His marriage record for 1884 shows his age as 36, which means he would have been born around 1848. He is listed as a farmer in Fitzroy. Witnesses to the marriage were William Edward Owens and Martha Donaldson, both of Fitzroy.

Fought for Canada during the Fenian Raids of 1866, for which he got a medal and a grant of land for his services. There are a few John Owens who fought in the 1866 Fenian raids, so I am not sure which one he was specifically.