Benjamin Franklin Shumard. 3 
the equivalency of the corresponding formations, and in token 
of his appreciation of the work of the young scientist he pre- 
sented him with a copy of his splendid work on the Paleon- 
tology of Russia. 
Dr. D. D. Owen visited Louisville with M. de Verneuil and 
soon after appointed Dr. Shumard as assistant on the survey 
of the northwestern territories. He continued in this work 
for four years and took a prominent part in the preparation 
for and contributions to those important earliest government 
reports, viz : The geology of Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota. 
During this time, in 1847, he prepared a paper under the 
title of "Contributions to the Geology of Kentucky," which 
contained many new facts of observation and is still referred 
to by those who have occasion to notice the organic remains 
of Kentucky. This attracted unusual attention, and made his 
name familiar to geologists in Europe and America. 
In 1850 Dr. Shumard accompanied Dr. Evans to assist in a 
geological reconnaissance of Oregon. He spent eighteen 
months in this work and prepared the paleontological report. 
During the year following he was occupied in identifying the 
fossils collected by his brother in an expedition for explora- 
tion in the Red River region under Capts. B. B. Marcy and G. 
B. McClellan. 
In 1853 he was appointed assistant geologist and paleontolo- 
gist of the Missouri geological survey under Prof. Swallow. 
He gave his usual diligence and fidelity to this work until 
called in 1858 by governor Runnels of Texas to take charge of 
the newly authorized survey of that state. 
He entered upon this great work with enthusiasm and in the 
hope and expectation of being able to carry it forward to its 
completion. For two years he pursued it industriously and 
made a reconnoissance of the entire eastern and middle por- 
tions of the state. He made the interesting discovery that the 
geological deposits of Texas are the most complete of any 
known on the continent of America, ranging from the Arch- 
aean up to the latest Tertiary formations. The specimens 
collected during the continuance of the surve}' were arranged 
preparatory to writing his report, when Gen, Houston, who had 
just been elected governor, removed him from office to make 
room for one of his political supporters. A short time after, 
the war of the rebellion broke out, and put an end to geologi- 
