James Carroll Owen
James Carroll Owen - Was born in Schuyler County, Illinois, January 23,1831, and is the son of Thomas Harvey and Mary Paine Owen. When he was still an infant his parents moved to Hancock County, Illinois, where he received his education at the common schools. April 28, 1849, he, with his father and brother, L. F., started across the plains to California, arriving in March of the next year, being delayed at Council Blluffs on account of the sickness of their father. They arrived at Salt Lake October 21st, and left November 12th, going the southern route, and after traveling through four hundred miles of snow, they arrived at Los Angeles March 7, 1850. They proceeded to the Tuolumne River, where they established a ferry, which they conducted until 1852, when they went to Solano County, where they engaged in stock raising with Robert Cannon. In 1856 he went to Suisun, and engaged in the livery business. In 1857 he introduced the first water-works in that place. In 1862 he engaged in keeping the Pacific Hotel In 1863 he ran a butcher shop. He then engaged in the liquor business, which he followed till 1867. During all this time he had worked a great deal at the carpenter's business, having shingled the first house in Suisun. In 1867 he moved to Zem Zem and engaged in the cattle business. He then turned his attention to the sheep business. He kept a hotel at Zem Zem, and opened the excellent sulphur spring at his place, which he named Zem Zem, which means "healing waters." He has helped to open two quicksilver mines, both of which he has sold. In December, 1869, he established the Zem Zem post-office. He was married January 22,1857, to Miss Phoebe Rush, who was born in South Bend, Indiana, October 2,1837. Their children are: Luticia Adeline, born March 5.1858; Dora Etta, born September 9, 1869; Mary Ella, born February 6,1863, and Charles Clinton, born December 22,1866.
History of Napa and Lake Counties,: San Francisco, Cal.: Slocum, Bowen & Co., Publishers, 1881
Transcribed by Julie Appletoft, February, 2007 Pages 533-534
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Last updated February 2007