EDWARD LEWIS STURTEVANT 5 



the trio that had for twelve years made the farm famous was broken by 

 the death of one of the three brothers, Joseph N. Sturtevant. The asso- 

 ciation of these two brothers had been so close that the obituary of Joseph, 

 written by E. L. Stiutevant for the Scientific Farmer, becomes of interest 

 in this biography. We publish it in full: 



"Joseph N. Sturtevant, bom April i, 1844; died Jan. 19, 1879. 

 Member of the Massachusetts State Board of Agriculture 1873-5. A brief 

 record of a short but useful life. And yet this life, which struggled with 

 the difficulties brought about by ill health from birth, made the most 

 of the few well moments, and has made an impress upon agricultural thought 

 which shall continue even if the originator be unrecognized and forgotten. 

 Honest in thought as in action, caring nothing for applause, a true philan- 

 thropist in all that constitutes the word, a careful thinker, considerate 

 towards the opinions of others, and yet possessing a positiveness of character 

 which came through conviction, his advice was often sought and seldom 

 unheeded. Without personal vanity, as delicate as a woman towards 

 the rights of others, a mind trained to goodness for its own sake, one who 

 believed in good because of the good, and hated evil because of the evil, 

 the future life was lost sight of in the present, and there was nothing addi- 

 tional that religion coiold bring, because he was true religion itself in every 

 fibre of body and movement of mind. His creed, 



What is excellent, 

 As God lives in permanent.' 



And his life and creed were as on; and he was one who held familiar con- 

 verse with self, and was trustful of man's power to do the right as well 

 as to think it, and looked upon wrong as the mar which came through 

 the self rather than others, and in purity of thought sought that purity 

 of life which distinguished him. 



" He has appeared before the public as one of the authors of The 

 Dairy Cow, Ayrshire, as one of the editors of the North American Ayrshire 

 Register, and as contributor to our various agricultural papers. In the 

 Scientific Farmer he has contributed many articles without signature, some 

 signed J. N. S., others signed Zelco, and a few imder his own name. He , 

 commenced writing for the Country Gentleman in 1868, using the nom de 

 plume of Zelco, and although this was his favorite paper before the close 

 connection with the Scientific Farmer arose, yet he wrote occasionally 

 for the Massachusetts Ploughman, New England Farmer, National Live 

 Stock Journal, and other papers, but usually upon request. The series of 



