JOHN F. OWENS, filling the position of postmaster at Hancock, is numbered among the veterans of the Civil War, and in days of peace as in days of strife he has ever been loyal to the best interests and welfare of his country. He was born in Greene County, Ohio, on the 23rd of August 1839, his parents being George B. and Ellen (Brewington) Owens, whose family numbered four children, although only two are now living, the elder brother of our subject being Ira S. Owens, whose home is in Montgomery County, Ohio. The father was a native of Virginia and the mother's birth occurred in Salisbury, Maryland. While they were children they removed with their respective parents to Greene County, Ohio, where they were reared and married. The father prepared for the ministry, but prior to entering upon the active work of preaching the gospel he engaged in teaching school for a number of years. He then was ordained to the ministry and continued to fill the pulpit u p to the time of his death, which occurred in 1862, being a member of the Cincinnati conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church for a period of fifteen years. His wife survived him for a number of years, but has now passed away.

John F. Owens was reared under the parental roof and pursued his education largely in the public schools of Ohio, but afterward attended the Farmers College at College Hill, Ohio, for one year. When about fifteen years of age he entered a harness shop in Yellow Springs, Ohio, and served a regular apprenticeship. He afterward worked at his trade of journeyman for twenty years and in 1872 came to Iowa, settled in Avoca, where he resided for eighteen years. In 1890 he removed to Hancock to take charge of the hardware store of F.G. Hetzel and for twelve years continued as manager of the business. On the 20th of April 1906 he was appointed postmaster of Hancock and on the 7th of May assumed the duties of the office in which he is now serving, giving a capable administration, one which is winning for him many friends. He has also filled other local offices, having served for several terms as a member of the town council of Hancock, including service as a member of the first council. He is now serving for a third term as assessor of the town, and in those different positions has discharged his duties with promptness and fidelity. His political allegiance is given to the Republican Party.

At the time of the Civil War, Mr. Owens offered his services to the government, enlisting in August 1861 at Cincinnati, Ohio in the Fifth Ohio Cavalry with which he served for ten months. He was honorable discharged at Corinth, Mississippi, and after returning home he re-enlisted at Springfield, Ohio in August 1862, this time becoming a member of the Forty-Fourth Ohio Infantry. On the re-enlistment of the troops in 1863 their company was mustered in as part of the Eighth Ohio Cavalry, with which command Mr. Owens served until the close of the war, being mustered out as Clarksburg, West Virginia in August 1865.

In 1867, Mr. Owens was united in marriage to Miss Kate M. Stevenson of Yellow Springs, Ohio and unto them have been born a daughter and son; Emma L., now the wife of W. W. Bingham of Hancock; and William E. who is living in Hastings, Iowa. In his fraternal relations Mr. Owens is connected with Mt. Nebo Lodge, A.F. & A.M. of Avoca; Rabonni Chapter, No. 85, R.A.M. of Avoca; and U.S. Grant Post, G.A.R. at that place. He thus maintains pleasant relations with his old army comrades and takes great delight in the campfires, recalling reminiscences and scenes of the tented fields. He is a member of the Congregational Church and is a man whose life in all of its purposes has been honorable and upright. He has been diligent in business and straightforward in his dealing, patriotic in citizenship and faithful to the ties of home and friendship.