Rhoda Salome Eastman Owen and the Owen Eyes

Rhoda Salome Eastman was born 20 Dec 1837 in Mississippi to Levi J. and Mary B. (Arnett) Eastman.  She was the fourth of seven children born in Mississippi, with the eighth and youngest sibling born in Texas in 1847.       
 
Rhoda married Erasmus Miller Owen, a Baptist preacher, on 6 Sep 1858 in San Saba, Texas.  She was the mother of Letitia Owen (called "Tishy" by the family, wife of Ben Mallory) plus eleven more children.  
 
She was described in June Ferguson's Mallory family history:

"Rhoda Eastman Owen was born in Natchez, Mississippi.  She was remembered by her son, Conrad, as a quiet, kindly woman who liked to have him read to her when she wasn't well.  He said she was convinced that God will eventually save all, despite all preaching to the contrary.  Rhoda had what came to be known as 'typical Owen eyes' which many of her children and grandchildren inherited.
Leona Mallory Poor, dau of Letitia (Owen) and Ben Mallory, had "Owen eyes."

They vary from dark brown to hazel brown with a lighter, raised-looking rim edging the iris."

According to the Mallory family history, "Letitia's parents had moved to Brown County from San Saba sometime during these years [1893-1895].  They had a ranch at May, Texas where Rhoda, Letitia's mother, was buried...."  Rhoda died 28 May 1896 and was buried in the May Cemetery, Brown County, Texas.  She was just 58 years old and her youngest child was only 14 at the time.  

This Eastman line has been traced back to the arrival of Roger Eastman in Massachusetts, 1638. 

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