MOGMSOwens
SAMUEL H. OWENS 1837-1882
Grand Master, 1872-1873
BIOGRAPHY
From Biographies of Past Grand Masters, 1821-1901, by the Grand Lodge of Missouri:
Most Worshipful Brother Samuel H. Owens appears to have entered the Grand Lodge as a representative of California Lodge No. 183 at the Animal Communication in 1860. Not until 1864 did he make his presence felt, although a regular attendant at the Annual Sessions. In 1864 he is recorded as Chairman of the Committee on Chartered Lodges, also the Committee on Accounts. He was at the same session appointed District Deputy Grand Master for the Seventh District, a position he held a number of years. He was elected Junior Grand Warden in 1869; Senior Grand Warden in 1870 and re-elected in 1871, and was elected Most Worshipful Grand Master in 1872. His successor as Grand Master in 1873 was Brother Rufus K. Anderson.
Brother Owens was born at Springfield, Illinois, May 8, 1837. His family moved to Cole County, Missouri, and settled on a farm. Brother Owens was admitted to the bar in 1859, and engaged in the practice of law in California, Missouri.
He was made a Master Mason in Jefferson City Lodge at Jefferson City, Missouri, in 1859, but affiliated with California Lodge No. 183, at California, Missouri, February 25, 1860, and served as Worshipful Master in 1863, 1866 and 1867. He was made a Royal Arch Mason in 1859 and assisted in instituting California R. A. Chapter U. D., December 23, 1869, and was the first Excellent High Priest. At the organization of California R. A. Chapter No. 58, under Charter, October 6, 1870, he was elected Excellent High Priest, and was re-elected continuously to and including the year 1878. In the Grand Chapter he was elected Grand Scribe in 1878, Deputy Grand High Priest in 1880, and Most Excellent Grand High Priest in 1881. He died before the expiration of his term. The Orders of Knighthood were conferred upon him by St. Omer Commandery No. 11, Knights Templar, at Sedalia, Missouri, April "), 1870. He assisted in organizing Prince of Peace Commandery No. 23, at Jefferson City, Missouri, and served as first Eminent Commander.
His death occurred in St. Louis, February 22, 1882, while he was M. E. Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter R. A. Masons of Missouri.
