We are indebted to Egbert Americus Owen for his contribution to our knowledge of early life in Norfolk and his 1898 publication “Pioneer Sketches of Long Point Settlement”. As recorded in Vittoria’s bicentennial book, “200 Years of Memories”, Owen completed his popular collection of historical sketches while residing on Brock Street in the village (just back from the today’s Post Office building). His stories provide insightful documentation of life in pioneer times and are written with wry humour and a very human touch.  

Owen was born in 1844 in Fredericksburg (Delhi). His father was Joel Owen and his paternal grandfather, Jesse Owen was one of Norfolk’s first pioneers. Hi mother was Cynthia Kitchen, daughter of Joseph Kitchen, another of Norfolk’s early settlers. She died in his infancy and subsequently, Owen was raised by his uncle John Kitchen, on whose farm, just outside of Delhi, he spent his early life.

He attended the community’s little log school house and might be classed as a ‘self-educated man’. He appeared to have been born with a natural thirst for knowledge, and consequently became an avid reader and always had a strong liking for local history. In 1866, Owen married Eliza Jane Culver, daughter of Edwin Culver of Mapleton who was a descendant of Norfolk Pioneer Rev. Jabex Culver. For a time following his marriage, the Owens lived in Delhi, where he clerked in a grocery store. They later moved to Mapleton where he farmed. Tow daughters and a son were born there.

In 1882, Owen moved to the United States with his family and settled on a farm in Hopkins, Michigan. Another daughter was born there. In 1885, he left the farm there and went into the boot and shoe business in Plainwell, Michigan. Here he became interested in journalism.

Moving to Grand Rapids in 1890, he continued his activities in journalism, writing mostly for trade journals. Four years later he and him family returned to Norfolk and for a while they lived on the Egbert Kitchen farm near Vittoria, later moving into the village.

Mr. Owen did not confine himself to historical material. Soon after returning from the US, he published a small volume entitled: “Profit and Pleasure For the Busy Business Man.” He also wrote a series of humourous articles for the Simcoe Reformer, under nom-de-plume of “Ike Pikery”, depicting the homely happenings of “his wife, ‘Liz’, and datter “Dubby’.”

A devout Baptist and staunch Liberal, Owen liked to discuss religion and politics with old friends and enjoyed friendly arguments along those lines. His hobbies were gardening and writing and he was never happier than sitting with a pencil and writing pad. Of Welsh descent, he was naturally fond of music, enjoyed singing, and could play a tin whistle with all the finesse of an experience flautist (or so some of the neighbourhood children thought). Owen died in 1908 and is buried in Delhi.  (Reference: 200 Years of Memories: Vittoria Bicentennial 1796-1996, R. Cruickshank, et al., 1996)