1888.] 529 [Wells. 



General Meeting, April 4, 1888. 



The Vice President, Prof. G. L. Goodale, in the chair. 

 The following obituary was read : 



A NOTICE OF THE LIFE OF THE LATE RICHARD 

 C. GREENLEAF. 



BY SAMUEL WELLS. 



Richard Cranch Greenleaf was born in Cambridge, Mass., in 

 1809 and died in Boston on August 3, 1887. At the early age of 

 thirteen he entered the dry goods business in Boston and contin- 

 ued with great industry and activity to devote himself to work un- 

 til his death. As the senior member of the house of C. F. Hovey 

 & Co., he was the oldest merchant in that department of business 

 in the city. In his business relations he was esteemed and re- 

 spected for his strict integrity and freedom from all guile. He was 

 a leader among those Boston merchants who have proved by their 

 lives that it is possible to be always honest, true and pure and yet 

 be successful. 



With all his devotion to business he was interested in works of 

 philanthropy and the pursuit of science. He was at all times gen- 

 erous to others not only with his money, but with his time, and no 

 one ever called upon him, even in his busiest hours, without re- 

 ceiving a kindly reception and an attentive hearing. 



He was interested in the Home for Aged Men and succeeded the 

 Hon. Otis Norcross as its President. He was in the government 

 of the Institute of Technology for several years and was for some 

 time Vice President of the Franklin Savings Bank. 



Mr. Greenleaf was married early in life to Miss Mary P. Whit- 

 ney, daughter of Rev. Peter Whitney of Quincy. Mrs. Greenleaf 

 is still living and their only child, Dr. Richard C. Greenleaf, now 

 resides at Lenox in this state. 



It is, however, with his interest in natural history that this So- 

 ciety is especially concerned. His general knowledge of organic 

 life was extensive, but his particular study was the use of the mi- 

 croscope. The facility with which this instrument can be used in 

 the evening was evidently one of the reasons that attracted him to 

 it, as he was seldom away from his place of business during the 



PROCEEDINGS B. S. N. H. VOL. XXIII. 34 JULY, 18S8. 



