4 JOHN WESLEY POWELL. 



for and expect his mother's final exposition of the subject. He 

 thoroughly believed that she knew exactly the truth, and he used 

 to wonder why the men argued over these matters so long, and 

 why they did not at the outset ask his mother to explain to them 

 just what was right. 



One day the old Calvinist came puffing up the steps of neigh- 

 bor Powell's house, walked through the sitting-room, and sitting 

 down in the kitchen where John's mother was busy, asked for 

 11 Great Britain." He was evidently greatly agitated, and after a 

 time explained that some rowdies had burned his school-house, 

 library, and cabinet, and that all was lost. He seemed not to care 

 so greatly on his own account, but to mourn chiefly because the 

 means with which to teach his "youngsters" had been destroyed. 

 After that he came more frequently to his father's house, and if pos- 

 sible took more minute direction of the boy's studies. Although by 

 reason of the latter's extreme youth, it was scarcely to be expected 

 that he should have made great advance in natural history, yet the 

 two or three years thus spent under the guidance of Mr. Crookham 

 were of real importance in giving to his thoughts that inclination 

 which carried him eventually and permanently into the profession 

 of science and of letters. 



During these years, it had been the father's ambition to place 

 his family in such a position that they could live comfortably, and 

 to devote himself exclusively to the ministry. Finally, when John 

 was twelve years old, Mr. Powell moved further west, making the 

 journey across northern Indiana, through Chicago, to Walworth 

 County, Wisconsin. This was accomplished with an emigrant 

 wagon loaded with household goods, and two carriages, one of the 

 latter being driven by John. His father had previously bought 

 some land, but upon reaching it decided not to settle on it, but to 

 purchase a partly improved farm. The next summer he com- 

 menced preaching regularly, leaving the Methodist Church, how- 

 ever, and joining the Wesleyan, on account of his anti-slavery sen- 

 timents. He knew nothing about farming, did not work on the 

 farm, and took no part in its management. All this devolved upon 

 John, and, aided by two or three farm employees, the schoolboy 

 became a farmer, with all the responsibilities of the position, heavy 

 indeed for a lad of his years. 



The farm was in burr-oak woods, and but a small tract was 

 cultivated the first year. During the second winter a large area 

 was cleared and fenced, and in the course of a few years about 

 sixty acres of land were brought under cultivation. John worked 



