PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROCHESTER ACADEMY OF SCIENCE 



VOL. 5, PP. 39-58, PLATES 1, 2. FEBRUARY, 1912 



EARLY BOTANISTS OF ROCHESTER AND VICINITY 

 AND THE BOTANICAL SECTION. 



By Florence Beckwith.* 



The systematic study of the flora of Rochester and vicinity dates 

 back many years. There were individual workers in the field almost 

 a century ago of whose labors, fortunately, the records have been 

 preserved, and of whose lives we have more or less knowledge. 



With the exception of Dr. Dewey, who was a teacher of botany, 

 these early explorers pursued the study of this science from pure love 

 of it and of nature, and with an earnest desire to thoroughly acquaint 

 themselves with the flora of the region. Their energy and enthu- 

 siasm have been a great incentive to later explorers, and rendered it 

 possible to make a comparatively complete list of the plants of this 

 region up to the present time. 



While the memory of the work and of the individual personalities 

 of these early botanists is still fresh in our minds, the Botanical Sec- 

 tion wishes to show its appreciation of their labors by giving the fol- 

 lowing brief sketches of their lives. 



Samuel Beach Bradley, 



Dr. Samuel Beach Bradley was one of the earliest, if not the 

 earliest botanist of this section of the country. The period of his 

 work is covered by the years of his residence in Monroe County, from 

 1825 to 1880. His work along the shore of Lake Ontario and the 



*When the Botanical Section decided to prepare sketches of the early botanists and prom- 

 inent members of the Section, a committee consisting of Miss Mary E. Macauley, Mr. M S_ 

 Baxter and the author was appointed to do the work. Through the hearty co-operation of all the 

 members of the committee the following paper has been prepared. Miss Macauley contributed 

 the sketch of Mrs. Streeter, and Mr. Baxter rendered valuable assistance in procuring material 

 for the sketches of Father Holzer and Mr. Hankenson. The committee congratulates itself that 

 through the kind assistance of various friends, it has been able to obtain pictures of all the botan- 

 ists of whom sketches are given. 



