founded in 1875.

It is quite an impressive list and it began with Margaret Lillian Cummings who attended Brigham Young Academy from 1909-1911. 

In her tape recorded life sketch from July, 1967, Lilly tells about her teacher, Anthony C. Lund:   "...who was a wonderful musician.  He really took an interest in me, and on one time told me that if I would stay with my music, I would be one of the best players who ever sat down to a piano."

Lilly had played the organ since she was 6 years old.  She played in Primary at eight, and at 13 years was the stake organist. "I played for 'most everything in Heber.  I played for hundreds and hundreds of funerals."

 Lilly was a BYU student for about 2 1/2 years before she married Hyrum Chase Moulton when she was 21 years of age.   "I played with Professor Sauer's dance orchestra.  I played for the symphony orchestra.  On Wednesday at noon they always had a recital in the college hall for all the music students.  Professor Lund had me play on most every program.  I'd play for the best violin players, choristers and quartets.  I was the only one in school that played a duet with my teacher (Lund) on those programs.    We'd sit in his office and he and I would play duets.  He would say, "I've never had a student that could make music out of finger exercises.  It seems to me that you like that as well as you do something with a good melody to it." 

Early graduates of BY Academy.

Anthony C. Lund was the head of what was then the Brigham Young Academy Music Department. Under his direction it was changed from being a department to being a school of music in 1901. He continued as head of the music department after the school became Brigham Young University.  Lund was the director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in Salt Lake City,  Utah from 1916 until his death in 1935. 

Organ at the Tabernacle in Salt Lake City's Temple Square.

 Lilly said:  "I remember once when I came to Salt Lake and I met Professor Lund.  He asked me where I was going.  I don't remember now where, but he said, "Do you know?  I 'd like to take you down to the Tabernacle and let you play that beautiful organ."  Now I with I had, but you know right then I though I had an excuse not to go, but now I wish I had gone with him so I could say I had played the organ in our big tabernacle there."

Plaque noting the early days of the Academy.

Restored BY Academy.  Now a Library for the City of Provo.

The Brigham Young Academy where my Grandmother Lillian attended her classes actually housed one of my classes in the 1970's!  Later it was restored to become the Provo City Library.

Inside of the restored BY Academy as it appears today.

Now BYU Provo Campus has moved up to "Temple Hill" and is a home to 34,000 Cougars. 

Provo, UT and BYU Campus in 2014.

James A. Owen, Graduate of Nebraska Wesleyan.

My father, James A. Owen, graduated first from Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln, NE where James A. Owen attended.

After joining the LDS Church he decided to further his education at BYU.  He met my mother, Reva Maxine Moulton in the Heber J. Grant Library.   He graduated in 1948 with an education degree and became a teacher in the Church Education System.

The well-established family tradition of attending BYU resulted in five members of the Moulton family in the same Freshman Class in 1946!

Five members of the Moulton family were at the Y in 1946.  The end of World War II and the GI Bill resulted in many former soldiers enrolling at the Y.

Maxine Moulton and James Owen were students at BYU in 1947.

James and Maxine in front of the Neilson House.  This home eventually became the office for Heritage Halls in the 1970's.  It was torn down only a few years ago.

Many a happy family has been created from relationships begun at BYU.  Deann Weed was Maxine's sister.

Cyndy Owen remembers walking by this sign every morning on her way to BYU.  Notice something funny about this sign?

Many of our family are now alumni of Brigham Young University. We "entered to learn" and went "forth to serve."  

Cyndy Weiss and Deborah Weiss during graduation 2011.

BYU Alumni.  Many Weiss family members have graduated from BYU-Provo.  Mark attended BYU-Hawaii when it was Church College of Hawaii.  Five Weiss children have attended BYU-Idaho.

Enter to Learn-Go Forth to Serve.

We are thankful to those, like Lillian Cummings, Maxine Moulton, and James Owen who led the way and provided an example of seeking learning by study and faith.  BYU has been wonderful environment for our family's learning and growth.

