298 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF [1895. 



take care of itself." To many who have since paused to reflect on 

 the wonderful amount of work accomplished, his methodical and 

 systematic habits furnish the only explanation. Frequently he has 

 been approached by friends to allow the use of his name for the 

 higher honors of the Academy. This he always declined. He 

 could never be induced, even in the Botanical Section, to accept any 

 higher position than Conservator of the herbarium. He served 

 many years as Councillor, in which position his business training 

 rendered eminent service, and he succeeded Dr. Joseph Leidy as 

 Chairman of the Publication Committee of the Academy. 



Aside from his services to science in the Academy, the outer 

 scientific world is largely his debtor. When the American Society 

 of Geologists became the American Association for the Advance- 

 ment of Science, the father, W. C. Redfield, suggested the change 

 and' was the first President of the new body, the son being a 

 member. The Lyceum of Natural History of New York had 

 the benefit of his able services before his removal to Philadelphia, 

 in 1861, to be associated in the business of Asa Whitney & Sons 

 — the senior member of the firm being his father-in-law. At the 

 request of his family he penned for them an account of his early 

 history and of his connection with the New York Lyceum, which I 

 have been kindly permitted to examine, and from which I gather 

 the following facts. In the preface to this little family task he con- 

 cludes : ' ' Moreover ought I not to leave some expression of grati- 

 tude to my Heavenly Father for a life which has been so full of 

 mercies, which has flowed so evenly and so smoothly, disturbed by 

 few storms and tempests, and of which the few sharp afflictions have 

 been tempered with mercies, calling for thanksgiving." 



He traces the American family to Win, Redfin, of English 

 birth, who settled near Cambridge, Mass., in 1639, and who subse. 

 quently moved to New London, Connecticut. The form Redfield was 

 assumed before 1662. His only son, James Redfield, was a tanner. 

 His son, Theophilus Redfield, married a descendent of John Alden, 

 of Mayflower celebrity. Peleg, the grandson of Theophilus, the 

 grandfather of John Howard Redfield, was born at Middletown, 

 Connecticut, January 22, 1762. He entered a privateer during the 

 war of Independence, was captured by a British frigate, but escaped; 

 he died in 1802. Win. C. Redfield was Peleg's eldest son. He 

 was born at South Farms, Connecticut, March, 26, 1789. He was 



