THE 
AMERICAN GEOLOGIST 
pe 
Vou. IX. “FEBRUARY, 1892: No. 2 
ALEXANDER WINCHELL. 
AN EDITORIAL TRIBUTE. 
Nore. The following memorial sketch of Alexander Winchell, who died February 19, 
1891, is a tribute of the AMERICAN GEOLOGIK? to a deceased member of its editorial corps. 
As one of its founders and as its zealous friend and its most able and voluminous writer, 
his memory and his eminent services in the infancy of the magazine can most fittingly 
be commemorated by this sketch of his life and work. At the same time this account of 
one whose name has for the past forty years been seen frequently in geological, ednca- 
tional, philosophical, and even in theological literature, will satisfy not only a demand, 
but a just expectation which has often been expressed since his death. We are con- 
vinced also that the readers of the GroLoaist in general will take pleasure in receiving, 
in lieu of the miscellaneous contributions with which the Groxoeisr usually is filled, 
this joint memorial of one whose voice, now silent forever, they have many times heard, 
perhaps, either in theclass room or on the public platform. 
I. _ SIGKNESS, DEATH AND FUNERAL, 
Probably the first apprehension of serious bodily ailment of the 
late Dr. Alexander Winchell, by others than himself and family, 
was experienced while he was in attendance at the Washington 
meeting of the Geological Society of America (December 29-31, 
1890), where he served as the presiding officer in the absence of the 
president (Dana) and of the first vice-president (Newberry). Several 
noticed the ashen hue of his countenance, and those more intimately 
acquainted with him knew of a weakness of limb, and a shortness 
of breath with which he suffered. He persistently adhered to the 
discharge of his duties, however, in connection with the Geologi- 
“al Society, whether of an official or of a social character, and 
after adjournment he repaired immediately to his home at Ann 
Arbor, where he was inclined to remain until his strength should 
return. Having, however, several engagements to lecture he 
