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HARMONY, INDIANA, FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 1886.icbill**sh,!laH,arsofflad- •PROF. RICHARD OWEN.Biographical Sketch of Our Distinguished Townsman.Written by Edwin S. Monroe, Student at Bloomington.n Posey,S,S.Bloomington, Ind., April 20.—During the summer of 1882, the writer had occasion to attend a summer school in session in the beautiful little town of New Harmony, Ind. While there, he was attracted by the gentle face and singular address of a somewhat old-appearing gentleman. He spoke so kindly to every one he met, and every one returned the greeting as if the old gentleman was held in the greatest respect; and indeed he was, every person in the town seemed to love him. Upon inquiry it was learned that his name was Richard Owen. Subsequently, in his lectures before the school, his gentle demeanor, his earnestness, his profound knowledge impressed all to such an extent as never to be forgotten.All my readers have heard of the Owens. They have figured conspicuously in literary, social and scientific circles. Robert Owen, the father, was a great English philanthropist and social reformer. His first attempt to introduce a system of reform at New Lanark, Scotland, and his subsequent effort at New Harmony in 1823 to establish a communistic Boctety have given him a widespread reputation. Robert Dale Owen, a brother, was an American statesman and author. David Dale Owen, also a brother, was a geologist of considerable note.The subject of our sketch was born January 6th, 1810, at Braxfield House. Lanarkshire, Scotland, and is the only surviving son of Robert Owen, mentioned above. His mother was a Dale—daughter of David Dale, a Scotchman, owner of the celebrated mills at New Lanark, on the Clyde. Dr. Owen's boyhood was spent at the estate of Braxfield, which was situated on the banks of the Clyde. The beautiful hills; the childish romps with his brothers on the plat of blue-served on the earth’s crust, were the result of forces acting according to fixed, demon strable laws,: analogous to those governing the development of organic bodies.” The chief new scientific fact contained in this book, judging from its being copied into Dana’s, Dawson’s aud Cove's works and the latest French geological work by De Lappa-rent, is that the general coast trend of continents and their chief mountain ranges form angles of 23$° with the meridians, the latter according with the axis of rotation, the trends, whether east or west, being secondary to the plane of the ecliptic, according, therefore, with the axis of orbital revolution. In 1859 Dr. Owen was appointed Assistant State Geologist of Indiana and made a survey of the State. The following year he waB appointed State Geologist, and published his report in an octavo volume with illustrations.On the breaking out of the late civil war, Prof Owen was commissioned Lieutenant-Colonel of the 15th Ind. Vols. by Governor Morton, who had not forgotten his services in the Mexican war. He was with Gen. Reynolds at the battle of Rich Moiintain and participated in the defense of the Union camp at Huttensville and the battleofGreen-brier, IV. Va. In the autumn of 1861 he was promoted as Colonel of the 60th Ind. Vols., which he had enlisted. Dr. Owen’s two sons were also officers ih this regiment. That winter he guarded at Indianapolis 4,000 prisoners captured at Ft. Donelson. In the spring of the following year he was ordered to Kentucky and his regiment was taken as prisoners of war by Bragg at Munfordsville. Three months after its capture it was exchanged. A Ithough the regiment was paroled Dr. Owen was not, nor were his side-arms taken. On the contrary Gen. Buckner went out into the field where the regiment was guarded and thanked Col. Owen for his kindness to the 4,000 Ft. Donelson prisoners at Camp Morton. Gen. B. R. Johnson, with whom he had been associated as teacher, and two students, then officers in the Confederate army, whom Dr. Owen had often drilled, also called on him. He was treated very politely by Gen. Bragg with whom he had become acquainted in the Mexican war. After tbe exchange he was ordered to the southwest and participated in the capture of Arkansas Post. His regiment lost quite extensively in killed and wounded in this engagement. lie was with Sherman at the firBt attempt on Vicksburg aud afterward at tbe capture of that city by Grant, July 4, 1863. Soon after, in command of a brigade, he was with Sherman at the taking of Jackson, Miss. He participated also with Banks in the Red River campnigD, aud at the attack1C.grass-in front of the mansion; the hazel-nulling in the wooded “brae” sloping thence I Ij,ln