616 Wisconsin Academy of Sciences , Arts, and Letters. 



cession that the department of the coast survey prevailed upon 

 the Board of Regents to establish a magnetic observatx^ry npon 

 the grounds of the University, which for some years was used 

 very efficiently under the Professor's general supervision. 



He Vv-as married in March, 1866, to Miss Anna Burt, of Chi- 

 cago. One child was born as the fruit of this marriage, but 

 died in infancy. He was married again, March 31st, 1891, to 

 Miss Olive M. Thayer, of Madison, who also bore him one child, 

 a son, of whom he was very fond and who, with the widow, still 

 survives. 



Dr. Davies was a devotee of science and a thorough mathe- 

 matician. He loved especially the natural sciences, and seemed 

 to revel in the very mathematical calculations their investiga- 

 tion involved. Few men have been more fully imbued witli the 

 true scientific spirit. He w^as also a scholarly man, and one who 

 read much and read widely. His contributions not only show 

 careful though upon the subjects they discuss, but they also 

 show a broad range of scientific inquiry. He was a modest man 

 — seemed almost diffident at times — but his modesty was such 

 as usually graces the genuine scholar and investigator. When 

 antagonized upon questions which he had thoroughly studied, 

 and in regard to which he felt reasonably sure of his ground, he 

 was alwavs resolute and self-reliant. 



As an instructor of college classes, he was subjected, as most 

 instructors are, to some criticism ; but no one, so far as I know, 

 ever made complaint as to his grasp of the subject he was called 

 upon to teach ; as to his zeal and enthusiasm in his efforts to 

 impart instruction, or as to his sympathetic nature, and earnest 

 desire to render the best possible service to those under his 

 charo'e. The criticisms sometimes made were half complimen- 

 tary. It has been urged that his very familiarity Avith the sub- 

 iects he usuallv had under consideration made it difficult for 

 him to appreciate the limitations of his pupils, and that his 

 eagerness to grapple at once with the most difficult questions 

 connected with the matter in hand, and his intense enthusiasm 

 in their handling, tended to carry his instruction over the heads 

 of the average of his pupils. But it is more than doubtful 

 whether any who entered his classes with suitable preparation 



