10 Bulletin Wisconsin Natural History Society. [Vol. 10, Nos. 1 & 2. 
Burlington, Wis., and reluctantly assumed charge. (At a salary 
of $8oo per year). In his letter of acceptance, kindly placed at 
my disposal by his family, he frankly exposes his own deficiencies 
in scientific training and expresses his conviction that, only a man 
of thorough scientific training ought to be intrusted with the care 
of the institution, and modestly affirms that his prime motives in 
accepting were his love for and attachment to the museum and his 
desire to further its growth along the lines laid down by the Wis¬ 
consin Natural History Society, namely to “conduct the museum 
and increase its collections with special reference to the main 
purposes of the society, i. e., public instruction and the provision 
of materials and helps for scientific investigation.” 
True to and possessed of these principles he entered upon his 
duties as custodian. The trials and difficulties he had to face were 
manifold, and to a man of less determination might have appeared 
insurmountable. The society’s large collections, vaued at $30,000 
had to be reinstalled in new quarters. There was a lack of suf¬ 
ficient funds, a very inadequate working library, he was without 
trained or skilled assistants to aid him in the classification and 
care of the material; these deficiencies, and his own lack of scien¬ 
tific training in the special branches of science made his labors 
as custodian extremely trying and taxing. Yet by an indomitable 
will, by relentless energy and by an untiring love for his work, he 
laid the firm and enduring foundation of our Milwaukee Public 
Museum, upon which his successors, unhampered by finances and 
aided by men scientifically and specially trained in their respective 
lines of work, were enabled to erect the present grand superstruc¬ 
ture. The burden he had shouldered proved too much for him 
and after nearly five years of uninterrupted active service, broken 
down in health from overwork, and suffering from the constant 
agony of his leg, he resigned in 1887, in order to seek mental, 
and physical rest and to regain his lost health. A prolonged stay 
in Germany, Switzerland and France brought the needed recov¬ 
ery. During his stay abroad he was by no means idle, new work 
of a more recreative nature absorbed his time and attention. 
