WASHINGTON ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 77 



in disposition, and even in later life, notwithstanding his rugged physi- 

 cal appearance, he was far from being as strong as seemed apparent. 



McGee's early education followed the usual course in sparsely settled 

 country districts. He attended irregularly the county district school 

 until he was about 14 years of age, but as the school was confessedly 

 of low grade, it is not probable that he advanced much beyond the 

 merest rudiments. From this time on his education was almost en- 

 tirely the result of intense individual effort. In this, as is so often 

 the case, he was urged and stimulated by the mother, an excellently 

 well informed woman, who was particularly anxious that her family 

 should be well educated. The last one apparently to give him for- 

 mal instruction (1867-1868) was an older brother, who speaks of him 

 as an exceedingly apt pupil, acquiring knowledge easily and retain- 

 ing it in what was later developed into a really marvelous memory. 

 His home studies were continued over the years 1867-1874, during 

 which time he studied Latin, German (in which he became especially 

 proficient), and the higher mathematics, including astronomy and 

 surveying. He also read law and to some extent engaged in justice- 

 court practice, but this never was considered as of much importance 

 in his plan of life, and was soon laid aside. He was, however, an ex- 

 cellent surveyor, having been instructed in this field by a maternal 

 uncle, and his work was much in demand in the neighborhood. 



When about twenty years old McGee learned blacksmithing, and 

 for several years engaged in the manufacture and sale of agricultural 

 implements. In conjunction with an older brother and a cousin, he 

 invented and patented (June 9, 1874,) an improved adjustable culti- 

 vator, but the enterprise was not financially successful, nor was the 

 invention a pioneer in its class. 



It was apparently about this time (1874) that McGee's attention 

 was first directed to geology. Just what the incident was that first 

 claimed his attention and stimulated his interest in what was later 

 to be one of the dominating activities of his life is not known. The 

 glacial mantle which so completely covers northeastern Iowa offered 

 many then unsolved problems, and together with his brothers he ex- 

 plored with keen interest the numerous caves about their home and 

 studied the peculiar rocky topography with more than boyish interest. 

 He read widely of such books and papers as were then available on 



