MEMORIAL OF J. FRANCIS WILLIAMS. 455 



FELLOWS ELECTED. 



Garry Eugene Culver, A. "SI., Vermillion, S. Dak. Professor of geology, Univer- 

 sity of South Dakota; now engaged in artesian and underflow investigation of 

 the Unite' 1 States Department of Agriculture. 



Henry Gannett, S. B., A. Met. B., Washington, D. C. In charge of geographic 

 work of the United States Geological Survey east of the 100th meridian. 



The proposed amendment to the Constitution, making the Treasurer 

 eligible to reelection without limitation, failed for lack of three-fourths 

 affirmative vote of the total membership. 



A memorial of J. Francis Williams, prepared by J. F. Kemp, was 

 read by the Secretary : 



MEMORIAL OF JOHN FRANCIS WILLIAMS. 



The name of Dr. J. F. Williams will always be associated in American 

 geology with those of Newton, Irving and Lewis. His life, like theirs 

 was one of brilliant achievement, of great future promise, and of sad, 

 untimely termination. Although his accomplished results were great, 

 yet, coming as they did early in life, his friends could but regard them 

 as indicative of the future, and there is thus, together with grief for bis 

 loss, the regret that so many possibilities are nullified. As he was one 

 of the thirteen original Fellows who gathered at Ithaca in December, 

 1888, and organized the Geological Society of America, it is eminently 

 fitting that some especial memorial of him should be presented. 



John Francis Williams was born October 25, 1862, at Salem, the county 

 seat of Washington county, New York, situated about forty miles north- 

 east of Troy. He was the only son of John Martin and Frances A. 

 (Schriver) Williams, who, with bis one sister, survive him. His boy- 

 hood was passed at the beautiful family home until at twelve years he 

 was placed in Saint Pauls School, Concord, New Hampshire. Leaving 

 this in L880, he entered the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute at Troy. 

 He completed (he studies of the course in civil engineering and gradu- 

 ated in L883 with the degree of C. E. Thus, like many geologists, he 

 began his scientific work in the engineering school, hut found his tastes 

 inclining irresistibly to pure, as contrasted with applied, science. Al- 

 though during August of L883 he was assistant engineer of the Albany, 

 Rutland and Granville railroad, in the following autumn he became 

 assistanl in chemistry and natural science at his alma, mater, lie was 

 broughl in especially close association with his teacher and warm per- 

 sonal friend. Professor Henry B. Nason, whose influence was largely 

 instrumental in shaping Ids subsequenl career. During this period lie 



