Sarah Ann Groom

Abstracted by Rondina Phillips Muncy from: Williamson County, Texas: Its History and Its People Compiled and edited by Mrs. Jean Shroyer and Mrs. Hazel Hood Williamson County Genealogical Society,Inc., 1985 (Out-of-print)PO Box 585 Round Rock, Texas 78680

Biographical data submitted by Faye Chism under the entry titled "Dr. William Mitchell Owen",pp.224-225 All information in brackets inserted by Mrs. Muncy.

Sarah Ann Groom, daughter of William and Sarah Groom, was born September 26, 1838 in Clay County, Missouri [1860 Census of Burnet County, Texas gives birthplace as Kentucky]. She married Dr. William Mitchell "Mitch" Owen (b. 1807, North Carolina) in Buchannon [Buchanan] County, Missouri. In 1844 the family moved to Texas, first settling at Gooch's Branch near present day Mt. Pleasant in Titus County. Dr. Owen was the first physician in that county.

The family moved to Williamson County, Texas in 1847, living in a log cabin "facing" Blue Hole on the San Gabriel River. [Williamson County sits atop of the Edward Aquifer reservior and Blue Hole, having retained its beauty, is still one of the most cherished swimming spots in the state.] Dr. Owen was the first physician in Georgetown area. [He was the fifth physician to locate in the county.]

In 1858, the family was living in Karnes County and later was enumerated in the 1860 census of Burnet County. He served as surgeon under Capt. M. W. Matthew in the Lone Star Guards of Burnet County. The unit was organized in 1861 to protect the population from Indian raids and the chaos that came with the Civil War.

The family returned to Williamson County in 1870 and settled in Round Rock, living in a home built in 1853 on the old Chisholm Trail. The home served as an office for his practice also. [His home and practice were actually located at the center of Old Round Rock, within a short walk of the Chisholm Trail. He was an important participant in the county's development.

Sarah died July 2, 1875. Her tombstone has inscribed a birth date of August 25, 1811.

Their children were:
1.Sarah A., b. 1838, Missouri.
2. Eveline [Evelyne], b. 1840 Missouri, married B. W. Hall, an attorney, on
           September 26, 1861.[Burnet County Marriage Records, Volume A: 196]
             i. Eugen, b. 1863.
3. William, b. 1841, Missouri.
4. James M. b. 1841, Missouri. [The 1860 Census gives birthplace as Texas.]
5. Thomas Franklin, b. 1845, Texas, married Prudence Caroline "Callie" Blair.
               i. William M., b. 1867.
              ii. Sally M., b. 1869, married Jasper Turnbow.
             iii. Claude U. "Diller", b. 1876, Texas, married Callie Morey.
              iv. Maude A., b. May 2, 1879, Arkansas, married John William Atkission
                    [Atkinson], d. May 2, 1920.
               v. Pearl, b. 1883, married Ben Towery.
              vi. Dolph, b. 1886.
6. Harriet, b. 1850, Texas, married Gibson Blair on September 4, 1871.
              After his death she returned to Williamson County.
7. Flora, b. 1852, Texas, married Robert Masterson [April 9, 1877, Williamson
              County Marriage Records, Volume 4: 510. Please note that this may have
              been Robert Masterson's second marriage. Another marriage to Virginia 
              B. Clark on November 18, 1864 is included in Williamson County Marriage
              Records,Volume 2: 154.] 
8.Benjamin, b. 1853, Texas, married Georgia _______. 
              i. Vida, b. 1888.
             ii. Mitchell B., b. 1890.
            iii. Hethay, b. 1892.
             iv. Hattie, b. 1894.
              v. John Knox, b. 1896.
             vi. Thomas H., b. 1898.
            vii. Emma L., b. 1900, Texas.
           viii. Flora B., b. 1906.
             ix. Haskell, b. 1908, Oklahoma.