76 McGEE MEMORIAL MEETING 



Thus for one of the half dozen great geologic generalizations of the 

 Nineteenth Century Doctor McGee laid the foundations. 



From Doctor F. H. Knowlton, of the U. S. National Museum: 

 (Reprinted from Science, Sept. 12, 1912.) 



In these days of advanced specialization and refinement in the 

 study of scientific problems, it has seemingly become increasingly 

 evident that the best measure of success can only be attained with 

 the full panoply of a modern educational equipment. Yet there 

 have been in the past, and doubtless there will be in the future, notable 

 exceptions to this rule. It is often said of one who has reached an 

 eminence without the stimulating aid of early educational advantage, 

 that had he fortunately possessed this training no one may measure 

 the higher eminences to which he might have ascended. Rather is 

 it possible indeed, probable that the spark of genius is stimulated 

 by adversity, and that breadth of vision and strength of character 

 come oftener as the fruit of action rather than of ease; for 



So doth luxury make weaklings of us all. 



Certain it is that Doctor McGee attained a very notable measure 

 of success with the minimum of formal educational training. 



William John McGee or simply W J McGee, as in later years he 

 preferred to be known was born on a farm at Farley, Dubuque 

 County, Iowa, April 17, 1853, and died at Washington, D. C., Sep- 

 tember 4, 1912. He was the fourth of a family of eight children born 

 to James and Martha Ann (Anderson) McGee, and is survived by 

 three brothers and a sister, the others having died in infancy or youth. 

 His parents were of sturdy Scotch-Irish stock, his great-great-grand- 

 father on the paternal side having been Alexander McGee of County 

 Down, Ireland, who came early to this country, and on the maternal 

 side the line leads back to Samuel Anderson, who was born at sea, 

 about 1740, of Irish emigrant parents. The latter resided near York- 

 town, Virginia, and both participated in the Revolution on the 

 American side, which perhaps accounts in a way for McGee's intense 

 Americanism. In infancy and early youth, although always of large 

 size for his years, McGee was in frail health and somewhat uncertain 



