IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 
XI 
Tertrtnanb IRepperL 
BY B. SHIMEK. 
The summer of 1903 witnessed the close of the life of one of the most 
ardent lovers of Nature within the borders of our State. To write a truly 
appreciative sketch of a life like that of Ferdinand Reppert is no easy task. 
The ordinary chronological details of his life could not be obtained by the 
writer of this sketch, nor could he secure a photograph in order that the 
kindly features of the deceased naturalist might look from these pages upon 
the friends who mourn his loss. He was a native of Cape Girardeau, Mis- 
souri, a graduate of the Michigan College of Pharmacy, Ann Arbor, and 
since the early 70’s a practicing pharmacist in Muscatine, Iowa. 'But long 
after these details, even now obscure, will have been forgotten, he will be 
remembered for his splendid work in his chosen field of botany, for his quiet 
but intense enthusiasm, and for the scientific accuracy and thorough 
honesty of his work. He was essentially a lover of out-of-doors. The 
laboratory and library invited him only as they threw additional light on the 
activities and habits of his beloved plants. Those who, like the writer, had 
the’ pleasure of accompanying him in his studies in the field, were deeply 
impressed with the keenness of his observations, the accuracy of his judg- 
ment, and the truly scientific spirit which he displayed in his work, and all 
have regretted that it was not possible for him to concentrate all his ener- 
gies upon his favorite subject. As it was, his labors were not unproductive 
of results. He was for a number of years a member of this Academy, and 
was well known to botanists far beyond the limits of the State. He was 
joint author of the “ Flora of Scott and Muscatine Counties,” the account 
of the Muscatine flora being almost wholly his contribution. This paper 
was published in 1900, but he was then already well-known to professional 
botanists as a keen observer, and the discoverer of many rare and unique 
Iowa plants. He also left a fine collection of plants, largely Iowan, which is 
now in the herbarium of the State University, and which is a splendid 
monument to his industry and scientific acumen. The collection also 
includes the results of two expeditions to the west, the more productive of 
which extended over more than 600 miles of the Rockies in Colorado and 
Wyoming, and was made in 1898, in company with his old-time friend and 
co-laborer, Prof. F. M. Witter. These fruits of his labors will long con- 
tinue to be of assistance to students of botany, while the memory of his 
kindly, appreciative nature, and of his gentle personality, will always 
remain with those who knew him best. 