Early Life of James A. Owen

The Early Life of James A. Owen   (Birth to age 12)

This week I re-read James A. Owen’s personal history written in May 1976 while he lived in Leeds, UT.   (Maxine Owen was away caring for me and my first born, Allison Lauree in Provo, UT.) As I re-read this history I thought it would be good to share portions of his 16-page document with the family.

Ralph Eugene Owen, Jim’s father, died when he was only a seven and a half year old boy.  James was the youngest of five children (ages 7 to 18) when Ida Ellen Owen became a single mom in 1928.

The Ralph and Ida Owen Family in 1925.

Jim loved his widowed mother and had a special relationship with his “Angel Mother”.  “My mother (Ida Ellen Fish Owen) often spoke of her own father (Isaac Fish) saying, 'We were not the richest people in Brown County (Indiana) but we were known as the most honest.'"

Ida Fish Owen would never even say the word “lie” as it was a vulgar, dirty word.  She would never even tell a white lie for a joke on someone.  James wrote of his mother: “When she’d feel that I was joking or kidding and telling a falsehood for fun, she’d just say to me, ‘James, you’re storying!’”

James was born in Dorans, Illinois (“a small, lightly wide place in the road with only a small store”) on Feb. 7, 1921.  His father (Ralph Eugene Owen) was a teacher and a dairy farmer.  Ralph and Ida had moved to Dorans to work for a wealthy farmer named Farrah and lived there for 3 years before moving to Humboldt, Illinois.

Ralph was a lay minister at the Humboldt United Methodist Church.  He would preach the sermon 2-3 times a month while the circuit-riding minster would be there on alternating Sundays or maybe just one week in four.  Jim writes of his father, “He was a man of strong moral conviction with a strong testimony of the reality of God.”  (It appears this same United Methodist Church is still used today and is located at 419 Jefferson St., Humboldt, Illinois.)

Humboldt was a small town with about 300 people “centered on the school and the church.”   The Owen family  “lived in a nice house on a corner of a city block with a wooden fence in front and lots of shrubs around it.”  They were across the street from the four main lines of (railroad) tracks going to Chicago (about 165 miles to the north).  James loved watching the trains.

Train tracks were across from the Owen home in Humboldt.

Nearby was the Carpenter’s drug store that “had a large wooden Indian Chief as a cigar advertisement.  Oh, he always scared me.”

The scary wooden Indian selling cigars.

“My dad (Ralph E. Owen) always said that no one should ever be turned away from our door hungry.  We had many so-called 'bums' because of the railroad.  They would ride the empty freight cars.  When Dad was home, the bums were invited in to our (kitchen) table to eat. When Dad was not home, Mom was instructed not to let anyone in and to keep the door locked at night.  If 'bums' came during the day and the family was home, then Mom often fed them in the breezeway off of the kitchen.”  (James was told this story by his older sisters as he was too young to remember.)

When he was a small boy of four years, the Owen family came home from church one Sunday and Ida tried to put James down for an afternoon nap.  It was a very hot day, so he sat down by the upstairs window.  His mom had warned him about leaning back on the screen.   “I should have listened to Mom,” he thought as he fell the fourteen feet into a bush below.   James lived to tell the story but a piece of glass cut his scalp and he was frightened.  He wrote, “This started a series of events in my life that showed me that if I would listen and try, then God would place a protective shield around me to protect and extend my life so that the purpose of mortality might be fulfilled.”

This is an actual photo of the Owen's Model T loaded up for the move in 1926.

When he was five years old, the family was transferred to Lincoln, Nebraska.   The town of Humboldt gave them going away parties and there were many sad goodbyes as they joked that the Owen family was moving to the “Wild West”.   Ralph’s youngest sister, Ina, was especially sad to see her brother leave town.  

On the way to Nebraska, the family would stop at tourist cabins.  It took 2-3 days and was about a 500 mile trip on very 1926 rough roads. 

Similar to a tourist cabin of the 1920's.

