182 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. 



assumes educational work, as professor in Griswold College. Engaging 

 in multifaiious duties; successful always in securing the affectionate 

 regard of his pupils, giving up not only his time and abilities, but also 

 his means to build up an institution approximating his high ideal, can 

 we wonder that disappointment weighed heavily upon him in seeing 

 his long-cherished plans unconsummated? 



It was at this juncture, when Prof. Sheldon had nearly reached his 

 sixtieth year, that the Davenport Academy of Sciences was organized. 

 He was urgently requested to accept the presidency, but only consented 

 on condition of being relieved from nominal official duty as its presid- 

 ing officer. Since then, up to the last week of his life, he has been our 

 trusted counsellor, our constant supporter, and our ever faithful friend. 

 Whenever a word of encouragement was needed, his earnest voice was 

 at our command; when funds were urgently required, his hand was 

 stretched out unstintedly to our relief. Even now, in our profound 

 sorrow for his loss, his benignant face beams on us from that precious 

 sun-picture, saying, "Be of good cheer!" 



With what sad recollections do we recall the meeting of only two 

 weeks ago, when, for the last — and, I might almost say, for the first 

 time at our regular meetings — his voice was heard, in advocacy of 

 what he considered a question of importance to the well-being of this 

 Academy, in scathing rebuke of unjustifiable assaults on its integrity; 

 in words of encouragement to us, who, in our feeble way, have en- 

 deavored to uphold the torch of science — memorable words, to be 

 sacredly bequeathed to those that come after us. 



It has seemed necessary to go over all this preliminary matter, in 

 order to reach our main point, in a proper appreciation of the scientific, 

 work and character of our late associate. 



Prof. Sheldon became what he was, as the combined results of his 

 birth, his early education, and his enlarged experience. Thus, to his 

 natural inherited gifts were added acquired virtues, all enriched by 

 those eminent Christian graces that added a winning lustre to his per- 

 sonal character. Not but what he had his failings. I think it is a 

 proper matter of regret to us all that instinctive reluctance to anything 

 like public display prevented him from the wider exercise of his talents 

 by giving to the scientific world, in printed form, the results of his ob- 

 servations and researches; his name does not appear in any of our 

 published reports. Well do I remember an early conversation with 

 him, in which I ventured to urge such a matter on his attention. His 

 answer was characteristic : "That is not my vocation; I can teach." 



