According to his military service file, he was owned by M.H. McFarland of Lincoln City, Mo. The 1860 Slave Schedules do not list anyone with those initials. However, there are three men listed with the last name of McFarland who owned slaves in Liberty (listed below with the ages and genders of their slaves). Although the first listed seems a distinct possibility (the initials almost match), the likely candidate is William McFarland, as he is the owner of a 15-year-old black male. This is the closest match to Octavius' stated age at enlistment (19 on one record, 21 on another).

Of course, this is all speculation. What transpired between the 1860 Slave Schedules and Octavius' 1863 enlistment is as of yet unknown.

R.H. McFarland
35 Male Mulatto
35 Male Black
28 Female Mulatto
15 Female Black
11 Female Black
11 Female Mulatto
5 Female Black

Reuben McFarland
10 Female Black
10 Female Black

William McFarland
35 Female Black
15 Male Black
12 Female Black
9 Male Black
7 Male Black
5 Female Black
3 Male Black