On the long trip, James remembers being in a large city getting groceries.  He was across the street from his family and ran to catch up with them. “This was a busy street with much traffic and streetcar tracks down the middle of the street.  Not heeding the traffic…I darted for the safety of (my family).  I made it across the traffic lane…only then to have that ever-present guardian angel again provide that invisible but real shield of protection around me.  I tripped on the streetcar tracks and went sprawling face down…a speeding car missed me by a few inches.  The next thing I recall was being in the bosom of my lovely Angel Mother (Ida Fish Owen) assuring me that all was well.”

The next two years in Lincoln, Nebraska were happy ones.   Their new home was in College View, a suburb of Lincoln where a Seventh-day Adventist College (now Union College) is located.  The home was located at 368 L Street and  had two bedrooms, an unfinished upstairs and a full basement.

On Sunday mornings Jim would run and jump in bed with his parents and his dad would read the Sunday funnies to him.  Then they would go to Sunday School and church.  Afterwards, Sunday dinners were always extra nice (silverware, goblets, desserts) and often with company.  Ralph especially enjoyed loved corn on the cob.  

James Owen in Kindergarten

When attending church, if any of the five children were unruly, Ralph would simply raise his eyebrows and the kids would straighten up.  One Easter Sunday, Jim was to recite the 23^rd Psalm.  He was six years old.  “Boy, I knew it was going to be a big day in my life.  Sunday morning I awakened and didn’t feel well.  I went down to see Mom and Dad and they said my face was swollen.  Mumps.”    

When Jim was a second grader he missed two weeks of school with the “croup”.  “The Doctor said my tonsils should come out, so out they came.  It was great as I got to be put in Mom’s special “guest room” and had visitors.”   His Sunday School teacher came and gave him a movie ticket.  “As a group, she was going to take the class to the great silent picture “King of Kings” and I was sick, so she came over and gave me a special card and some money on a ticket that I might go to it later.  So I told my friends and they dubbed me “Mrs. Gregg’s Little Angel.  Just thought you would all like to know of that incontestable historical fact.”

"Angel" James in grade school

In those days, people left their cars in the driveways, keys and all.  One day six-year old James and his neighbor friend got in the Model T to make believe they were driving all over the world.  Then they pretended to be “stuck” and the neighbor boy got out and was “pushing”.  Jim turned on the key, pushed in the clutch and his friend really pushed.  Jim started down the incline without any knowledge of how to stop the car.  He then took his foot off the clutch and the car started!  The car (guided by Jim’s “Guardian Angel”) steered into a cinder pile about 30-40 feet down the road and the 18 horsepower engine stopped.  Luckily, there was no damage to the car.

Typical of Model T in 1920's

The new Model T was Ralph’s pride and joy.  Little James knew he was in trouble.  He streaked straight to his bed and hid under the covers awaiting discovery and then punishment.  When Ralph returned home, Jim's brothers and sisters let their parents know what had happened.  Ralph said, “Where’s James?”   “In bed, hiding”.  Jim wrote:  “I remember his quick steps up those stairs as I awaited the decision of the earthly Judge.  Apparently when he saw that little scared six-year old sobbing his heart out for fear of what might have happened, my Dad, was just like my Heavenly Dad who knew the price had already been paid and he put his strong arm around me and held me close and I sighed and cried with joy for my “two Dad’s understood and forgave me.”

Typical Indian Costume of 1920's

James remembers: “My Dad bought my brother (Harold) and me cowboy and Indian suits which we enjoyed.  He had a picture of us that he carried in his wallet to show people his two sons that he loved so much.  I remember often running and chasing with my brother.  I felt I could run as fast as the wind because I could outrun my older brother.”

James and Harold in their cowboy costumes.

James remembers attending Kindergarten in the College View High School Building.  He loved playing in the gymnasium when it was bad weather outside. 

