JSM worked at the Owen shipyard. Having arrived in the Maritimes in 1831 it was in 1848 that he built the Success – the first of his own built ships.

The Owen name as shipbuilders on the Cardigan River is very significant. Arthur and Thomas Owen leased land on the south side of the river about 1824 and began building ships there. Many of them were commissioned by James Peake of Charlottetown, such as, the James, the Castalia, the William Bromham, the Aurelian. Robert Long commissioned the Vanguard and the Thomas Bold. John Spencer Smith commissioned the Welsford and Hon. Samuel Cunard commissioned the Margaret. Some they financed themselves, such as the Economist, the Edward Codrington. Arthur was the shipwright and Thomas worked as agent. These vessels ranged in size from the brig. James at 222 tons to the ship Thomas Bold of 631 tons with nine being over 400 tons. Arthur and Thomas carried on business under the name of A & T Owen between 1824 and 1842 when the partnership was dissolved. Arthur’s ship drafting tools are in storage at the P.E.I. archives.

Lemuel C Owen (1822-1912), the oldest son of Thomas (1795-1860) and Ann(Campbell) Owen continued the shipbuilding business in Cardigan but did not limit himself to this location. He commissioned ships from many other ports. His grandparents, Arthur(1756-1823) and Elizabeth(Lee) Owen had emigrated to P.E.I. in 1788 and had settled at Alberton, then moved to Princetown(Summerside) later L.C.’s father Thomas was the postmaster general about 1842-1860. On leaving school L.C. entered the mercantile business with James Peake of Charlottetown. He then engaged in the building and selling of ships which he followed continuously until 1892.

Lemuel C Owen’s name as owner in the list of ships built on the Cardigan River is the one seen most often. The Gleam in1849, the Margaret in 1853, Evangeline in 1854 and many others.