Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-16

Special Correspondence of The Star.
EVANSVILLE. March IL. 1909.
The death OF DR.. Joseph r. owens,
mayor Of Hyattsvilc and treas of the
Maryland Agricultural College, which oc-
CURED al lis home Hilltop Lodge. here
about = O'Clock last night caused general
sorrow not only in Hyattsville. but
throughout the state. The mayors health
began 10 fail nearly a year ago but as
was characteristic of the man he bore
his aff1icton with bravery and patience.
III November last he went 10 Johns
Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore. for treat
ment. but he longed for his home and
against the advice OF physicians he IN
sisted upon being brought back 10 Hy
attsville. Two months ago all hope of mis-
recovery was abandoned, ana his family
was tod TO prepare for The worst AZ
his deathbed were his wife, who before
her marriage was Miss Gertrude t. Coun-
Gilman Of WorthingionS valley, Balti-
more county. his daughter Mrs. George
+. Luckey. and one son. Charles {.
Owens Of New York. \ few hours before
his death another son. |. e. Owens of
New York city. was compelled TO return
to New York but will come To Hyatts-
Vile again today. His mother. Mrs.
Prscilla Owens. ninety years of age. was
in the house when death came. also
sister-in-law. and his son-in-'aw Mr..
George e. Luckcy. Death came peace
fully and without pain.
The remains will he taken tomorrow
morning over the Chesapeake Beach road
to St. James T. r.. Church, near West
River Anne Arundel county, where in
terment will be made in the cemetery ad-
joining the church where he worshiped
for SO many years. Brief services will be
held about o'clock tomorrow morning
n a nf %
Henry Thomas Of Pinkney Memorial
Church officiating. Mayor owens was
member of the NeStry of this church and
for many years was registrar of the ST.
Matthew's parish, of which Pinkney Me-
mortal is a part.
Career of DR.. Owens.
Or. Joseph Rutter Owens was born in
Baltimore February 20, 1SS? His par
ents moved to West River, Anne Arundel
county. when he was seven years of age,
and three years later young owens en-
tered Newton University, Baltimore. an
Incorporated school. In 1859 he graduated
from the University OF Maryland. receiv-
ing the degree of doctor Of medicine. I'M
mediate.y after graduating ne was APP
pointed resident physician at the Balti-
more city almshouse. in which capacity
he served until 1861. when he returned TO
Anne Arundel county and began farming
near West RIVER. In 1870 he removed
to EVANSVILLE and became chief clerk
of the claims division of the Treas
ury Department. where he remained until
1890 when he was -pamed as treasurer OF
the Maryland Agricultural College, and
served until the time of his death.
For several years he was collector of
taxes in Anne Arundel county. He was
one of the directors of the Femae House
of Refuge, Baltimore. and at one time
served as a director i'll the Baltimore
County Fire Insurance Company. He was
one of the charter members of the Vans
vile Farmers Club of Prince George
county and served as secretary for the
past ten years When the form of mu-
nicipal government here was changed
from board of commissioners to a may
or and common council, in 1860. DR.. Ow-
ems unanimously elected councilman
from the third ward. III which capacity
he served continuously for five years.
When iii 1906. DR. Charles A. Wells re-
linquished the Office of mayor DR.. Owens
was elected to succeed him. and was
chosen unanimously again in 1907 and in
1905. He stanch advocate of the
present water and sewerage systems.
electric street lighting and granolithic
sidewalks and watched the financial af-
fairs Of the town as he looked after his
own. lie was for many years a local
school trustee. was director in tile First
National Bank of Hyattsville and "A di-
rector OF the Hyattsvilie Building ASsoci-
alton.