ks’forces in Carrion Crow liayou by to the river; the rocky declivity on one side ] the Confederates Col. Owens regiment suf-mIiOCA FtInLeagdealtStateto taing sIt isandventiandlocalwhercircumidaissuethuserfulis irealiactiodangthat one ithemlionquorbrewin)ryof the mansion , the busby “dingle ’ and precipitous bank on the other; the boating on the Clyde, above the mill-dam, in the little boat made by his own boyish hands; his grandfather’s machine-shops of the New Lanark establishment; the delightful canters on their ponies, one of which each of the young Owens possessed— these the Doctor has not forgotten. It was there his youth-fered severely, it having been ordered to briog up and protect the rear. While in this campaign he was invited to take the Chair of Natural Science in the University of Indiana. He accepted on condition that bis place should be temporarily filled until theclose of the campaign. He joined the University, Jan. 1, 1804, and remained until the close of the session of 1879. In the meantime, autumn of 1864, he was allowed by (he trustees to make geological surveys inful mind was directed toward the study of Now.Mexico and Minnesota, a report of1 which was published. In the summer of 67d.sthat which he has ever since so devoutly followed—Nature.Dr. Owen received his primary education from private tutors. He spent a short time in the Lanark Latin Grammar School. Hehe made similar surveys in North Carolina.On leave of absence Dr. Owen, in 1869, visited Europe in the interest of bis profession, and traveled in Greece, Crimea, HolyLand, end Egypt. In 1872 he was tendered the presidency of Purdue University. He was theu sent to Howfyl, near Berne, Switx-1 accepted, but after wailing two years forerland, to the noted institution of learning organization he resigned and was thus ena-founded by M. Fellenberg. Later he attend- M*d r6nmin at l‘,e, Indiana Unieereity - . . , j , ^ . , tt • fully arrange and label the famous geo-ed lectures delieered by Dr. Andrew Ur* in ,ogieal c'Uectio£ of hia lale brother. Dr D.the Andersonian Institute of Glasgow. I D. Owen. This, known as the “Owen Cabi-In the autumn of 1827 young Owen emi- net,” was one of tho most complete geologic-grated to New Harmony, Posey Co., Ind.. the I al colleclions tllen *aI8red l0Selh'r- uRIgs,scene of his father’s social experiments, and there, though but 17 years of age, was engaged in teaching for a short time. He then removed to Cincinnati, where he was employed as an assistant to an old friend, Dr. William Price, who was engaged in a brewery. After three yearB he returned to New Harmony, and for seven years was foreman of a steam flouring-mill and carrying on a stock farm.He married Miss Anne Neef in 1837. Mrs. Owen is the youngest daughter of Prof. Joseph Neef, formerly coadjutor with Pesta-lozzi, and is the author of two educationalworks. Dr. Owen's scientific reputation began with his experience with the microscope and an account of the “flying weevil,” which was first published in the Cultivatorwas in possession of the Indiana University and, unfortunately, in the fire of July 12th, 1883, which consumed the old museum, was almost totally destroyed. Some of tho most valuable specimens were saved, however, and now form part of the collection in the new museum of the University. In 1874, Wabash College conferred on Richard Owen the degree of Doctor of Laws. He, having received a sunstroke which impaired his hearing, resigned his professorship in Indiana University in 1878 to take effect on thefollowing year.Dr. Owen's scientific investigation has not abated in the least since he severed his connection wilh the University of Indiana. While at Bloomington and subsequently at New Harmony he has made original experiments and observations on the strength and direction of electrical currents in the earth’s crust by means of iron rods driven into the ground and connected by an insulated wire with a delicate galvometer. Nearly everyIn addition to these he has contributed numerous articles on terrestrial magnetism, geology, etc., to the Journal of the Franklin Institute, Polytechnic Review, Indianapolis Journal, Scientific American, and others.Dr. Owen’s scientific research has been decidedly original. Should the confines of this article admit we would gladly review the more prominent of his papers, but suffice it to say that the germinal idea, the foundation of his investigations, is that the earth is a great magnet, rendered so either directly by induction from the sun, or indirectly by modes of motion (thermo-electricity, etc.) from that same source. Consequently tbe land coming above the ocean conformed to the forces emanating from the sun; hence, the