6 The American Geologist. Jan. i890 
filled up the moments with vivacious and fascinating conver- 
sation, so completely did his spirit rise above his physical 
condition. 
Mr. Schoolcraft was a large-hearted Christian man, a kind 
father and a true friend, ever ready to extend a helping hand 
to those who needed it. He was of a deep religious spirit and 
a rich Christian experience. For many years he was an elder 
in the Presbyterian church. At the time of his death he was 
a member of the "New York Avenue Church" in Washington, 
D. C. He believed the Bible from end to end to be the truth 
— "the word of God." Unlike many professional and contro- 
versional defenders of the truth, he had a profound convic- 
tion of the authenticity and inspiration of the Sacred Scrip- 
tures and spoke as one, every power of whose mind had been 
mastered and bowed in reverent subjection before a teacher 
manifestly divine. 
On the Sabbath before his death, conversing with his friend 
Dr. Samson, of Columbia College, who had called to see him, 
he went over in a calm and delightful review his whole course 
as a christian man. When allusion was made to the services 
he had rendered to science by his laborious and sacrificing 
life, he exclaimed with earnestness, "that is nothing, nothing 
compared with my interest in Jesus Christ as my Redeemer." 
He died on the 10th of December, 1864, His noble mind 
triumphed till the end , calm, clear and thoughtful as when 
he sat with his pen at his literary toil, until he breathed his 
last. 
The funeral services were conducted by Rev. Dr. Gurley of 
the Presbyterian church, Rev. Dr. Hall of the Episcopal and 
Rev. Dr. Samson, president of Columbia College ; and his 
remains were laid in the congressional cemetery in Washing- 
ton, D. C. 
We must judge of Mr. Schoolcraft as of the times in which 
he lived — geology then being in its infancy in the western 
country. 
As an explorer and discoverer he knew no failure, and his 
portly physical manhood permitted him to overcome almost 
insurmountable obstacles. He has been very generally accred- 
ited with the discovery of the true source of the Mississippi, 
although in late years, the fact that Wm. Morrison had 
