46 Cincinnati Society of Natural Flistory. 
IN MEMORIAM—WM. H. GARRATT. 
Ir isa matter to be regretted that the Society has had a benefac- 
tor in the late Hon. W. T. Garratt, of the city of San Francisco, 
whose memory and good works can only be noticed, without the 
pleasing accessory of something certain of his life history. 
It was through the action of Mr. Erastus Gest and Mr. Charles 
Kilgour that the attention of Mr. Garratt was directed to tne Cin- 
cinnati Society of Natural History. His interest was thus 
aroused, and in a most generous way he at once (in 1888) con- 
tributed his first fine donation to the Society. Nor did he stop 
at that; he not only promised and collected for the Society, but 
actively engaged in search and solicitation among his relic- and 
curio-collecting friends of the Pacific Coast in our behalf. His 
second effort resulted in the reception of his last shipment—a 
pleasing surprise, and most valuable acquisition. 
Mr. Garratt, as we are informed, was a native of Waterbury, 
Conn.: born in the year 1829, October 4th. He spoke in his cor- 
respondence of having an abiding affection for Ohio, and the city 
of Cincinnati, because of early associations, from which, probably, 
was partly due his ready willingness and desire to add to the value 
and attractiveness of our museum. From this it would appear that 
he commenced his westward travel when but a very young man, 
and this view is strengthened from what we hear, viz.: that he 
was of that restless band of brave, adventurous men to cross the 
plains to California in 1849. There he grew up with the country, 
was enterprising, industrious and successful as a business man, 
leaving behind him a large fortune, as well as a name highly hon- 
ored for every good work. 
It was a favorite idea and wish of his to visit the city he remem- 
bered with so much affection —and it was the like wish of our Soci- 
ety to greet him here, show him our good work, and thank him ~ 
for his kindly, open-handed assistance. That ‘‘ man proposes, but 
God disposes,” is a truth of fact in this instance. We shall never 
see our friend here. All that is left to us is to cherish his kindly 
acts and keep his memory green among us. 
The Society has testified by its acts a proper appreciation of Mr. 