coast lines and the principal mountain ranges on the eastern and western Continents conform to the axis of the ecliptic, or, in other words, are secondaries to the plane of the sun’s apparent path.Old age has not in the least curbed bis love for scientific investigation. In reply to a letter of inquiry addressed to him, Dr.Owen says: “As regards my health, I amvery grateful to the Creator lor permitting me at the age of 76 to have enough physical and mental power for the study of His wonderful works. I have, however, to be exceedingly careful, especially as regards diet, or I at once pay the penalty. I walk daily about two hours, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. All forenoon I devote to researches in Dynamical Geology; and in the afternoon I give French lessons to my grandchildren and grand nieces. I am, at present, engaged on two papers—one to demonstrate more fully than heretofore that the angular difference between the axis of the equator and the axis of the ecliptic, viz.:23£ degrees, or thereby, is the unit of measurement for all important continental and oceanic areas as well as the measurement from magnetic foci lo prominent seismic regions; the other paper is to show the inii-mate relations between tbe geography and the geology of our globe.”In 1875 Dr. Owen waB Grand Master of tbe Grand Lodge I. O. O. F. of Indiana, and tbe next year was representative to the Sovereign Grand Lodge of tbe United States.He is also a Mason, a member of the G. A. R., and an honorary member of the Beta Theta Pi. While in Bloomington he was an elder in the Presbyterian church and now bolds his membership at Mt. Vernon, Ind. Last March he and Mrs. Owen celebrated the 49th anniversary of their marriage. Three children have been born 'to them—an only daughter, who is dead, and two Bons now in business in New Harmony.Dr. Owen is kindly remembered at Bloom-ington. His life-size portrait graces the 1 walls of “Athenian Hall,” and of the three new buildings of Indiana University, the one devoted to the study of natural history, which he loves so well, bears the name of “Owen Hall” in his honor. The older students of the University remember him with great respect. One reason of his eminent success as a teacher was his knack of governing young men. His idea was that young men of college age should be taught self-government and that a great part of the enforcement of discipline might be left to their own management under a code formed by themselves and approved by tbe faculty. . ,Throughout his entire works breathes the asy spirit of a sincere lover of and seeker after S truth, and of one whose researches are con- eati ducted under a profound sense of the Divine Being and Providence,, with an earnest desire to render praise to God and benefit to C0U1 man. Dr. Owen early established this as the T philosophy of life: “The sum of wisdom is ed £to know the laws by which the universe is governed; the sum of virtue is to obey them.” And his earnest desire, as set forth *e9 in the prefatory remarks of one of his books, is “that when the Omniscient Author of this existence calls upon him to exchange, larva like, his short’earthly career for the cold and chrysalis sleep of death, preparatory to a glorious and perfect existence hereafter, he asks no higher posthumous honor than to have the following short lineB engraven after his name, on a plain while slab, as bisEPITAPH :‘His first desire was to be virtuous;His second, to be wise.’ ”Edwin S. Monroe.T1 date: was the tin ’7nowonesrourcoucnearnamnot ihasappagreaAwasnettThoa me lar lt;P;thefactJlt;thatand afterward copied into several works on year, since resigning, he has contributed aentomology. Ho also wrote a number of ar- PaPer 10 tho “American Association for theAdvancement of Science, of which body hewas first a member and later fellow. He is85.tides on education for the Southwestern Sen-einel, published at Evansville.Dr. Owen's military career began in the spring of 1847 as captain of Company “D,” ]6th U. S. Infantry, which was one of the ten regiments raised for the Mexican war in accordance with an act of Congress. Most of the time he was with Taylor in charge ofianalso a member of the St. Louis Academy of Science and an honorary member of similar societies in New Orleans, La., San Buena Neutura, Cal., and is a charter member of the Indiana Academy of Science recently organized at Indianapolis, of which David S. Jordan is now president.In competition for a prize of 25,000 francs. . . . . . . . , offered by the King of Belgium for the “bestthe provision trains. At the close of the war Bygtem 0f popularizing geography and teach-he retured to New Harmony, and began hng in