When Benjamin Franklin Owens was born in April 1842, in Missouri, United States, his father, John William Owens, was 36 and his mother, Ruth Yoakum, was 34. He married Lillie June Thomas on 28 November 1877, in Hillsboro, Washington, Oregon, United States. They were the parents of at least 5 sons and 5 daughters. He lived in Reedville, Washington, Oregon, United States in 1900 and Washington, Oregon, United States in 1910. He died on 7 March 1918, in Portland, Multnomah, Oregon, United States, at the age of 75, and was buried in Portland, Multnomah, Oregon, United States.