He attended Antioch College until 1856, and then was principal of a seminary in Clark County, Kentucky.

He returned to Norwalk in 1857, where he read law in the offices of Cortland Kennon and Gideon T. Stewart.

[1] Selwyn N. Owen was admitted to the bar in 1862 and began practice in Fremont, Ohio.

[2] In 1883, he was nominated by the Democrats for an Ohio Supreme Court seat, and defeated Republican John H.

[3] William H. Upson resigned December of that year, and Owen was appointed to fill the vacancy.