institutions of all grades,” Dr. Owenpreparations for the geological survey of j sont two boxes containing manuscripts, il-Minnesota in ch.rge of his late brother, Dr. Juration* »nd relief map* and models, .v si tt o st i . ' » The award has not yet been made. In 1880David Dale Owen, then U. S. Geologist. In wag app0inted as a sub-committee to send1849, in company with Dr. I. G. Norwood, communication to the International Geolog-he examined the northern shore of Lake Su- ical Congress, which met at Bologna, on theperior. Later he was invited by Col. Thorn- “Unification of Geological Nomenclature.” f , .. . . ,T , , He complied, and during the session of thatS. ton Johnston to lake the Chair of Natural body received a lelter of thanks frora1 Science in the Western Military Institute of President Capellini and asking for a trans-' * Kentucky. He accepted and began labor in lation of the report into French for insertion. that institution in the winter of 1849, and in their proceeding*. When *ahi Congress na. I, .... , - r 1 met at Berlin. Dr. Owen sent manuscriptsoentest | held h.a profc.sorship for ten year*. Col. I nd relief map„ .iemplifying ,n uniformB. R. Johnson and James G. Blaine were system of coloring for geological maps, etc.also connected with this institution at limes Being an honorary member of the Britishduring Dr. Owen’* profe*8or»bip. Part of Aa»oci»(ion be s.nt to the Aberdeen meeting 4. ® , i * j 4 t» o * communication entitled “Correlation ofthe time be was loc»ted .t Drennon Spnngs, go,af lnd Terr„lrial Dyn.mic,.” The prin-Ky^ and later on at Nashville, Tenn. While 0jpai papers contributed to the A. A. A. S. I and | at this place (1858) he graduated at the I are Nashville Medical College.While holding tho Chair of Natural Science in the Western Military Institute of which I Kentucky, Dr. Owen published his “Key to tbe Oeology of the Globe,” an illustrated octavo volume. Tho design of this book is to “show that the present geographical, hydrographical and geologioal structures, ob-Waahlngton Specials.Washington, D. C., April 20.—Senator Blair, of New Hampshire, spoke to-day in favor of hie national prohibitory amendment to the Constitution, calling upon the Republican party to adopt it as the leading issue for 1888.Secretary Manning is improving, and 19 now able to be up.The following is a list of patents granted during the week to citizens of Indiana, and specially reported for the New Harmony Register by C. A. Snow Co., Patent-Attor-neys, opposite U. S. patent-office, Washington, D. C.:J. Imler, Garrett, machine for driving weed tubes.G. D. Herpick, Indianapolis, carriage topjoint.M. Keller, Burket, machine for making fences.B. i\ Applegate, New Albany, band cutter. R. H. Kersey, Lebanon, ditching machine. S. M. Raines, Logansport, baker's oven.J. A. Ritter, West Baden, harvest sickle. D. B. Smith, Vevay, pen and brush holder A. B. Reeves, Columbus, plow gauge.A. J. Ramsey, Liberty Center, churn.S. J. Fisher, Pnckerton, land roller.• G. W. Albaugh, South Bend, milk can.TImft:braparstoi5thcreiandancPylvisingstasol-whcleantlacpectoontheonfougrcap9m’ft every deserve ER.1. Contribution to Pysiographicaland Dynamic Geology.2. The Law of Land-Form ing on our Globe.3. The Law of Fracture, or Fissuring, Applied to Organic and Inorganic Matter.4. Contribution to Seismology.4. The Continental Type of Normal Orography and Geology of Continents.6. British Earthquakes and their Seismio Relations.Newspapers at Chicago*Chicago, III., April 26.—The total number of newspapers and periodicals publishedin Chicago is 411. Of these 3 are quarterly, 71 semi-monthly, 248 monthly, G7 weekly, and 22 daily—and 370 are printed in the English language, 21 in German, 11 Scandinavian, 4 in Bohemian, 3 Polish, and 2 in French. The quantify mailed during January, February and March was 1,867 tons, or about 136 car-loads. Of the daily newspapers, the Herald seems to lead.(favW1moceiAlmost Froo From Whisky Rule.Augusta, Qa., April 22.—Out of the 137counties in Georgia, the sale of intoxicatingliquors has been stopped in 115 by a vote of the people. The law is strictly enforced, and the peace and prosperity of the various towns and counties is much improved. The prohibition sentiment continues to grow. Washington oounty, one of the largest in the State, has just voted out all saloons by a majority of 242.Arkansas Negro Agrlenitnrallsts.A State agricultural society, composed of colored farmers exclusively, hat just been organised in Arkansas.colleaAsouThanabtnhujuifieinwidaClt;or
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New Harmony Register
New Harmony, Indiana, US
Fri, Apr 30, 1886
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