14 



change. At that time speaking of his collection of pamphlets, he 

 remarked that he did not know for what purpose he was making this 

 collection, but presumed that it would ultimately be placed in some 

 public institution. Little did he know how soon an awful catastrophe 

 awaited him. He was a passenger on board the steamboat United 

 States, bound from Cincinnati to Louisville, when she collided with 

 the steamboat America, near the hour of midnight, on the 4th of 

 December, 1868, about midway between the two above named places, 

 and was among the victims of that terrible disaster. 



Mr. F., son of B. A Fahnestock, was born in Chambersburg, Frank- 

 lin county, Fa., in the year 1823; and received a liberal education at 

 Washington College, Fa. After graduation he continued his studies, 

 and in early youth acquired a knowledge of many branches of Natural 

 Science, particularly of mineralogy and botany. Notwithstanding his 

 connection with a very extensive drug business in Fhiladolphia, he 

 continued his studies with unabated zeal and great success. While 

 possessing a deservedly high reputation as a successful man of busi- 

 ness, he acquired a still wider reputation as a devotee to the natural 

 sciences, and an antiquarian. 



His collection of rare old books and pamphlets was very large and 

 valuable. He seemed to take pleasure in exciting an interest in 

 similar pursuits in the minds of others, and in aiding them. Espe- 

 cially did he do this for the various historical societies of the counti-y. 

 With many of the latter he was brought into connection through his 

 gifts or exchanges. The friends which he made in this way will learn 

 of his melancholy end with deep regret. To the Pennsylvania Histori- 

 cal Society he bequeathed all his present collection of pamphlets, 

 •numbering some 70,000. Many of these are very rare and will be of 

 great value in throwing light upon obscure matters of history. 



He was a sincere, humble and modest christian, and was attached 

 to the Presbyterian church. He was in full sympathy with the benevo- 

 lent enterprises of the day, and sustained them liberally with his 

 means. He was blessed with wealth, and his great desire was to use 

 his means in doing good. Without doubt, if his life had been spared, 

 he would have continued steadfast in this purpose, and employed his 

 large fortune, present and prospective, in promoting the glory of God 

 on earth. 



The death of such a man must — cut off as he was in the meridian 

 of life — be regarded as a loss to the cc*nmunity and to the church. 

 He has, however, embalmed his memory in the hearts of a wide circle 

 of friends, and shed a lustre upon his name that will not soon fade 

 away. 



For many of the facts contained in this notice, we are indebted to 

 an article in the Reformed Church Messenger for Wednesday, Decem- 

 ber 23, 1868. 



