Owen, John, 1818-1889

John Owen came to the northwest in 1849 with the Oregon Rifles and became their sutler at Cantonment Loring. In 1850 he settled as a trader in Bitter Root Valley and two years later he purchased St. Mary's Mission where he built Fort Owen. He served as a special agent to the Flathead Indians, from 1856 to 1862. After 1871, he lived in a hospital at Helena, Montana and later he went to live with relatives in Philadelphia.

From the description of John Owen papers, 1849-1881. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 702126627

A native of Pennsylvania, born in 1818, John Owen first came to what is now Montana as a sutler for Colonel Loring's Oregon-bound column. In 1850, he purchased the site of St. Mary's Mission from Jesuit missionaries, and there built his trading post, Fort Owen. Owen operated his post as a trading center for white trappers and Indians of the area, and his fort also served as a way station to an increasing influx of settlers. Fort Owen contained the first commercial grist mill in the area and served other important functions. In 1856, because of his special relationship with the Flathead Indians, Owen was appointed special agent to that tribe and its affiliates. He held this position until 1862. Owen's mind began to fail in the early 1870s, and he was hospitalized in Helena until 1877, when he was transferred to the care of relatives in Philadelphia. He died there on July 12, 1889.

From the guide to the John Owen Papers, 1850-1871, (Montana Historical Society Archives)

Trader at Fort Owen in western Montana.

A native of Pennsylvania, born in 1818, John Owen first came to what is now Montana as a sutler for Col. Loring's Oregon-bound column. In 1850, he built Fort Owen on the site of St. Mary's Mission. Owen operated his fort as a trading center for white trappers and Indians of the area, and as a way station to an increasing influx of settlers. Fort Owen contained the first commercial grist mill in the area and served other important functions. From 1856 to 1862 Owen served as special agent to the Salish tribe and its affiliates. John Owen died in Philadephia on 12 July 1889.

From the description of John Owen papers, 1850-1871. (Montana Historical Society Library). WorldCat record id: 154692226

Western Montana trading post owner.

John Owen was born in Pennsylvania in 1818. He first came to what is now Montana as a sutler for Colonel Loring's Oregon-bound column. In 1850 he purchased the site of St. Mary's Mission and built Fort Owen. In addition to functioning as a trading post the fort operated a grist mill and way station. In 1856 John Owen was appointed special agent to the Salish tribe and its affiliates. He held this position until 1862. Owen left Montana in 1877 and died in Philadelphia on July 12, 1889.

From the description of John Owen papers 1850-1871. (Montana Historical Society Library). WorldCat record id: 42927835

John Owen was born in Pennsylvania in 1818. In 1849 he accompanied a regiment known as the Mounted Rifles that was bound for Oregon. By the spring of 1850 he decided to stop in Montana’s Bitter Root Valley, purchased an old mission site, and established a trading post which was know as Fort Owen. The fort was Owen’s headquarters for the next 20 years. Although the fort was a significant commercial establishment, it was never actually a military post and although he was knows as Major Owen, Owen was never in the military.

The founding of a trading post at Hell Gate, now Missoula, and the discovery of gold at Bannack, Virginia City, and Last Chance Gulch shifted the population center and the commercial activities to other areas. All of these events contributed to the decline of Owen’s business, which he lost to a court judgment in 1871.

Owen also struggled with mental health problems beginning around 1871 but had regained some mental stability by his death on July 12, 1889.

From the guide to the John Owen letter, July 19, 1873, (University of Montana--Missoula Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library Archives and Special Collections)