William L. Owen (April 29, 1809 – July 22, 1881) was a prominent planter, businessman, and politician from Halifax County, Virginia.
“He followed his father’s footsteps into business in Granville County, North Carolina, but soon returned to Cluster Springs and built his home ‘Elwood Farm’ which still stands.”[3] William L. Owen was a director for many years of the Richmond and Danville Railroad.
[5] Family lore tells that as the Civil War approached and began, Owen's extensive business connections in both northern and southern states lead him to believe that the South could not prevail against the industrial strength of the North.
[8]William L. Owen "was a part of the major actions of the government and citizens to bring Virginia back into the Union, an effort which found him alongside, and sometimes caught between, many erstwhile advocates of the New South and Southern traditionalists.
[13] According to the minutes of the debate, he disagreed with some proposed provisions, especially funding sources in the form of taxes from exempt businesses.
[14] The convention was factious, and members argued extensively over issues the Federal Government required them to address in the Reconstruction Constitution.
Owen felt the pressure acutely and wrote in April 1868 to a family member: "How a wise and rational government could have contrived - and can continue [these policies]... is to me the greatest wonder and astonishment of my life.
At great peril to my reputation amongst my own people and kindred...and fully I plead for the Union and upheld its authority.
"[15]"[8]He authored the Address of the conservative members of the late state convention, to the people of Virginia[16] available at HathiTrust Digital Library.
Clement Owen came to Yangnim-dong, Gwangju in the 1900s and served as a missionary and medical volunteer with his wife, who was a nurse, before dying of exhaustion and overwork in 1909.
The plaque hanging in the hall honors both men in English and Chinese reading, “In Memory of William L. and Clement C.