Did you get your information from William V's death record?
Kentucky Deaths
Name: William Vesper Owen
Death Date: 1 Nov 1946
Death Location: Pulaski
Age: 50 Gender: Male
Ethnicity: White
Birth Date: 15 Mar 1896
Birth Location: Hazelton, Indiana
Spouse's Name: Nerrie Verena Owen
Spouse's Age: 47
Father's Name: William Jesse Owen
Father's Birth Location: Danville, Kentucky
Mother's name: Della Legganer
Mother's Birth Location: Hazelton Indiana
Because I cannot find the Legganer surname anywhere else, and I'm wondering if the informer spelled it wrong or remembered it wrong. Looking for similar sounding names in the Hazelton area (Gibson County), I found Leginor, Legenour and Legier. You might try searching those surnames and other similar names for clues. Della could also be a nickname for Adele or Adelia.
Also, William V's WWI draft registration shows he was in Wabash Il at the time, so it would be prudent to search Illinois records for the family.
Here is a little info on Della and William from the 1900 census. This gives their birthdates, marriage, and shows Della was actually born in Iowa. You may have missed it in your search because the census-taker added an s to their surname.
1900 United States Federal Census
Name: Della Owens
[Dilla Owens]
Age: 23
Birth Date: Nov 1876
Birthplace: Iowa
Home in 1900: White River, Gibson, Indiana [Gibson]
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Wife
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: William Owens
Marriage Year: 1895
Years married: 5
Father's Birthplace: Indiana
Mother's Birthplace: Iowa
Mother: number of living children: 3
Mother: How many children: 3
Household:
William Owens ( Dec 1868)
Della Owens (Nov 1876)
William V Owens (Mar 1896)
E Wallace Owens ( Dec 1897)
Charles M Owens (Mar 1900)
You could check Indiana Dept of Health to see how far back they have birth certificates. If they go back far enough, you could order copies of the certs of the 3 boys. They would probably have the correct spelling for Della's maiden name.
I think this is William Jesse before his marriage, living with his widowed mother and his sister:
1880 United States Federal Census
Name: William Owen
Age: 12
Birth Year: abt 1868
Birthplace: Kentucky
Home in 1880: White River, Gibson, Indiana
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Son
Marital Status: Single
Father's Birthplace:Tennessee
Mother's name: Martha Owen
Mother's Birthplace:Tennessee
Occupation: Works On Farm
Household Members: Name Age
Martha Owen 64
Mary Owen 21
William Owen 12
This is interesting. Might this be your William Jesse? Same birth month and year. Same county as where the son registered for the draft. Parents from Kentucky, but mother listed as Margaret instead of Martha - close. Father is Wallace Elijah, and William has a son named E Wallace. But look at the wife's name. Second wife because Della died?
Illinois, Deaths and Stillbirths Index, 1916-1947 about William Jesse Owen
Name: William Jesse Owen
Birth Date: 23 Dec 1868
Birth Place: Winslow, Indiana
Death Date:10 Oct 1943
Death Place: MT Carmel, Wabash, Illinois
Burial Date: 13 Oct 1943
Burial Place: MT. Carmel Rd Dist #3, Wabash, Illinois
Cemetery Name: Rose Hill
Death Age: 74
Race: White
Marital Status: M
Gender: Male
Street Address: 222 W. 2nd
Residence: MT. Carmel, Wabash, Illinois
Father Name: Wallace Elijah Owen
Father Birth Place: Kentucky
Mother Name: Margaret Bryant
Mother Birth Place: Kentucky
Spouse Name: Minnie Rhoden Owen
FHL Film Number:1983539
Here they are in the census. Yep, she's much younger. Second wife.
1930 United States Federal Census
Name: William J Owen
Gender: Male
Birth Year: abt 1869
Birthplace: Indiana
Race: White
Home in 1930: Mount Carmel, Wabash, Illinois
Marital Status: Married
Relation to Head of House: Head
Spouse's Name: Minnie L Owen
Father's Birthplace: South Carolina
Mother's Birthplace: Kentucky
Household Members: Name Age
William J Owen 61
Minnie L Owen 45
He was with her in 1920. There's another son - Albert.
1920 United States Federal Census
Name: William Owen
Age: 51
Birth Year: abt 1869
Birthplace: Indiana
Home in 1920: Hoopeston Ward 4, Vermilion, Illinois
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Minnie L Owen
Father's Birthplace: Tennessee
Mother's Birthplace: Indiana
Home owned: Rent
Able to Read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Household Members: NameAge
William Owen 51
Minnie L Owen 33
Albert Owen 16
Yep, it's him. Here he is listed as a widower, with the kids and his mother. So Della died sometime between 1904 (when Albert was born) and 1910. (Cooper is Wm Vesper and Francis Spencer is listed as Wm J's divorced sister)
1910 United States Federal Census
Name: William Owen
Age in 1910: 43
Birth Year:1 867
Birthplace: Indiana
Home in 1910: MT Carmel Ward 5, Wabash, Illinois
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital Status: Widowed
Father's Birthplace: South Carolina
Mother's name: Margaret Hudson
Mother's Birthplace: Kentucky
Household Members: Name Age
William Owen 43
Cooper Owen 14
Wallace Owen 12
Marshel Owen 10
Albert Owen 6
Margaret Hudson 71
Francis Spencer 53
Hope this helps.
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