5 o8 PIONEERS OF SCIENCE IN AMERICA. 



stone before the selection of material for that structure was 

 determined. 



His artistic skill enabled him, besides richly illustrating his 

 reports, as above noted, to leave good portraits in oil of mem- 

 bers of his family. He transmitted to London views of the 

 fossil Sigillaria found erect in situ twelve miles from New Har- 

 mony, with a description, which were presented to the British 

 Association for the Advancement of Science by Sir Roderick 

 Murchison. He subsequently conducted Sir Charles Lyell to 

 the locality while the latter was his guest at New Harmony in 

 his second visit to the United States. 



In later years Dr. Owen became completely absorbed in his 

 scientific labours, so much so that he frequently failed to eat or 

 sleep. Many stories are told of his complete " marriage to his 

 laboratory," as he was wont to express it. A relative was 

 visiting him once, and at the close of dinner he arose from the 

 table and asked to be excused, by saying that he had told Car- 

 rie before marriage that he had married his laboratory first. 

 Yet a better husband or a kinder father was never known. Of 

 the many excellent traits noticeable in common among all the 

 male descendants of Robert Owen, no other is so apparent 

 as their devotion to wife and children. 



An added value was given to Dr. Owen's scientific labours 

 by the interest they aroused among the untutored settlers of 

 the West in geology and chemistry. Had it not been for him, 

 much that William Maclure attempted for early science in the 

 West would have been lost. He was the first State Geologist 

 of Indiana, and he also trained the second and third incum- 

 bents of that office, namely, Dr. Richard Owen and Prof. E. 

 T. Cox. Indiana owes a great debt to Dr. Owen for his early 

 work in science ; Kentucky and Arkansas owe fully as much. 

 Dr. Owen also largely prepared A. H. Worthen for his work 

 later as State Geologist of Illinois. In fact, the whole Missis- 

 sippi Valley is indebted to this mild-mannered and hard-work- 

 ing scientist for blazing the way for the hosts who have fol- 

 lowed. 



THE END. 



