The Owen, McCutchen and Merritt families included some of the earliest influential citizens of Southeast Missouri. Connected by marriage, individual family members owned and operated local businesses, held government offices and organized important financial and industrial institutions in Campbell, Missouri. Given Owen, one of the earliest to settle in Missouri was a local judge and pharmacist in Four Mile, Missouri. Given married Louisiana Bozarth Owen, who in her later years was known for her knowledge of Campbell/Dunklin County history. Their daughter Martha (Mattie) Owen married Alabama native, Louis McCutchen. Louis moved to Four Mile in the 1870s, but in 1882 he moved his business and family to Campbell, Missouri. Louis McCutchen initially partnered with Given Owen, creating a country store that supplied medicine. Later, Louis would take part in other commercial endeavors including the McCutchen Mercantile Company and the Bank of Campbell. Louis’ daughter, Fannie McCutchen, became a teacher, receiving her own education at the Cape Girardeau Normal School and Hardin College in Mexico, Mo. Fannie married Hardy Merritt who was active in the Democratic Party and was President of the Campbell Board of Trade.