Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 08.djvu/175

 OWEN

OWEN

report which was re-issued in 1859. James Whitcomb, governor of Indiana and commissioner of the general land office, selected him to superintend a government survey of the Dubuque and Mineral Point districts, which comprised 11,000 square miles of the Northwest territory, the object being to reserve from sale the sections containing mineral wealth. This was one of the first surveys under the auspices of the national government. The results of his investigations were published in a Report of a Geological Exploration of a Part of lotva, Wisco7isin, and Illinois made under Instructions from the Secretary of the Treasury in 1839, with charts and illustrations (1844.) He was engaged in assorting the collection of minerals and fossils left by William McLure in 1840, was appointed U.S. geologist and dii-ected to make a survey of the Chippeway district, a preliminary report of which was published in 1848. In 1849 the task was broadened and he was directed to undertake a survey of the territory lying mainly within the states of Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota, for which the svim of $40,000 was reserved. This task required five years of field work and a final year of office and laboratory work, the results of which appeared in a Report of a Geological Exploration of a Part of Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota, and Incidentally a Portion of Nebraska Territory, with plates (1852). He was state geologist of Kentucky, appointed by Governor Powell, 1854-59, presenting four Reports of the Geological Survey in Kentucky, with an atlas (1836-61). He was also appointed state geologist of Arkansas by Governor Conway, serving, 1857- 59, and publishing the results of his efforts in a Report of a Geological Reconnoissance of the Northern Counties of Arkansas (1858) and in the Report of the 3Iiddle and Southern Counties (1860). He was appointed geologist of Indiana in 1859, but owing to his impaired health, the work was done by his brother Richard, who published Report of a Geological Reconnoissance of Indiana (1862). His museum and laboratory were con- sidered among the finest in the United States, and his collection of specimens was purchased by the Indiana State university for $20,000. He died in New Harmony, Ind., Nov. 13, 1860.

OWEN, Edwin lorwerth, educator, was born in Wales in 1825, and immigrated to the United States in his early youth. He was graduated from Georgetown college, Kj'., B.A., 1849, and became a Baptist clergyman in Kentucky. He was pastor at Weston, IMo., 1857-59, and professor of ancient languages at William Jewell college, 1859-61. At the outbreak of the civil war the college was suspended, reopening in 1863 as a private school under the presidency of Dr. Wil- liam Thompson, who retired after a few months. VIII. — 11

Professor Owen became his successor and held the office until his deatli. He received the hon- orary degree of LL.D. from William Jewell college in 1859. He died in Chicago, 111., in 1867.

OWEN, George Washington, representative, was born in Brunswick county, Va., in 1795, son of a planter, who removed his family to Davidson county, Tenn., in 1808. He was graduated at the University of Nashville, studied law under Felix Grundy and was admitted to the bar in 1816. He practised in Claiborne, Monroe county, Ala., in partnership with John Gayle, represented Monroe county in the state legislature, 1819-20, and was speaker of the house in 1820. He was representative from Alabama in the 18th, 19th and 20th congresses, 1823-29 ; removed to Mobile ; was collector of that port, 1829-36, and mayor of Mobile, 1836-37. He was married to Miss Hollin- ger of Mobile, Ala. He died at his plantation near Mobile, Ala., Aug. 18, 1837.

OWEN, John, governor of North Carolina, was born in Bladen county, N.C., in August, 1787; son of Col. Thomas and Eleanor (Portersfield) Owen. Colonel Owen was born in Chester county. Pa., in 1735 ; settled in North Carolina with his father in 1740 ; represented Bladen in the general assem- blies of 1775-76 and 1776-77 ; served as 2d major of a Bladen regiment in the Revolutionary war, and commanded a regiment in the brigade of Gen. Isaac Gregory. He was a descendant of Robert and Rebecca (Humphrey) Owen of Mer- ionethshire, Wales, who settled in Merion. Penn., about 1688. John Owen at- tended the University of North Carolina in 1804 ; be- came a planter, and was elected to the North Carolina legislature, serving in the house and senate, 1812-28. He was governor of North Carolina, 1828-30, and was defeated as a can- didate for the U.S. senate by Willie P. Mangum in 1830, which contest produced an antagonism which very nearly resulted in a hostile meeting. He was a member of the state constitutional convention in 1835, and president of the Whig national convention at Harrisburg, Pa., Dec. 4, 1839, at which William H. Harrison was nomi- nated President, and John Tyler Vice-President, he himself having declined the nomination for the latter office. He was married to a daughter of Gen, Thomas Brown of Bladen county, N.C., an officer of the Revolution. His brother, James Owen (1784-1865), was a representative in the 18th congress, 1817-19. He died at Pittsboro, N.C., Oct. 14, 1841.

OWEN, John Jason, educator and author, was born in Colebrook, Conn., Aug. 13, 1803. His parents removed to Johnstown, N.Y., where he