TrtE UOLOGJST. 



281 



DEATH OF BENJ. P. 60SS 

 Expires Suddenly at His Home in Pewaukee. 



Henjaniiii F. (Joss, one of tlie fore- 

 most oruithologists of this couuLrv,dieil 

 at his home iu Pewaukee. Wis. Thurs- 

 tiay. Juue 6 hiSt, aged 70 years. Death 

 was caused by heart di.sease and was 

 ■sudden and unexpected, though lie had 

 been in poor health for some time. 



Mr. Goss was born in Lancester, N. 

 H , in 1823. He learned the printer's 

 trade there, and in 1841 came to Wis- 

 consin, where he woiked at his trade in 

 Milwaukee for a year. In 181-2 he took 

 lip land in Pewaukee and engaged in 

 farming. In 1855 he was a member of 

 the Wi.scousiu assembly. At the expir- 

 ation of his term of office he moved to 

 Freeport, 111 , where with his brother 

 N. S. Goss he carried on a grocery store 

 for a year. He tlien went to Waverly, 

 Iowa, and was in the real estate l>usi- 

 ness for two years. Then he moved to 

 Neosha Falls, Kas., where in company 

 with his brother and others he bought 

 a lot of land, laid (Hit the town, erected 

 mills and made extensive improvments. 

 He I'emained in business there until 

 October, 1801, when he raised a com- 

 pany of cavalry, of which he was elect- 

 ed captain. The company was muster- 

 ■ed. into service as Co. F, ninth Kansas 

 •cavalry, and served until January, ISGj. 



Shortly after returning from the war 

 Mr. Goss returned to Pewaukee where 

 he engaged in the general mercantile 

 business in which he continued until a 

 few years ago when he retired but still 

 made Pewaukee his home. 



His character was of the highest, 

 thoroughly honest and relial)le in every 

 situation. His disposition was modest 

 and retiring and hi.s heart was kind. 

 He enjoyed the highest respect and es- 

 teem of all with whom he came in con- 

 tact. 



As a scientist Mr. (ioss takes high 

 rank. He was one of the foremost or- 

 iiit!u)logists of this countr\ . He had a 



magnilicent collection of birds which at 

 his death a short time ago he becjueath- 

 ed to the state of Kansas. He had 

 one of the tinest collections of birds 

 eggs outside the Smithsonian Institute. 



From au article written by Mary E. 

 Stewart, a personal friend of Mr. Goss, 

 and printed in Yenowines News three 

 years ago, we cojiy the following inter- 

 esting items concerning his sclent itic 

 careei". 



"B. F. (toss was not more than 18 

 j'ears old when he began a correspon- 

 dence with the Smithsonian Institute, 

 Agassiz and other scientists," which has 

 been since continued, as occasion made 

 it desirable. His brother, Col. N. S. 

 Goss was not behind him in any res- 

 pect. Mr. Goss was entitled to the dis- 

 tinction of Captain, but his modesty 

 caused him to prefer being addressed as 

 Mr (Joss. 



Mr. Goss paid more particular atten- 

 tion to the eggs, nests and nesting 'hab- 

 its of i)irds,and Col. N.S.Go.ss made the 

 birds themselves his more special study. 

 In pursuit of this study they have trav- 

 eled — often togetlier — nearly all over 

 North America, including Mexico and 

 parts of Cuba, besides. They worked 

 with and for each other, .•ind together 

 have made such careful notes of their 

 work as would furnish material for the 

 most complete ornithology of North 

 American birds extant- Mr. (Joss, upon 

 l)eing asked why he did not piiiilish it 

 replied that at his age he did not wish 

 to undertake so arduous a work. l>iit 

 would leavi' his notes for somt; younger 

 man who may take sullicicnt int(M-cst to 

 make such use of them. Mr. (io.ss at 

 first collected foi- himself, but found 

 such |)leasnre in it that he soon began 

 collecting for others. lean remember 

 well the delight 1 felt when a child on 

 being shown a low chamber al)ove the 

 store, fi;ted up with branches of trees 

 and saiideil lloor, and numl)ers of l)irds 

 Hying freely about and singing, or sit- 

 ting on their nests which tuey had built 

 where they pleased. Mr. (ittss is very 



