Jim Owen traveled the world, worked hard and played hard. He helped build the Panama Canal and worked in the oil fields of East and West Texas. Jim was a very likable fellow....when he was sober. He probably made and lost several fortunes by Ellis county standards. One time he showed up for a visit back home driving a new Cadillac...next time he came, he was hitch-hiking and on foot. One night he was drunk and driving his Model A Ford along what is today Texas HW 34. As he was driving through Bardwell and he got hit by a train. His car was carried several hundred yards down the track and I guess Jim was not hurt bad. His nephew Gerald said that Uncle Jim was always good to his nephews and would bring things to them or give them money when he came around. So he was kind of a popular guy with them.
James lived in Gladewater in East Texas where he was an independant contractor in the oil fields. He had been living in Gladewater 4 years at the time of his death in April 1935. He was living with his second wife Rena before he died. His death was the result of a failed mastoidectomy to relieve problems due to sinusitus. The operation caused an extension into his cranial cavity and infection of his brain. He apparently lived for a month after the operation.
Jim Owen traveled the world, worked hard and played hard. He helped build the Panama Canal and worked in the oil fields of East and West Texas. Jim was a very likable fellow....when he was sober. He probably made and lost several fortunes by Ellis county standards. One time he showed up for a visit back home driving a new Cadillac...next time he came, he was hitch-hiking and on foot. One night he was drunk and driving his Model A Ford along what is today Texas HW 34. As he was driving through Bardwell and he got hit by a train. His car was carried several hundred yards down the track and I guess Jim was not hurt bad. His nephew Gerald said that Uncle Jim was always good to his nephews and would bring things to them or give them money when he came around. So he was kind of a popular guy with them.
James lived in Gladewater in East Texas where he was an independant contractor in the oil fields. He had been living in Gladewater 4 years at the time of his death in April 1935. He was living with his second wife Rena before he died. His death was the result of a failed mastoidectomy to relieve problems due to sinusitus. The operation caused an extension into his cranial cavity and infection of his brain. He apparently lived for a month after the operation.
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