75 
Matthias Kin, locally known as the "wild-man," because 
apparently he had no abiding place, for as the winds, he 
came and departed as he "listed." Kin was a friend of plant 
lovers about Philadelphia, and as such, he disposed of his 
plant collections to sympathetic customers, among whom 
were Henry Kurtz, and John Melchior Meng, whose gardens 
adjoined. As indicated, Kin was a collector, and made 
frequent journeys into unexplored parts for seeds and rare 
plants. From every known scrap of information concerning 
him, he was a character unique. As described by a friend to 
Thomas Meehan, Kin "was a remarkable specimen of 
humanity, full 6 feet tall, broad shouldered, with enormous 
bones and little flesh, and as one said, a 'literal' picture ot 
death." He dressed like the Indians among whom he lived. 
When he came to Philadelphia or Germantown, he stopped 
only long enough to send his plants and seeds to Europe, he 
collecting principally for German growers. Kin had a wide 
acquaintance, and it is strange that more is not known of 
him. I feel sure that by a study of the letters of contem- 
porary botanists, one would be enabled to do as much for 
him as Dr. William Darlington did for Dr. William 
Baldwin. Letters from G. Henry E. Muhlenberg, pastor 
of Trinity Church, Lancaster, to Zacceus Collins, of Phila- 
delphia, both well known botanists, show them as intimates 
of Kin. August 20, 18 12, Henry Muhlenberg wrote, "It 
seems my good friend Mr. Kin is still alive and collecting 
plants. He sent me a small parcel quite lately with some 
plants dried, or rather mouldy." Again November 22, 18 13, 
concerning a strange plant, he wrote, "I had the living root 
from Matthias Kin, but without a name." And again, 
June 20, 1 8 14, "My friend Matthias Kin has gone lately 
through Lancaster to Tennessee, and promises to call on his 
return, and then to send what he may have to spare. He is 
a very industrious man with a good eye." 
Also September 13, 18 14, "Mr. Matthias Kin, one 
mile from the city where the Germantown Road joins, has 
sent me four living plants." "He is a man of great informa- 
