86 



POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



Science was organized, Prof. Sheldon, then a man of sixty years, 

 was urged to be president. He retained the office only a few 

 months, but up to the last week of his life he was the academy's 

 trusted counselor, constant supporter, and faithful friend. 



Fortunately, there was then in Davenport one who was a pro- 

 fessionally scientific man Dr. C. C. Parry. For more than six 



FIG. 2. DAVID SYLVESTER SHELDON. 



FIG. 3. CHARLES CHRISTOPHER PARRY. 



years he was president of the academy. From the start he held 

 the idea that the academy was called to a higher purpose than to 

 supply pastime to a few townspeople. Charles Christopher Parry 

 was born in Admington, Gloucester, England, August 28, 1823. 

 When he was but nine years old his parents came to this country, 

 settling in Washington County, New York. Educated at Union 

 College, Schenectady, he studied medicine at Columbia College. 

 He settled in Davenport in 1846. There he was a diligent student 

 of the local flora. Later on he examined the mountain flora of 

 California, Colorado, and Mexico. He was official botanist of the 

 Mexican Boundary Survey. Later he held official positions in 

 the Department of Agriculture and as special agent of the For- 

 estry Department of the census of 1880. His journeys to every 

 part of our great Western mountain region were extensive and 

 scientifically productive. He was the discoverer and describer of 

 many new species of plants and of several important genera. His 

 name is associated with that of Torrey and Gray both in geogra- 

 phy and on the pages of botanical literature. A man of energy, 

 convictions, and heart, he was the very one to shape and mold a 



