212 THE BOTANISTS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



Here, on July 10, 1815, John Redfield * was born. He could 

 claim John and Priscilla Alden among his ancestors, and 

 was, in every way, of pure New England blood. Many of 

 his family had been sea-captains, a vocation nowhere repre- 

 sented by more honorable, hardy and vigorous men than on 

 our northern coast. His father, William C. Redfield, at 

 this time a country store-keeper in humble circumstances, 

 was a man of enterprising character and of an unusually 

 inquiring and vigorous mind. The son only knew his 

 mother as an invalid, and she died when he was but four 

 years old. Our friend's first public education came from 

 the district school, which his father had taken great pains 

 to have above the usual standard. In addition, there were 

 the " spelling classes " and " friendly associations," and a 

 small circulating library, agencies which he acknowledged 

 to have been aids to him in his aspirations for knowledge. 



About this time steam navigation was occupying his 

 father's mind, and after some efforts in that way on the 

 Connecticut, his attention was turned to the Hudson. He 

 was frequently in New York for long periods, while his 

 son's education was continued for a year and a half at 

 Stamford. Finally, in 1834 the family was removed to 

 New York. The boy was now sent to the High School, 

 where, under the influence and instruction of one of the 

 teachers, a Mr. Barnes, he was instructed in mineralogy, 

 and had many a pleasant ramble in the country in his 

 company. His school education was finally completed by a 

 short course, which he provided for himself at a private 

 school, but between these two periods he attended the 

 chemical lecture course of Dr. John Torrey, an association 



* 1895. Torrey Bulletin, XX, 162, with portrait. William M. Canby. 



