THE BOTANISTS OF PHILADELPHIA. 1G5 



original observation and research. He was among the first 

 pupils admitted to Friends' Westtown Boarding-School, and 

 there laid the foundation for his remarkable attainments 

 that were so noticeable in his later years. After teaching 

 in some of the district schools of Delaware County, he 

 opened a popular boarding-school in Downington, Chester 

 County, where he continued until the year 1836 or 1837, 

 when he removed to West Chester, and followed the same 

 pursuit for many years. His death occurred May 11, 1874. 



Joshua Hoopes was twice married : first to ^Mary Garri- 

 gues, of Kingsessing, now Philadelphia, by whom he had 

 six children, none of whom, however, outlived him ; and 

 second, to Rachel Bassett of Wilmington, Delaware, a lady 

 of rare botanical attainments, and who in every sense 

 of the word proved a help-meet to her devoted husband. 

 Descending from a long line of Quaker ancestors, he was 

 himself a consistent member of the religious Society of 

 Friends, being imbued with the principles of that sect from 

 his earliest years, and was at all times outspoken in his 

 views regarding the evil customs and practices of the world. 

 In fact, he was a living example of the lessons he taught 

 to others, and a fearless champion of the right on all 

 occasions. 



As a scientist, he was especially noticeable for his 

 knowledge of botany and astronomy, although well versed 

 in many other branches. He once remarked to the writer, 

 that his love for botany, ornithology and astronomy was 

 about equally divided, but that he had chosen the first as 

 his life-work, as a careful study of the second entailed much 

 suffering to the birds, and his finances were insufficient to 

 procure suitable instruments for prosecuting his investiga- 



