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Name: OWEN, Henry John
Photo Source: unpubl. memoirs of Harold Owen
Birth Date: 20 Nov 1875 Kennington
Death Date: 23 July 1945 Nakuru
First Date: 1932
Area: Kitale, Kakamega, Nakuru
Married: In Haringey, London 22 Nov 1902 Ethel Frances 'Fanny' Bray b. 17 Sep 1883 King's Cross, London, d. 16 Apr 1963 Kenya
Children: Harold Alfred Owen (1904 Hornsey, Middlesex -24 June 2001 South Africa); Doreen Ethel (Archer) (31 Oct 1905 Seven Kings, Ilford-13 Sep 1986 Falmouth, Cornwall); Alan Henry Owen (23 Oct 1908 Seven Kings, Ilford-28 May 1988 Taunton Deane, Somerset); Leslie Richard (10 Oct 1910 Barnet, London-23 Nov 1992 Penzance)
Book Reference: unpubl. Memoirs of Harold Owen
General Information:
Memoirs of Harold Own edited by John Owen: Henry John Owen decided to go to Kenya and initially stayed with his son Leslie who is described as having a large house with sufficient accommodation for them. However, Leslie asked his brother Harold if he would take his father, which Harold reluctantly agreed to. It didn’t work out as Harold's wife Olive could not cope. His wife joined him from England in 1935. Henry then found a job at Hoey’s Bridge, working for Mr Ghani who owned a large store there. He was allowed free food and drinks which “…. was a mistake as he was already drinking too much”. He then took part in the Kakamega gold rush of the early 1930s, but that fizzled out. After that he found a job on an estate near Nakuru where he died of malaria. Harold concludes: “When I think of Father’s background I feel rather sad he ended up this way, but I think he was happy here. He was a man of courage, very independent and I think he had enjoyed the open free life, free of all restrictions, something he had never known before. His wife stayed living with her son Leslie after her husband's death, but in the 1950s went to live with Jim and Rosemary Wood in Ruiru..
Nakuru North cemetery Henry John Owen b. 20 Nov 1875 Kennington, d. 23 July 1945 Nakuru.
Langata cemetery, Nairobi Ethel Fanny Owen, née Bray b. 17 Sep 1883 Islington, died 16 Apr 1963 Nairobi