Owen went on the train with the Ducketts and Lottie and her children in October 1913 to Oregon.
Born 12 Dec. 1891, Carterville, MO. His mother died in childbirth when he was three years old. 1. He was raised by an older half-sister thru the fifth grade, then he traveled around the country with his father, who farmed in New Mexico. Owen worked for a large Texas cattle ranch, the Autry Ranch, which he left because of pressure to marry a daughter of the owner. 2. We do not know why he came to Oregon, however we are told he came to Oregon in 1913, traveling by train with the Ducketts and other relatives, to La Grande. It is believed his half-brother, Will Campbell was already there... He was in Elgin looking for work as as ranch-hand and had made arrangements to meet John Newt Roberts on a particular street corner the following day. Owen saw Newt on the opposite side of the street, but since the meeting was agreed to take place on the corner where Owen was, he did not cross the street and neither did Newt. They looked at each other and neither made a move that day, however Owen did go to work for Newt Roberts a year later where he met his future wife, Ruth. 3. They married 21 NOvember 1917. He was inducted into the Army the 21 day of July 1918. 4. After basic training he was onboard a troop ship bound for France when the Armistice was signed, the order was given for the ship to turn around and sail for home. Their first child, Basil, 5 months old, died just before they moved from Joseph,. to Cambridge, ID. in 1919. Owen worked in the fruit orchards in Mesa, Idaho. One of the duties he had was to prune the fruit trees. "It was an easy job during the winter when the snow was deep enough that he could reach the tops of the trees by walking on the snow. 3.
He and Ruth moved to Klamath Falls in 1922, the first of the Roberts clan to locate in Klamath Falls. He was shipping clerk at a box factory, The Pelican Day Lumber Co. His other cihildren were born here. The family moved to Eugene, OR. in 1946 because his doctor said Owen must move to a lower climate because of his emphysema. He worked for a short time as a carpenter for the U of O. After they purchased a neighborhood grocery store, across the street from Edison Elementary School. He found employment as a custodian at the school. A position he held until he retired. Upon retirement and selling the grocery store, they moved into a small house in south Eugene. They lived there the remainder of their lives.
Owen had a soft spot in his heart for cowboys and he often said that one could tell what part of the country a cowboy came from by the shape of his hat. He was quite musical, he loved to sing and knew most of the old trail songs. He would have given anything to have been able to play a musical instrument, especially a guitar. He saw to it that his children could read music and play one or more musical instruments. 5.
1. Mary Ann Baker, Webb City, MO. Campbell Historian.
2. Oral interview, Lynn Campbell
3. Oral interview of Owen Campbell, GL Roos
4. Induction notice, Wallowa Co., July 21, 1918
5. Sharon Campbell Roos
