I".'- THE BOTANISTS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



with his patients, his sun would gather specimen^. 

 He was quite fascinated with the fanciful names given t<> 

 the specimens, which he got out of an old (Jennan botany. 

 In those days it was diflicult to procure good literature- on the 

 subject of 1 totally. When a mere youth, til'ty years ago, In- 

 heard of a botanical work ly a Mrs. Lincoln. lie tried to get 

 a copy in Reading, hut none could he had, so lie was obliged to 

 send to Philadelphia. Receiving it, lie made good use- of 

 it, prizing it more than other hooks. 



The common schools in those days did not satisfy his 

 father, so the boy was sent to the Xa/arcth Moravian 

 Seniinarv, to Freemont Seminary at Norristown. and iinallv 



V ' . 



to \Villiston Seminary, East Hampton. Massachusetts. At 

 the latter place his wish was fully gratified by being allowed 

 to study botany, under Dr. Edward Hitchcock, who recom- 

 mended the new book on botany (Wood's first edition). 

 He explored fields, meadows, and woods in the vicinity 

 of East Hampton in search of specimens, which were 

 arranged in an herbarium, sometimes neglecting his other 

 studies in pursuit of his favorite science. 



After returning home from Williston Seminary, he 

 commenced to read medicine, with his father as preceptor, 

 during which period he made frequent excursions among 

 the hills and valleys of Berks. He remembers, with 

 pleasure, the excursions taken with the late Dr. .John P. 

 I leister, of Reading, an enthusiastic botanist. 



After reading medicine at home he entered Jeiferson 

 Medical College, and graduated in the class of 1855, locating 

 in the small but ancient village of Trexlertown, Lehigh 

 County, Pennsylvania. 



The study of the flora of Lehigh County has, since his 



