This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Owings Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/CV4.2ACEB/263.1 Message Board Post: Hopefully this will help you. I've spent the last few years researching Karnes County history and this is what I've managed to find about Dr. Owings. Lewis S. Owings was born on September 6, 1820 in Rowan County, North Carolina to John and Sarah (Russell) Owings. Some records show him to be a native of Tennessee. Records show Owings being married to an Elizabeth Haney, but on January 5, 1852 he married Helen Marr Swisher in Ellis, Texas. Owings was said to have fought in the Texas Revolution, however there is no sold evidence to back this up. It is known, however, that Dr. Owings had come to Texas by 1850. This is where he entered into a business partnership with Thomas Ruckman. He co-founded the town of Helena and named it after his wife Helen. While in Helena, Owings operated a stage-line, started in 1854, from San Antonio to Victoria. Owings was considered a doctor, although he did not practice. Owings was also supposed to have served in the Texas State Legislature. In 1857 or 1859 Owings left Texas. He resided in Mesilla near present-day Las Cruces, New Mexico. Here he made a fortune of seventy thousand dollars in land and mining ventures. In April 1860 Owings was selected to be the first Provisional Governor of Arizona. He advocated separate territorial status for Arizona. He was also concerned with the threat of Apache attacks and called for war against them. Also in 1860 Owings, along with James Henry Tavis, formed the first company of Arizona Territorial Rangers. When the Civil War began in 1861 the men of the Arizona Rangers joined the Confederate Army thereby disbanding the Rangers. Owings never actually became head of the proposed Arizona Territory. Arizona applied for Territorial status but was turned down until 1863. In 1862, as many Confederate supporters were heading back to Texas, he left as well. In November 1864, Captain James Henry Tavis wrote to Owings from battle explaining his desire to be elsewhere. Records show Owings being referred to at this time as “Confederate Arizona’s unofficial ‘Governor-in-exile’ in San Antonio.” In 1865 Owings was reported to have lost most of his property and was living on a farm near San Antonio. About 1871 Owings became a railroad agent and settled in Denison, Texas. Here he operated a livery stable and acted as a dealer in cotton, wool, and hides. On March 1, 1873 he became Denison’s first mayor. He only held the position for two months. At this time he was forced to resign as a result of failing health. Owings died on August 22, 1875 and was buried in Denison.