School James Owen attended in Lincoln, Nebraska

In the summer of 1928, Jim’s parents were going to celebrate their 20^th wedding anniversary by taking a vacation trip together in western Nebraska.  The kids were to stay home with a babysitter, Mrs. Livengood.  “I believe my brother Harold and I put on our cowboy suits to please Dad as he liked them so well.  I still remember standing on the front porch steps.  I was sad and despondent.  I don’t know how or why, all I knew was that I’d never see my Dad alive again.  It was my most unforgettable farewell.  (While they were gone) I was listless and didn’t play with much enthusiasm. (I was) just a sad little fellow in need of his Mom and his Dad.”

“On the night of the 15^th of July (1928), Mom called and said Dad was in the hospital, sick with pneumonia.  The trip was to be a combination of business and pleasure and Dad had been trout fishing, which he loved to do and did only infrequently because of the pressure of the job.  He had gotten wet and chilled and in a couple of days he was in the hospital.” 

Ralph E. Owen loved fishing.

“Then the call came that Dad was worse.  Then the call came...that day that Dad was gone.  Everybody was so kind to our family.    Mom finally got home.  I think she accompanied the body on the train.  She was just broken and never got over it.”

“The funeral was simple and nice at the Community Church in College View.  I remember where I was sitting in the church.  They said that Dad was always a friend to everyone, (that) there were no strangers (to my dad).  Even the vicious dogs were Dad’s friends.  He would just walk up and pet them.  Then I remember going to the cemetery.”

Lincoln Memorial Cemetery in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Following the death of their provider, the family moved to University Place, a Methodist Community built around Nebraska Wesleyan University.  Their house was conveniently one block from the campus.

James, his mother Ida, and sister Delcie outside of their home in Lincoln, Nebraska

Their home had four bedrooms and a bath upstairs.  Two bedrooms, front room, dining room and kitchen on the main floor and a 2/3^rd basement with a two car garage. 

“There was a chicken house for poultry and produce and two nice trees in the yard.  Mother had decided to run a rooming and boarding house.  We kept girls, but a few male students also.  That was the first year, then she gave it up and went to work cooking at the (Nebraska) Wesleyan college cafeteria.  She left early in the morning for her job at the cafeteria, but was home between 2:00 and 4:00 o’clock and then went back and worked until seven.  It sure helped to have her home after school.  Many nights when we were youmg, my brother (Harold) and I would go up to the campus to walk home with her or meet her part way.”

Jim writes about his memories in each of his school years, Kindergarten through 8^th grade.  “Our school was a great cross section:  college professor’s kids 1/3 of the class, 2/3 from the “home for Dependent Children (orphanage) and the last 1/3 were normal kids like me.” 

In  4^th Grade he remembers, “We did self testing drills in arithmetic.  One could work, to a degree, at one’s own speed.  In music, I may have been lacking, but in math I was on the other end of the spectrum.” 

During his 4^th grade year he also notes:  “I enjoyed the first of the month fire drills, which gave us the opportunity to get away from class for 30 minutes.  Each Christmas after practice in our individual (class)rooms and just before being dismissed for vacation, we would all gather on the stair landings of the hall and sing Christmas carols.”

While in 6^th grade he “fooled around a lot with crystal sets and had a good one.  I could get two stations  KRAB and KFOR.  I had in my room many electrical odds and ends and was always building something.”

“During my 7^th and 8^th grades, my interest in athletics grew immensely.  I was always the captain or leader and either the best or knew the best in most sports. We had fine coaches.  I remember the meticulous hours spent in gym class and after school with Coach Wyient teaching us the fundamentals of passing, shooting, zone defense, etc.”  Later Jim would become the a basketball star because of good training in his early years.

Ancil, Ida (mother), and James

Jim’s early childhood was traumatic with the loss of his father, but the care and love of older siblings made his life easier.  As his mom was a single parent, Jim really did try his best to be obedient and attentive in order to make her life easier.   

James A. Owen wrote that the reason he recorded his happy memories was so that “my children and other posterity might know of God’s gracious love toward one of His humble and grateful children.”