1 -THE PUBLISHED WRITINGS OF FIELDING BRADFORD MEEK. 



BIOGEAPHIC SKETCH OF FIELDING BRADFORD MEEK.* 



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

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

 removed from Armagh Comity to America about 176S, and who finally 

 settled in Hamilton County, Ohio. His father, together with his f\imily, 

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

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

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

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

 to become so distinguished 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 

 iiud retiring disposition, he invested his small patrimony in mercantile 

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

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

 After this, while laboring for his support 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 the years 1818 and 1549, and was performed, as an assistant of 

 Dr. I). 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 the paleoutologic work of that State. He remained 

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

 f^pent on the geologic survey of Missouri; theother,that of 1853, wasen.- 

 j.h.yed in exploring the Bad Lands of Nebraska, together with Dr. F. \ . 

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



*TLi8 8ketch77(?mnpiled from data takeu down at Mr. Meek's dictation by a friend 

 Bhortly before his death. 



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