Can anyone help with information on John Owen Rowlett (1847-1918)?

Question

I am relatively new to Wikitree, and this is my first attempt to participate in the G2G forum, so if I am "out of order" please help me to understand.

The genealogy information I have found indicates:

John Owen Rowlett (1847-1918), son of Dr. Daniel Rowlett, married Laura Minta Owen on August 4, 1869 in Jackson County, Texas.  This marriage would yield 10 children: Mary Laura (1873); John Owen, II (1874); Ruth Ida (1876); Henry Jones (1877); Abram Owen (1878); George Simons (1884); Flora (1888); Daniel (1891); Pansy; and William.  

 

A second marriage to Augusta Harriet White would yield 6 additional children: Clark L. Owen (1875); Hally J. (1878); Bessie Owen (1879); Bessie Roensch (1880); Mary Estelle (1888); and Daniel White (1891)"

 

He was a county sheriff, which leads me to be suspect that he would not be married to two women at the same time - with 7 of 10 children in the first marriage born after the first child in the second marriage.  All lived within a very small town in South Texas, so it is not likely there were secrets at this level - and polygamy was not legal at that time in this area.  

Thanks in advance for any/all information that might help me sort this mystery into something realistic.   

Answer 1

The 1900 Census lists Augusta married to John in 1886:

Name:	Augusta H Rowlett
Age:	50
Birth Date:	Jan 1850
Birthplace:	Texas
Home in 1900:	Justice Precinct 1, Jackson, Texas
Race:	White
Gender:	Female
Relation to Head of House:	Wife
Marital Status:	Married
Spouse's Name:	John O Rowlett
Marriage Year:	1886
Years Married:	14
Father's Birthplace:	North Carolina
Mother's Birthplace:	Kentucky
Mother: number of living children:	4
Mother: How many children:	5
Occupation:	View on Image
Neighbors:	View others on page
Household Members:	Name Age John O Rowlett 52 Augusta H Rowlett 50 John O Rowlett 25 Ruth I Rowlett 22 Hally J Rowlett 21 Mary E Rowlett 11 G Darrell Rowlett 9 Clark L Owen 25 Bessie Owen 20

 

Source Citation

Year: 1900; Census Place: Justice Precinct 1, Jackson, Texas; Roll: 1648; Page: 24A; Enumeration District:0058; FHL microfilm: 1241648

Answer 2

United States Census, 1850 https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXLK-7JV

United States Census, 1860 https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXFR-T43

Head United States Census, 1880 https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFNG-NVL

His first wife Laura died in 1885. Find A Grave Index https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVKN-QJZY

Head United States Census, 1900 https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M3P9-SGR

Head United States Census, 1910 https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M2S3-65J

Texas Deaths, 1890-1976 https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3ZB-36J

Find A Grave Index https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVKN-QJZT

Answer 3

His marriage to Laura was in 1869:

Name:	John O. Rowlett
Marriage Date:	4 Aug 1869
Marriage Place:	Jackson, Texas, USA
Spouse:	Laura Owen
Source:	Texas Marriages, 1814-1909

 

Source Information

Texas, Marriage Collection, 1814-1909 and 1966-2011