The Washington times., 1904-07-06
VINEYARD HAVEN
HAS A MILLIONAIRE
w. B. Owen Went to Eng
land With Nothing.
HAS A BIG FORTUNE TODAY
Work Of Seven Years-Talking Ma
chine Brought Him Great
Wealth.

VINEYARD HAVEN, Mass, June 25
A native Vineyarder. who loves the
island home. and who intends TO go back
to II and settle. is the Wa his friends
in Vineyard Haven describe William
Barry owen, who in seven years has
developed talking machine business
until 1t has branches in a dozen principal
cities Of the world outside of the United
States.
In the development of this concern Mr..
owen has acquired a fortune of 81. 900 900.
and as managing director draws a salary
reputed to be equal to that of the Presi-
dent Of the United States.
A Successful Whaleman.
Mr.. Owen is a son of Capt. Leander c.
owen, a successful whaleman in his day
and captain of the first steam whaler
Today the captain is far from being
weIl-to-do. and the only help he gave
his son in acquiring his wealth was a
good school education, followed by a
course at Amherst. When William Barry
owen left the Vineyard his prospects
were no better than those of many an
island boy who ventured out to make
his way in the world.
Mr.. owen tried one thing after another
without particular success. and finally
became associated with the man who
owned the American rights in a talking
machine. At that time it was not a sue
cess, but Mr. owen, approaching It's pos
sibiIities, made it such by judicious ad-
vertising.
His efforts were not especially appre-
ciated by his employer. but Berliner.
who patented the talking machine rec
ord. thought he saw the man he was
after in Mr. Owen, and made him an
offer to go to England with the English
rights, and start a company to manu-
facture the records.
Made 1t a Go.
Mr.. owen delibera.ed, and then ac-
cepted, sailing for England with nothing
but the Berliner patents and a deter
mination 10 make 1t go. This was in
1897. He opened a small Office in Lon
don, interested British capital, started
a company. put the machine on the
market, obtained the favor of royalty
and in six years developed an enterprise
successful enough 10 make him a mil
lionaire. He carried the machine into
nearly all the countries \of Europe. and
now has branches in Berlin, Hanover.
Paris, Vienna. St. Petersburg, Brus-
sells. Amsterdam. Milan, Sydney. CAL
cutta, and Barcelona. And he Is only
fOrty-two years old
BoyhOOd friends who went 10 London
at his invitation found him master Of
an extensive business, with an army of
subordinatos and the posscssnr of an es-
tate of twenty acres I'm Surrey. Yet
with all the splendor Of llfc in England
Mr.. owen felt the call Of the Vineyard,
and last year tried 20 sever his connec-
ton with the enterprise So that he
might return to his island home.
lie was not entirely successful in this.
the English directorate prevailing upon
him TO remain at thc lead Of the CrTn-
Tany. but - GA make AZ arrangement.
permitting liz sp;rJ'f :, six II .nihs Of
the year on Martha's Vineyard.
Ovens Investments at Home.
rich men show their love for their
native towns in many ways" said a
Vineyarder intimately associated with
Mr.. owen. "Mr. owen shows his love
10. the Vineyard by his faith in its fu-
ture as the most famous watering
place In the country"
D. less than a year Owen has spent
from $4,000 10 $4,000 in the acquisition
of Vineyard real estate. much Of II un-
developed. He has nearly cornered the
LABOR market in the town through his
building operations.
Ola houses are being moved TO new
locations and fitted UP as summer resi-
delices. One tract of land I'm the cen
ter just cleared viii be the site of a
SO. 900 residence which he will soon
stable for the accommodation of Eng
fish stock 10 be brought here this
Desiring electric light for his
own premises. he will probably start
lighting plant and sell electricity TO all
who wish to buy.
Americas Isle of Wight.
Farther up the island. overlooking
beautiful lake, he has acquired long
ridge now encountered with scrub, but
destined. unless Mr.. Owens business
foresight is at fault, 70 be crowned with
summer cottages when Martha's Vine
yard has become the Isle OF Wight Of
America.
With the exception OF the site for his
own house, Mr.. Owens investments
have been made with a view 10 future
returns. He plans to develop Vineyard
real estate as il has never been de-
veloped, and his tOwnspeOple are natu-
rally pleased with the prospect
Another enterprise is the establishment
OF a poultry farm near Lambert's Cove.
where he has acquired $50 acres, girdei
on the north and west by hills and hav-
ing a southern exposure. which makes IL /
an ideal spot for raising fowl. Started
this spring he has 600 fowls here al
ready.
A star attraction now Is a flock OF six |
teen English OrpingtOns. for which Mr.. !
owen paid $1,000. The flock was sent to !
this country by William Cook, famous !
breeder.