Owen Wister Owen Wister, author of the Western novel The Virginian, and friend of 26th U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt Born (1860-07-14)July 14, 1860 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US Died July 21, 1938(1938-07-21) (aged 78) Saunderstown, Rhode Island Occupation Author; Attorney Spouse(s) Mary "Molly" Channing Wister (married 1898–1913, her death) Children Six children