Selwyn N. Owen
Encyclopedia
Selwyn N. Owen was a Democratic lawyer in the U.S. State
of Ohio
who was a judge on the Ohio Supreme Court 1883-1889.
in 1836, before his family moved to Columbus, Ohio
, and then Huron County, Ohio
in 1837. He attended school in Norwich Township
, and Norwalk Academy. He attended Antioch College
until 1856, and then was principal of a seminary in Clark County, Kentucky
. He returned to Norwalk
in 1857, where he read law in the offices of Cortland Kennon and Gideon T. Stewart
. He enrolled in Cincinnati Law School in 1861, and graduated in 1862.
Selwyn N. Owen was admitted to the bar
in 1862 and began practice in Fremont, Ohio
. In 1863 he moved to Bryan, Ohio
, where he had a large practice. In 1876, he was elected to the Common Pleas bench
, and was re-elected in 1881.
In 1883, he was nominated by the Democrats for an Ohio Supreme Court seat, and defeated Republican John H. Doyle. William H. Upson
resigned December of that year, and Owen was appointed to fill the vacancy. He began his five year term in February, 1884, serving until February, 1889. In the 1888 election, the Democrats nominated Lyman R. Critchfield
, who lost.
Owen entered into private practice with the firm Powell, Owen, Ricketts and Black
when his Supreme judgeship ended. In 1897, he was appointed Director of Law of the city of Columbus
by Mayor Samuel Luccock Black, his old law partner, and served two years. In 1899, Ohio Governor Bushnell
appointed Owen to the Ohio State Board of Arbitration, and he was re-appointed in 1905 by Governor Myron T. Herrick
. He declined appointment from Judson Harmon
to a third term, and resigned January 3, 1911.
Owen married Beulah B. Barrett of Rochelle, Illinois
in 1870. He owned a large home in Bryan and a 75 acre farm near the city as well as a home in Columbus. He was a Mason
and a member of the Universalist Church. Two years after retirement, he and his wife moved to Portland, Oregon
, to be near their daughter, and he died there October 1, 1916.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
who was a judge on the Ohio Supreme Court 1883-1889.
Biography
Selwyn N. Owen was born at Steuben County, New YorkSteuben County, New York
Steuben County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 98,990. Its name is in honor of Baron von Steuben, a German general who fought on the American side in the American Revolutionary War, though it is not pronounced the same...
in 1836, before his family moved to Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
, and then Huron County, Ohio
Huron County, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 59,487 people, 22,307 households, and 16,217 families residing in the county. The population density was 121 people per square mile . There were 23,594 housing units at an average density of 48 per square mile...
in 1837. He attended school in Norwich Township
Norwich Township, Huron County, Ohio
Norwich Township is one of the nineteen townships of Huron County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found 1,072 people in the township.-Geography:Located on the western edge of the county, it borders the following townships:*Sherman Township - north...
, and Norwalk Academy. He attended Antioch College
Antioch College
Antioch College is a private, independent liberal arts college in Yellow Springs, Ohio, United States. It was the founder and the flagship institution of the six-campus Antioch University system. Founded in 1852 by the Christian Connection, the college began operating in 1853 with politician and...
until 1856, and then was principal of a seminary in Clark County, Kentucky
Clark County, Kentucky
Clark County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It was formed in 1793. The population was 35,613 in the 2010 Census. Its county seat is Winchester, Kentucky...
. He returned to Norwalk
Norwalk, Ohio
At the 2000 census, there were 16,238 people, 6,377 households and 4,234 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,950.3 per square mile . There were 6,687 housing units at an average density of 803.1 per square mile...
in 1857, where he read law in the offices of Cortland Kennon and Gideon T. Stewart
Gideon T. Stewart
Gideon Tabor Stewart was an American lawyer as well as a newspaper owner and editor. He was very active in promoting the temperance movement. He was elected three timess as grand worthy chief templar of the Good Templars of Ohio. Throughout the 1850s he attempted to organize a permanent...
