GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF ALABAMA 



the University of Pennsylvania and completed his course 

 in Paris. 



While in Paris he studied French, sparing no pains in 

 becoming proficient in that language. He frequently 

 avoided meeting his friends from America, not wishmg 

 to speak English while striving for fluency in French. 



Just so it vi^as while he was in Italy, Germany and 

 Spain, his application was such that he became proficient 

 in these languages also. While in Europe he traveled 

 in Germany and Switzerland on foot, there studying na- 

 ture. 



After his return home he decided to settle for life 

 in Marshall, Texas, and there to practice medicine. Af- 

 ter a few years, he returned to his old home, "Content- 

 ment," near Greensboro, Ala., to visit his mother. Feel- 

 ing that it was best to be near her, he did not return to 

 Texas, but settled in Selma, Ala., in the early spring of 

 1861. 



His office had scarcely been opened, when the signal 

 of war sounded. He was filled with enthusiasm. He 

 gave up everything and enlisted as a private in Col. N. 

 H. R. Dawson's regiment. 



His lot was never to be in a battle, for like many a 

 fellow soldier, he was taken with measles soon after 

 reaching Virginia. He knew nothing of the glories of 

 a soldier's life, only sickness and weariness in the sol- 

 dier's camp. 



Recovering from the measles he came with his division 

 to Dumfries on Ocoquon Creek, Virginia, not far from 

 Washington City. There, from fatigue and lack of suit- 

 able care and nourishment in his broken down condi- 

 tion, he was taken with typhoid fever. That he did not 

 die seemed a miracle; but he was saved for other work. 

 Through this illness he was incapacitated for the duties 

 of a soldier. His furlough and discharge from the army 

 were granted and he returned to Greensboro, Ala., where 

 he taught school for some time and then resumed the 

 practice of medicine. He did not care for town life, but 

 always made his home in the country. 



