J. P. Ownby Grant County, New Mexico

J. P. Ownby, deceased, who for many years was recognized as one of the prominent cattlemen of New Mexico and belonged to that class of citizens who have extended the frontier by planting the seeds of civilization in a hitherto new and undeveloped region, came to Lordsburg in November, 1880. His youth was passed in Memphis, Tennessee, his native city, and in 1852 he went to California. He was prominent in community affairs in the southern section of the state, serving as sheriff of Los Angeles County and also marshal of the city of Los Angeles for six years. In other ways he was an influential factor in the community. In November 1880, he came to Lordsburg, where he was soon afterward joined by his children. Here he engaged in the cattle business, and in partnership with his son, B. B. Ownby, he began raising and dealing in stock, becoming one of the well-known cattlemen of this part of the Territory. With ready adaptation of his interests to the condition of a new country, he conducted his business affairs with undaunted energy and enterprise, resulting in profit. In politics he was very active, giving his allegiance to the Democracy. In his family were two sons and a daughter.

B. B. Ownby, his son and partner, was born and reared in Los Angeles. California, where he acquired his education, and he was continuously engaged in the cattle business in New Mexico since coming to the Territory in 1880. He has a ranch one mile north of Lordsburg and is here running large herds of cattle, representing a considerable investment and yielding him gratifying profit as the result of his annual sales. Interested in public affairs to the extent of giving hearty support and cooperation to many progressive movements, Mr. Ownby is now serving as one of the commissioners of Grant county- He was county deputy sheriff of Grant county for twelve years, deputy United States marshal for four years and city marshal of Lordsburg, and the record of his public service has been characterized by unfaltering fidelity to duty.

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Source: History of New Mexico, Its Resources and People, Volume II, Pacific States Publishing Co., 1907.