EELA HUBBARD. 3t)3 



BELa HIBIJAHI). 



Tlie subject of this sketch einolled his n;niie ainoiiji; Michigan's votaries 

 of science, by his work as assistant geolooist on the (jeological Survey of 

 his adopted State, and by writing- a thorouglily reliable and most attrac- 

 tive book, entitled "Memorials of Half a Century." 



The history of the life of Bela Hubbard, when fully and sympathetically 

 written, will contain at least five important chapters, which may ai)pro- 

 priately bear the captions : The man, his private life, affections and 

 friendships; the student of nature, his explorations and observations; 

 the man of business, his defeats and successes; the student of historj^ his 

 researches and aid to fellow students; the citizen, his influence on the 

 State's aid to science. Only the barest outline, however, of the several 

 ways in which his long and useful life should be described and commemo- 

 rated, can be presented at this time. 



Bela Hubbard was born at Hamilton, New York, April 23, 1814, and 

 died in Detroit, Michigan, June 13, 1890. He was the son of Thomas H, 

 and Phebe Hubbard, and passed his boyhood days at their home in Hamil- 

 ton, He was graduated from Hamilton college in 1834, removed to 

 Detroit the following year, and soon after became connected with the 

 Geological Survey of Michigan. Later he entered his brother Henry's 

 law office and was admitted to the bar in 1842. The greater part of his 

 life was passed in Detroit, and he became thoroughly identified with the 

 life and development of that city. 



As the writer of this sketch has been informed by Mr. C. M. Burton, 

 who was a friend and com])anion of Bela Hubbard during his mature 

 years, and to whom the reader is indebted for nearly all the facts here pre- 

 sented, he was below the medium height, slightly built, not very robust, 

 light complexioned, with blue-grey eyes and brown hair; and possessed 

 a quiet temperament and was not easily excited. As a friend, com- 

 panion, and fellow student in historical and other researches, he was 

 a kindly and lovable man. He was married in 184G, to Sarah E., 

 daughter of Rev. John A. and Sarah (Harvey) Baughman, in 1848. The 

 literary tastes and attainments of his wife, are indicated by a book from 

 her pen, entitled. "The hidden sin," published in London, and repub- 

 lished by Harper Brothers, in 1866. Several children were born to Mr. 

 and Mrs. Hubbard, of whom two daughters and one son still live. 



Soon after removing to Detroit, Bela Hubbard became acquainted 

 with Douglas Houghton, then State Geologist of Michigan, and in 1837, 

 was appointed Assistant Geologist on the State Geological Survey, a 

 position which he held until 1841. He accompanied Douglass Houghton 

 on an important expedition to the southern shore of Lake Superior, in 

 1840, an account of which is given in his "Memorials of half a century." 

 It is this book more than anything else that will preserve the memory of 

 its author. It is his most fitting and most enduring monument and 

 entitles the name of Bela Hubbard to a place on the short list of American 

 authors who may be justly termed "nature writers." 



The book just referred to covers a wide field, as for example, the 



