44 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1901. 



children. In his earlier years he had no educational advantages other 

 than those furnished by the country common schools, supplemented by 

 the home teaching of his talented mother, whose strength of character 

 and refinement were deeply impressed on the son. Before Ralph 

 Dupuy was of age he taught school one or more terms, having among 

 his pupils Bridget Clary, who. in 18(50, became his wife. Mrs. Lacoe 

 died in L872, and Mr. Lacoe at West Pittston, Pa., on February 5, 

 L901, in his seventy-seventh year. They had four children, of whom 

 two survive. 



In his earlier years Lacoe followed the trade of his father, that of 

 carpenter. About 1850 he engaged with his brothers in cutting ties 

 on his grandfather's farm to supply a railway then in construction. 

 The proceeds of this venture were fortunately invested in anthracite 

 coal lands in the vicinity of his home near Pittston, and this was the 

 beginning of his modest wealth. As the coal industry of the region 

 developed, he conducted a real estate business, later becoming promi- 

 nent as the head of several industrial enterprises, and as bank presi- 

 dent. In L869 and 1870 he served as burgess of the borough of AVest 

 Pittston." 



Under too great pressure of business responsibility Lacoe's health 

 gave way about L865, and the efforts toward its recovery resulted, 

 first, in an amateur interest in natural history collecting, and, later, 

 in a deep and steadfast devotion to the promotion of the vegetable and 

 insect departments of paleontology. While seeking health in Florida, 

 he amused himself by collecting the marine algae and mollusca along 

 the beach. Under the influence of a strong, innate love of nature he 

 found both pleasure and recuperation in the occupation, and on 

 returning to his home in Pennsylvania he soon transferred his interest 

 to the fossil coal plants to be found at the numerous anthracite mines 

 in the region. It was not long before Lacoe was in touch with J. P. 

 Lesley, the State geologist, and Leo Lesqucreux, the distinguished 

 paleobotanist, who was then engaged in the study of the paleozoic 

 plants of the State. The warm friendship between Lacoe and Lesque- 

 reux continued until the death of the latter, in 1889. 



Although Lacoe never fully regained his health, he frequently re- 

 marked that he owed years of his life to the out-of-door recreation 

 which he found in collecting. Gradually, as he became more familiar 

 with the undeveloped status of paleobotany and paleoentomology 

 m this country, he engaged in the task of systematically securing 

 paleozoic plants and fossil insects over broader areas and through 

 a greater stratigraphical range, as well as from many foreign type 



" Further biographical data arc given in the excellent memorials by Rev. Horace 

 Edwin Hayden, published in the sixth volume of the Proceedings of the Wyoming 

 Geological and Bistorical Society, L901, and in the American (ieologist for December, 

 1901. 



