Name: James E. Owens Hometown: Fairfield, Vermont Owens was the son of a farmer near St. Albans, Vermont and was a cousin of McMahon and Edward Cox of Fairfield, two wrestlers. He stood 5'8" and weighed 185 pounds. On December 27, 1876, a "titanic struggle" occurred in Boston at the Music Hall between James Owens and Colonel James H. McLaughlin for the Collar and Elbow championship of the World. McLaughlin won the title in a Detroit tournament in 1870. For the match, there would be two committees, one for each wrestler, and two umpires, in addition to a referee, Dr. John P. Ordway of Boston. The title would be on the line and a $1,000 side bet. They followed the rule of Edwin James' Sporting Manuel. McLaughlin held a distinct advantage in terms of weight and height, standing 6'2" to Owens' 5'8" and weighing 230 to his opponent's 185. During the first fall, there was no winner, but McLaughlin took the second. Owens won the third. Again in the fourth fall, there was no winner declared. During the fifth fall, the referee said the grapplers were too tired to continue and stopped the match. The crowd voiced its displeasure and an angry protest was launched. McLaughlin and Owens agreed to continue at that point, and Owen won a "square back fall," and won the match two falls to one. The fans cheered the finish. After the match, McLaughlin said that his foot was sore, and prevented him from doing certain moves. Owens' win was considered a huge upset at the time. Owens, in November 1878, was called the American champion at the collar and elbow style. He accepted the challenge of Charles Connor on November 20. A controversial match occurred at Boston's Atheneum between Owens and H.M. Dufur of Marlboro for the C&E championship, plus a $500 side-bet. James' rules were in place to govern the bout. The referee was Judge Fasset of Nashua, New Hampshire. Dufur scored the first fall, using his size advantage to dominate aspects of the bout. Then, during the second fall, Owens apparently took a fall, but the judges couldn't tell if it really was a fall or not. Fans cried out that it hadn't been one. The referee stated that Dufur won the fall, which the fans disagreed with, and then disappeared. Dufur had his two falls and won the match. Owens addressed the crowd, protesting the decision, and wanted to meet Dufur again. He also wanted the stakeholder, Colonel Morse, not to pay his opponent, and Morse agreed not to pay up. After the match, Dufur claimed the championship, however, he understood if Owens didn't want to pay the $500. As of July 1879, there were at least four individuals claiming the Collar and Elbow wrestling championship: Owens, Dufur, McLaughlin and McMahon, and a tournament was being considered. At the New York City St. James Opera House on August 6, 1879, John McMahon beat Owens in two-of-three-falls, eliminating Owens from contention for the disputed Collar and Elbow championship. McMahon won the American title claim and a $2,000 side-bet. 600 people saw the match and Harry Hill was the referee. McMahon won the second and third falls after Owens annexed the first. On December 24, 1880, at his home in Fairfield, Owens passed away after suffering severe bronchial problems. Research by Tim Hornbaker |
| James Owens Wrestling History |
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