Robert L. Owen was born at Lynchburg, Virginia, February 2, 1856. His mother was a member of a prominent Cherokee family. Her (Owen's mother) early life was largely spent in Oklahoma, though her education had been completed in the East. Robert L. Owen was educated in private schools and at Washington and Lee university, Lexington, Virginia. After completing his education, he came to the country of his mother's people-the Cherokees. He engaged in teaching for several years and, in 1885, became agent for the Union Indian Agency, at Muskogee, a position which he held for four years. He took an active part in all of the discussions and agitation which preceded statehood, actively supporting the proposition of separate statehood for the Indian Territory. When the state was admitted into the Union, in 1907, he was one of the nominees of the democratic party for the United States Senate and as such was elected. He was reelected in 1912 and again in 1918.
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Ann Maloney, Bartlesville, OK.
Copyright © 1998 Ann Maloney all rights reserved.