Christopher was born in Barren Co., Kentucky on May 25, 1829, the oldest son of 6 children of George W. Owen and Martha Stovall Dickerson. By 1850, the census shows that he is living in Fristoe, Benton Co., Missouri with his parents and brother and sisters.
He married Caroline Virginia Russell on November 7, 1850 in Benton Co., Missouri. Christopher pursued farming and blacksmithing and filled the offices of assessor and constable in the county.
Christopher enlisted as First Sergeant in Co. F, 8th Missouri State Militia Cavalry on March 8, 1862 at Linn Creek, Missouri, He was listed as 31 years old, 5 feet 10 1/2 inches tall, with a light complexion, blue eyes, and dark hair. He listed his occupation as a carpenter. It was noted that his nose was a little crooked to the left.
At the Battle of Lone Jack, he was the 1st Sergeant of Co. F. He was not wounded in the fight. On October 25, 1862 he was elected Captain of Co. F.
On July 19, 1863, Christopher was placed under arrest for plotting mischief against the other officers of the Battalion and for arson, robbery, drunkenness, neglect of duty and disobedience of orders. The records are very detailed and show that he was court marshalled on these charges. On February 11, 1864, Captain Christopher Owen was dismissed from the service having failed to pass a satisfactory examination before the examining board by the general commanding.
After the war he moved to St. Clair Co., Missouri where he served as commissioner of public roads and was engages in surveying until 1870, when he moved to Taney Co.
On May 12, 1869, a Special Order was issued by direction of the Secretary of War that the Court Martial, dated September 2, 1864l which summarily dismissed Captain Owen was revoked because he had previously been dismissed by special orders dated February 11, 1864.
Christopher appears on the 1870 Census with his wife, Caroline and their 8 children with his home in Big Creek, Taney Co., Missouri. He listed his occupation as a farmer. He also held several public positions in that county. Christopher was a licensed physician having received his license from the State Board of Health.
He appears on the 1890 Special Schedule of Surviving Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines, and Widows, Etc. as Captain of Co. F from 1862 to 1864 where the information on him under the Remarks portion shows “No discharge on this service”. Interestingly, Christopher was the Enumerator of the Schedule. He was living in Protem, Taney Co., Missouri. Christopher died on October 23, 1897 and is buried in the Protem Cemetery