68 Life of David Dale Owen, M. D. 
Harmony. This field work was undertaken by Dr. Owen at his 
own expense for the sake of preparatory practice in field geology. 
On the 23d of March, 1837, Dr. D. D. Owen was united in 
marriage to Caroline C. Neef, third daughter of Joseph Neef, 
formerly coadjutor of Pestalozzi, in his educational establish- 
ments at Yverdun and Burgdorf castle, Switzerland. 
Dr.D.D. Oweni's geological surveys, arranged chronologically. 
1. Immediately after Dr. Owen's marriage he commenced 
his labors as state geologist of Indiana, having been appointed 
to that position by the state board of agriculture. His prelim- 
inary reconnoissance, made during the years 1837 and 1838, 
was published in an 8vo vol. of 133 pp. and republished in 
1859. Geology being in 1838 but little known to our western 
people a brief introductory exposition of the leading forma- 
tions was given in the report ; and then attention was directed 
to the coal fields, iron ores and building stones of Indiana, in 
all of which the State is abundantly rich. 
2. During the survey the Hon. James Whitcomb, the gov- 
ernor of Indiana, had ample opportunity of becoming ac- 
quainted with Dr. Owen's qualifications, so that when, as 
commissioner of the land office, Washington, he was directed 
by Congress, through Hon. Levi Woodbury, Sec. of the 
Treas., to have a survey made of the Dubuque and Mineral 
Point districts of Wisconsin and Iowa, comprising 11,000 
square miles of the N. W. territory, in order to reserve from 
sale those sections found to contain mineral wealth, he selected, 
as the director of that examination. Dr. D. D. Owen. In order 
that the report might be made within the required time it 
became necessary to organize a large corps. The difficulties 
attendant upon this work can best be appreciated by the peru- 
sal of an extract from his report of 191 pages made April 2, 
1840, to the commissioner of the general land office. 
After showing the requirements, Dr. Owen says : I therefore 
immediately commenced engaging sub-agents and assistants, 
and proceeded to St. Louis ; there (at my own expense, to be 
repaid to me out of the per diem of the men employed) I laid 
in about three thousand dollars worth of provisions and camp 
furniture, including tents, which I caused to be made for the 
aecommodation of the whole expedition ; and in one month 
from the day I received my commission and instructions 