. He enrolled in Cincinnati Law School in 1861, and graduated in 1862.
Selwyn N. Owen was admitted to the bar
Admission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
in 1862 and began practice in Fremont, Ohio
Fremont, Ohio
Fremont Public Schools enroll 4,450 students in public primary and secondary schools. The district administers 9 public schools including seven elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school, Fremont Ross. In addition, the city is home to one private catholic high school, Saint Joseph...
. In 1863 he moved to Bryan, Ohio
Bryan, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 8,333 people, 3,528 households, and 2,155 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,821.7 people per square mile . There were 3,733 housing units at an average density of 816.1 per square mile...
, where he had a large practice. In 1876, he was elected to the Common Pleas bench
Ohio Courts of Common Pleas
The Ohio Courts of Common Pleas are the trial courts of the state court system of Ohio.The courts of common pleas are the trial courts of general jurisdiction in the state. They are the only trial courts created by the Ohio Constitution . The duties of the courts are outlined in Article IV, Section...
, and was re-elected in 1881.
In 1883, he was nominated by the Democrats for an Ohio Supreme Court seat, and defeated Republican John H. Doyle. William H. Upson
William H. Upson
William Hanford Upson was a nineteenth century politician, lawyer and judge from Ohio.Upson was born in Worthington, Ohio. His parents were Dr. Daniel Upson and Polly Wright. He attended Tallmadge Academy, pursued in classical studies and graduated from Western Reserve College in 1842...
resigned December of that year, and Owen was appointed to fill the vacancy. He began his five year term in February, 1884, serving until February, 1889. In the 1888 election, the Democrats nominated Lyman R. Critchfield
Lyman R. Critchfield
Lyman R. Critchfield was a Democratic politician from the state of Ohio. He was Ohio Attorney General 1863-1865.Lyman R. Critchfield was born May 22, 1831 at Danville Knox County, Ohio. His family moved to Millersburg Holmes County, Ohio in 1834. He attended public schools and graduated from Ohio...
, who lost.
Owen entered into private practice with the firm Powell, Owen, Ricketts and Black
Samuel Luccock Black
Samuel Luccock Black was a Democratic politician from the U. S. State of Ohio who served as Mayor of Columbus, Ohio for one two year period and was later a judge.-Biography:...
when his Supreme judgeship ended. In 1897, he was appointed Director of Law of the city of Columbus
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
by Mayor Samuel Luccock Black, his old law partner, and served two years. In 1899, Ohio Governor Bushnell
Asa S. Bushnell (Ohio)
right|thumb|350pxAsa Smith Bushnell I was a Republican politician from Ohio. He served as the 40th Governor of Ohio. Bushnell was president of Warder, Bushnell and Glessner Company, which later became International Harvester, now known as Navistar Corporation...
appointed Owen to the Ohio State Board of Arbitration, and he was re-appointed in 1905 by Governor Myron T. Herrick
Myron T. Herrick
Myron Timothy Herrick was a Republican politician from Ohio. He served as the 42nd Governor of Ohio.-Biography:...
. He declined appointment from Judson Harmon
Judson Harmon
Judson Harmon was a Democratic politician from Ohio. He served as United States Attorney General under President Grover Cleveland and later served as the 45th Governor of Ohio....
to a third term, and resigned January 3, 1911.
Owen married Beulah B. Barrett of Rochelle, Illinois
Rochelle, Illinois
Rochelle is a city in Ogle County, Illinois, United States. The population was 9,574 at the 2010 census, up from 9,424 at the 2000 census. Rochelle is about west of Chicago and south of Rockford...
in 1870. He owned a large home in Bryan and a 75 acre farm near the city as well as a home in Columbus. He was a Mason
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
and a member of the Universalist Church. Two years after retirement, he and his wife moved to Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, to be near their daughter, and he died there October 1, 1916.