Notes for: Ebsworth Owsley
From Ronny Bodine:
Ebsworth Owsley married in Nelson County, Kentucky in 1805 and by the following year was living in Hardin County where his first child, Isaac, was born (obituary, Isaac B. Owsley, Palmyra "Spectator," 25 April 1879.) In 1810 he was living in Garrard County. Ebsworth Owsley served during the War of 1812, first having enlisted as a Private on 18 Sept 1812 in Garrard County, Kentucky in Captain Thomas Kennedy's Company, 5th Regiment of Mounted Kentucky Volunteers. He was discharged on 30 Oct 1812 and on 25 Aug 1813 again enlisted in Captain John Faulkner's Company, 6th Regiment of Kentucky Mounted Volunteers with whom he fought at the battle of the Thames, 5 Oct 1813. He was discharged on 5 Nov 1813. In 1820, he was a resident of Hardin County, Kentucky and appears on tax lists there until 1830. In 1849, he went to California to work the gold mines and on his journey home became ill and died of cholera on the riverboat "Hannibal" while traveling along the Mississippi River.
"Death on board the Steamer Hannibal," Missouri Courier, (Hannibal, MO) Thursday, March 21, 1850
Mr. E. Owsley, a gentleman nearly or quite 60 years of age, and a resident of Tully, Mo., died of cholera on board the steamer Hannibal on the 10th inst., between Vicksburg and New Orleans. Mr. Owsley was on his return from California, and had between 8 and $10,000 in his possession, the greater portion of which it is said he accumulated while in that country. The attack was quite sudden, and in the space of a few hours terminated fatally. His remains were brought to this city and will be taken to his place of residence for interment. We take the above from Sunday's St. Louis Republican. The Mr. Owsley spoken of above, is the father of Mr. Wm. P. Owsley, of this city. His remains passed up on Tuesday.
The will of Ebsworth Owsley, of Lewis County, Missouri, written on 9 Apr 1849, was proved 22 Mar 1850. Therein he named his wife Frances, sons Isaac B., Walter W., John H., William P. and Asher B. Ously and daughters Elizabeth Sutton, Mary Ellen Bryant, Martha Susan Gregory and Harrit B. Ously. Son Asher B. Ously was named executor. Ebsworth signed the will as Ebsworth Ously. He added a codicil stating "Should I die in California before returning to the State of Missouri I will and bequeath that what I make in the Gold Mining business to be Equally divided between John B. Ously and Asher B. Ously my sons..." (Lewis Co. Wills, 2: 125-127).
Ebsworth Owsley was 1st married to Catherine (Kitty) Bodine, daughter of Isaac and Catherine (Pullin) Bodine. He married 2ndly, Frances Arnett. Under the Act of Congress of 28 Sept 1850, she applied for and was granted a bounty land warrant (no. 43182-80-50) for 80 acres, land that she subsequently sold. Under the Act of Congress of 3 Mar 1855, she was granted another 80 acres (no. 46672-50-55). On 14 Oct 1878, she applied for a widow's pension and therein provided a description of her husband at the time of his enlistment in 1813: "about 29 years old, six feet high, gray or light eyes, auburn hair, fair complexion & a farmer & sandy beard." Her application was approved on 18 Mar 1879, retroactive to 9 Mar 1878 for a monthly pension of $8.00 (Widow's Pension Certificate No. 22198).