Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-04-11
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

IdHClGS. YeC now anu tn0H
an instance crops out. That
a descendant of the race which held
and ruled America in the centuries
before the days OF Columbus should
occupy a seat in the Senate Of the
United States IS an example. And
should he become President, as his
friends and supporters plan. the
spirits OF his ancestors may well re-
toice.
Senator Robert Latham Owen is
tho great-great-great grandson of
Quatsis, beautiful Indian girl: sis
ter of Caulmunna (the Raven), who
was chief Of the Seven Clans Of the
Cherokees in the seventeenth and
early part of the eighteenth centur-
les A young English clergyman,
John Beamor by name, came to
America as a missionary to work
among the Indians about the year
100. In the country Of the Chero-
KEGS he saw and fell in love with
Quatsis. and, marrying her, settled
among her people. Senator Ovens
mother, Narcissa Chisholm before
she married Col. Robert L. Owen Of
Lynchburg, Va, was a direct de-
scendant of Quatsis and John
Beamor
The present Robert L. Owen was
born in Lynchburg February 2. 1856,
and is sixty-four years old, though
he might pass anywhere as ten years
younger. His career has been one Of
hard work attended by successes,
which eventually landed him in the
national legislature, one of the
first senators from the state of
Oklahoma. Senator Owen was edu-
Gated in Lynchburg. in Baltimore and
at Washington and Lee University,
receiving degree Of master of arts
from that institution in 1877. His
alma mater conferred the degree Of
LID. upon him in 1908.
Col. Owen, Senator. Owens father.
died when the senator was coming
to manhood. The latter was thrown
upon his own resources just as he was
beginning the study Of medicine. A
scholarship at Washington and Lee
University was awarded him. and he
took a six-year course in three, leav-
Ing there with an A. NJ. dekree. In
college Senator Owen took part in
athletics, especially on the track
He developed talent for speaking,
and In addition to the presidents
scholarship, awarded to the most dill
gent and faithful student in the uni
versity. he won the debater's gold
medal. and delivered the valedictory
for his class. Senator Chamberlain
OF Oregon. by the way, was student
at Washington and Lee at the same
time as Senator Owen. though he
graduated a year ahead of the Okla
honla senator.
Then began years Of struggle to
get a start, to fix his feet firmly
upon the rungs of the ladder lead
ing to success. For a year young
Owen taught school at Govans-
town. Md, utilizing the entire sum
which he would have received as
salary, except what went for his
board, to pay debt to an old pre-
ceptor who had aided him on his
way through college. The following
year he became principal teacher
in the Cherokee Orphanage, in
ohlAHOINds anu lOI Three ScdSOuS
he remained there. He clashed
with some members Of the Chero-
kee board Of education, who at
tempted to have him ousted.
Counter charges against these
persons by Mr.. Owen, however.
resulted in their enforced resigna-
ton from the board.
r. 49, s~.s.- - aooe nS, n-on
was appointed United States In
dian agent for the Five Civilized
Tribes. He was instrumental in
effecting the establishment Of the
first court Of civil Jurisdiction in
the Indian Territory. at Muskogee.
Prior to becoming agent. however,
he had studied law, and in 1880 be-
The following year he became ed
itor of the Cherokee Nation, and
in 1884 editor and owner Of the In
dian Chieftain. He was the organ
izer of the first national bank ever
established in Indian Territory.
the First National Bank of Musko-
gee, in 1890, and its president for
ten years. He was interested in
banking, real estate and farming.
His big step toward fortune was
through the successful conduct Of
a Cherokee national claim, involv-
ing $30,000,000. This claim had
been turned down again and again
when Mr.. Owen took hold Of 1t. He
obtained the passage Of an en-
abling act through Congress. took
the case to tho Court Of Claims
and finally to the Supreme Court