Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-04-28
HOWARD OWEN
CONTINUED from Page ons)

chair as l was thinking"
Ii Bright and Active
Mr.. owen is today So years Of age.
and is a man of remarkable vigor
and keen intellect. He goes out of
doors daily and does light work
around the house, and has never yet
had a serious sickness. He refnen-
bers in a wonderful manner, dates
and events coming to his mind with
remarkable ease. Although he has
the use of but one eye, he still de-
lights in reading, and of course the
newspapers are to him a constant
source of interest and enjoyment
Mr.. Owen was born in Brunswick,
April IS, 1885, the son of Jeremiah
and Hannah Badger owen. His
mother was a New Hampshire wo-
man and was a cousin to Daniel Web
ster Mr. Owen was one of eight
boys in the family, and is the only
survivor. The farm of jeremiah
owen was beside the Androscoggin
River, two miles from the center OF
the town. He was educated in the
common schools at Brunswick. At the
age of IL years he was publishing his
first paper and was looking forward
to Journalism as life work. When II
little later his friends advised him TO
go to college, and then to become a
lawyer, he did not act upon this ad-
vice, but decided to start at once in
newspaper work
"Devil" at 18
When IS years of age, he became
printers devil in the office of the
Lewiston Journal He was there
three or four years learning the me-
chanical parts of the business. Col.
William Fl. Waldron was then editor
and proprietor of the Lewiston Jour
nal. which was a weekly paper print
ed on a hand press, with total cir
cula ton of 1900 copies a week. Mr..
Owens next move was to Brunswick,
where he entered the employ of the
Brunswick Telegraph. a weekly pa
per published by Waldron and Moore.
To Journal in 1854
The call then came for Mr.. owen to
come to Augusta. and the first type
Journal was on the election returns
September Is, 1854. For a time, Mr..
Owen boarded at the kennebec Tav-
ern in Augusta which was situated
where the Opera House now stands.
He lived there until Hon. James G.
Blaine came to Augusta and at the
invitation of Mr.. Blaine he made his
home at the Blaine residence. A lit
tie later. Mr. Owen became the fore
man of the newspaper department of
the Kennebec Journal. which position
he held for number of years until
he was made the local editor.
Buys Interest in Journal
The kennebec Journal was then
published by John l.. Stevens and
John $. Sayward. In 1868, the news
paper was purchased by Alden
Spragu Howard Owen and Charles
G. Nash. In referring to this change
in ownership. The Story of the Jour-
nal" which was published in te Au-
gusta Centennial Souvenir Book in
1897. said in part: "Te members of the
new firm of Sprague. owen & Nash
the paper in January. 1869, were well
equipped for the task before them
Mr.. Spraglie, who assumed the duties
of political editor. came from the
Rockland Free Press. Mr. Owen. the
local editor. had for Is years, served
in various capacities in the journal
Office, and Mr.. Nash. who had charge
of the business affairs, was of the
Hallowell Gazette. They were young
all full of ambition and energy. and
they made an able trio
The journal was then a weekly
newspaper. but the owners seeing
the need of daily newspaper,
changed to a daily the first of Janu-
AIRY. 1870. In THE Story of the
Journal" it is stated that "for the
first year or two the daily was not
financial success. but it soon got on
its feet and for 10 years the Journal
daily and weekly-prospered under
this management The size and the
makeup of both remained the same,
but in quality there was a steady
advance. With the issue of July II
1879, Ii was announced that Messrs
owen and Nash had disposed of their
half interest to Charles A. Spra que
the son of the senior member OF the
firm. and the firm continued as
Sprague & Som
Editor Maine Farmer
MIR. Owen then assumed the liter
AIRY and general editorship of the
Maine Farmer, which position he
held for Is years. Those were I6 of
the happiest years ever spent in nv
life said. Mr.. Owen For q period
he furnished correspondence and edi-
torials for newspapers outside of the
city. among them being the Somer
set Reporter at Skowhegan. the Re-
publican Journal at Belfast and tbe
Boston Advertiser In 1881. Mr.. Owen
was elected register of probate for
kennebec county and for is years he
held that office.
Very frequently. Mr.. Owen WAS
called upon to deliver addresses
speaking before agricultural societ;es
ana IN lFceum courses. He spoke not
cniy N Maine. but in many places in
New Hampshire and Vermont, He
was always willing to accent an invi-
tation to speak whether or not thera
was TO be any compensation. And
iaughingly he declares that he thinks
ne has given more free lectures than
any man in Kennebec county.
Starts DRY" Paper
The first youths temperance news
paper ever published in Maine was