184 THE BOTANISTS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



MATTHIAS KIN. 



Matthias Kin was sent to this country in the early part 

 of the century by parties in Germany interested in the 

 collection of North American plants. He traveled some- 

 what extensively through the Alleghany Mountains chiefly 

 for the purpose of obtaining living plants and seeds. He 

 also collected many interesting specimens, which may be 

 found in the herbarium of the Royal Museum at Berlin, and 

 in the herbaria of Muhlenberg, Willdenow, and the 

 Academy of Natural Sciences. 



Mr. Meng, a wealthy banker, living in German town, 

 on what is now Vernon Park, seems to have been the 

 financial agent of the Germans who employed Mr. Kin. 

 In order to work to better advantage, the subject of this 

 sketch, when on his exploring expeditions, dressed and had 

 the manners and appearance of an Indian. He was, in 

 fact, called the Indian plant-hunter. When not in the 

 field, he made his home in Germantown. 



Many of the rare trees in what is now Vernon Park 

 were presented by Mr. Kin to Mr. Meng.* 



MINSHALL PAINTER. 



Minshall Painter was born near Media, March 6, 1801, 

 and died of apoplexy, August 21, 1873. He received a good 

 education near his native place. Here he lived the 

 remainder of his life with his brother Jacob, spending most 

 of his time in study and in the garden or arboretum, which 

 he and his brother planted. He was a good botanist, and 

 took great interest in the progress of botany, corresponding 



* See Appendix VI. 



