Increase Allen Lapham. — Winchell. 3 
made, or the new ideas he received from their separate ram- 
bles or in the prosecution of their engineering enterprises. 
This correspondence is full of scientific interest, and, if pub- 
lished, would doubtless prove of historical value. Every trip 
either of these brothers took, whether on business or pleasure, 
was followed by a letter to the other, fully describing the 
country through which he passed. In 1S27 began his life- 
long friendship and correspondence with Dr. Benjamin Silli- 
man, of New Haven, editor of the American Journal of Science. 
Interesting and valuable scientific correspondence began ;it 
this date (1828) with Dr. Darlington, Thomas Say, Isaac Lea, 
Chester Dewey, Dr. S. P. Hildreth, Asa Gray, Dr. Troost, of 
Nashville, and most of the scientists of America. Nothing 
which appeared to be of scientific value escaped the eye of 
young Lapham. He collected shells, plants, insects, fossils, 
until his hands and his home were full. He presented many 
to special workers in special departments. Dr. Troost used 
his collections while preparing his history of American fossils, 
and Dr. Hildreth established several new species on specimens 
of shells sent by him. Victor G. Audubon, collecting for his 
father, was his frequent companion in his rambles about 
Louisville at this time. At the last his large collection was 
purchased and deposited in the University of Wisconsin, where 
it was burned when, in 1881, Science Hall of that institution 
was destroyed. This was a repetition of the catastrophe 
which befell the cabinet of Dr. I). D. Owen, at Lloomington, 
Indiana. 
One of the-noble acts of his early manhood was prompted 
by the filial gratitude he entertained for his parents. In 1829 
the brothers decided to buy a farm for their parents. Their 
united salary did not amount to more than $1,00.0 per year, 
but by careful economy for several years they had the satis- 
faction of seeing their parents and younger brothers and 
sisters in a home of their own. Like their father, these broth- 
ers were engineers, and it had been necessary thai the family 
should move from place to place wherever their canal or road 
work called them. 
While in Ohio, Lapham was concerned in the first move- 
ments for the "first survey" of that state. In L836 he was a 
member of the committee appointed to investigate and report 
