David Dale Owen was especially interested in fossils and minerals, and was employed to label and arrange the large collection of Maclure. A part of the collection became his property, and formed the nucleus of the famous Owen Museum, containing some eighty-five thousand specimens. This was purchased by the University of Indiana for the sum of twenty thousand dollars, but it was in great part lost in the destruction of the museum building in the disastrous fire of 1883.
David Dale Owen spent most of his life as geologist in the public service. He was State Geologist of Indiana in 1837. Afterward he undertook government work in Wisconsin and Iowa. He spent five years as United States Geologist in field work in the region beyond the Mississippi. Then in turn he had charge of the State Surveys in Kentucky, Arkansas, and Indiana. He was State Geologist of Indiana at the time of his death, in 1860. His work was admirably and conscientiously performed, and as first State Geologist of several different States he set a high standard of public work which few of his successors have been able to follow. One of the most untiring of workers and most unselfish of men, David Dale Owen has left a deep impression on the history of American geology, and the students in the Geological Department of the University of Indiana are proud to do their work in the building named "Owen Hall."
Richard Owen spent much of his early life as a teacher. He served for a time in the Mexican War, commanding a company under General Taylor. At the close of the war he became his brother's chief assistant, and was the first geologist to explore the northern shore of Lake Superior. For a time he held a professorship in the Western Military Institute in Kentucky, and afterward a similar position in a college in Nashville. This position he resigned to become his brother's successor as State Geologist of Indiana. While engaged in the survey of the State the civil war began, and he became lieutenant colonel of the Fifteenth Indiana regiment, under a commission from Governor Morton. While in camp he read the proof sheets of his last geological report. He took part in the battles of Rich Mountain and Greenbriar, and was promoted to the rank of colonel of the Sixtieth Indiana regiment.
The following facts regarding the war record of Colonel Owen I quote from an address by Judge R. W. Miers, one of his students: "In the winter of 1861-'62 he guarded at Indianapolis four thousand prisoners captured at Fort Donelson. In the spring of the following year he was ordered to Kentucky, where his regiment was taken prisoners of war by General Bragg at Mumfordsville. Three months later they were exchanged. Although the regiment was paroled, Dr. Owen was not, nor were his side arms
