THE OOLOGIST. 



281 



DEATH OP BENJ. P. GOSS. 

 Expires Suddenly at His Home in Pewaukee. 



Benjamin F. Goss. one of the fore- 

 most ornithologists of this country, died 

 at his home in Pewaukee. Wis. Thurs- 

 day June 6 last, aged 70 years. Death 

 was caused by heart disease and was 

 sudden and unexpected, though he had 

 been in poor health for some time. 



Mr. Goss was born in Lancester, N. 

 H , in 1823. He learned the printer's 

 trade there, and in 184 1 came to Wis- 

 consin, where he worked at his trade in 

 Milwaukee for a year. In 1842 he took 

 up land in Pewaukee and engaged in 

 farming. In 18o5 he was a member of 

 the Wisconsin assembly. At the expir- 

 ation of his term of office he moved to 

 Freeport, 111., where with his brother 

 N. S. Goss he carried on a grocery store 

 for a year. He then went to Waverly, 

 Iowa, and was iu the real estate busi- 

 ness for two years. Then he moved to 

 Neosha Falls, Kas., where in company 

 with his brother and others he bought 

 a lot of land, laid out the town, erected 

 mills and made extensive impi'ovments. 

 He remained in business there until 

 October, 1861, when he raised a com- 

 pany of cavalry, of which he was elect- 

 ed captaiu. The company was muster- 

 -ed into service as Co. F, ninth Kansas 

 cavalry, and served until January, 1865. 



Shortly after returning from the war 

 Mr. Goss returned to Pewaukee where 

 he engaged in the general mercantile 

 business in which he continued until a 

 lew years ago when he retired but still 

 made Pewaukee his home. 



His character was of the highest, 

 thoroughly honest and reliable in every 

 situation. His disposition was modest 

 :and retiring and his heart was kind. 

 He enjoyed the highest respect and es- 

 teem of all with whom he came in con- 

 tact. 



As a scientist Mr. Goss takes high 

 rank. He was one of the foremost or- 

 nithologists of this country . He had a 



maguilieent collection of birds which at 

 his death a short time ago he bequeath- 

 ed to the state of Kansas. He had 

 one of the finest collections of birds 

 eggs outside the Smithsonian Institute. 



From an article written by Mary E. 

 Stewart, a personal friend of Mr. Goss, 

 and printed in Yenowines News three 

 years ago, we copy the following inter- 

 esting items concerning his scientific 

 career: 



"B. F. Goss was not more than 18 

 years old when he began a eorrespou- 

 dence with the Smithsonian Institute, 

 Agassiz and other scientists, which has 

 been since continued, as occasion made 

 it desirable. His brother, Col. N. S. 

 Goss was not behind him in any res- 

 pect. Mr. Goss was entitled to the dis- 

 tinction of Captain, but his modesty- 

 caused him to prefer being addressed as 

 Mr Goss. 



Mr. Goss paid more particular atten- 

 tion to the eggs, nests and nesting hab- 

 its of birds, and Col. N.S.Goss made the 

 birds themselves his more special study. 

 In pursuit of this study they have trav- 

 eled — often together — -nearly all over 

 North America, including Mexico and 

 parts of Cuba, besides. They worked 

 with and for each other, and together 

 have made such careful notes of their 

 work as would furnish material for the 

 most complete ornithology of North 

 American birds extant- Mr. Goss, upon 

 being asked why he did not publish it 

 replied that at his age he did not wish 

 to undertake so arduous a work, but 

 would leave his notes for some younger 

 man who may take sufficient intei'est to 

 make such use of them. Mr. Goss at 

 first collected for himself, but found 

 such pleasure in it that he soon began 

 collecting for others. I can remember 

 well the delight 1 felt when a child on 

 being shown a low chamber above the 

 store, fitted up with branches of trees- 

 and sanded floor, and numbers of birds 

 flying freely about and singing, or sit- 

 ting on their nests which tuey had built 

 where they pleased. Mr. Goss is very 



