l.-THE PUBLISHED WRITINGS OF FIELDING BRADFORD MEEK. 



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BIOGRAPHIC SKETCH OF FIELDING BRADFORD MEEK.* 



Ou December 10, 1817, Fielding Bradford Meek was born in the city 

 of Madison, lud. His grandparents were Irish Presbyterians, who 

 removed from Armagh County to America about 170S, and who finally 

 settled in Hamilton County, Ohio. His father, together with his family, 

 removed from there to Madison, where he was a lawyer of considerable 

 eminence. The family, including those born in Madison, consisted of* 

 tlie parents, two sons and two daughters besides Fielding, all of whom 

 tlied several years before him. The father died when the son who was 

 to become so distinguishetl a paleontologist was only three years old, 

 leaving the family in moderate circumstances. Mr. Meek's early youth 

 was passed in Madison. His education was much impeded by the del 

 icate condition of his health. Upon reaching manhood, by advice of 

 his friends and against his own inclination, for he was of a studious 

 and retiring disposition, he invested his small patrimony in mercantile 

 business, first in bis native place, and afterward in Owensborough, 

 Ky. Tbe result was financial failure and loss of all he possessed. 

 After this, while laboring for his supi)ort and struggling with ill health 

 and poverty, he continued his studies, general and special, for he began 

 early to devote himself to natural history. His first public work was 

 during tbe years 1848 and 1S49, and was i)erformed, as an assistant of 

 Dr. D. D. Owen, upon the United States geological survey of Iowa, 

 Wisconsin, and Minnesota. 



Having closed this work, he returned to his home in Owensborough, 

 but soon after, in the year 1852. went to Albany, N. Y., as assistant to 

 Professor Hall, in tbe paleoutologic work of that State. He remained 

 there until 1858, serving three summers. Two of these summers were 

 spent on the geologic survey of Missouri; theother,that of 1853, waseiu- 

 ]>loyed in exploring the Bad Lauds of Nebraska, together with Dr. F. V. 

 Hayden, both being commissioned by Professor Hall for that work. Three 



* This sketch is coinpiled from data takeu down at Mr. Meek's dictation by a friend 

 shortly before his death. 



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