foe AUDUBON BULLETIN 
Published Quarterly by the 
mein Oro; AUDUBON S'0 CIETY 
ROOSEVELT ROAD AND LAKE SHORE DRIVE, CHICAGO 5, ILL. 
Number 119 September, 1961 
STEPHEN ALFRED FORBES 
May 29, 1844 — March 18, 1930 
By THOMAS G, ScotTr 
"He is first cousin to the Indian, the prairie-wolf and the badger, but with a better 
knack than they at adapring himself to the new life of civilization. He is a perfect 
reflection of his most constant surroundings — with a bosom of prairie butter-cups, 
a back like the dead grass of autumn, and a song that harmonizes well with the 
whistling of prairie winds." 
This is the meadowlark as visualized by Stephen Alfred Forbes in the 
introduction to one of his early scientific treatises (Forbes, S. A., Ill. Hort. 
Soc. Trans. for 1880, 14:2384-5, 1881). A thoughtful reader may find it to 
be more than a picturesque description, for it also tells something of Forbes 
himself — of his literary gifts, his love of nature, his unusual grasp of 
ecological processes, and his courage to depart from accepted custom. 
Stephen Alfred Forbes! This is a name for Illinoisans to remember. For, 
as Curator of the Museum of the State Natural History Society (1872-77), 
Director of the State Laboratory of Natural History (1877-1917), State 
Entomologist (1882-1917), Professor of Zoology and Entomology (1884-1909), 
Dean of the College of Science (1888-1905) at the University of Illinois, 
and Chief of the State Natural History Survey (1917-80), Forbes con- 
tributed mightily to the scientific world without losing sight of his responsi- 
bility to the general welfare of the people of Illinois. Anyone who studies 
the works of Forbes must conclude that this accomplished scientist was 
motivated in his impressive investigations of natural history by a genuine 
desire to contribute to the betterment of mankind. 
Forbes’ early life was truly rich in opportunity to develop an apprecia- 
tion of natural history. He was born of pioneer parentage in a log cabin 
on a farm at Silver Creek, Stephenson County, in northern Illinois. When 
he was 10 years old his father died. Henry, a brother eleven years Stephen’s 
senior, returned home to care for him, his mother, and his youngest sister. 
Stephen attended district school] until the age of 14 years and then studied 
at home under Henry’s supervision. Henry, who had abandoned plans to 
attend college when he assumed responsibility as head of the home, man- 
aged to send Stephen to Beloit Academy for a short time in 1860 to pre- 
pare him for a college education. This plan was interrupted by a shortage 
of funds. 
When the Civil War came, Henry shared Stephen’s desire to fight on the 
side of the North. As a consequence, Henry sold the farm, paid off the 
mortgage, and gave the remaining money to his mother, who went to live 
with her oldest daughter. The two brothers borrowed money to buy horses 
and joined Company B, 7th Illinois Cavalry, in September, 1861. Stephen 
was 17 years old and entered service as a private. Within a year he was 
orderly sergeant; at 19 he was a lieutenant, and at 20 he became captain. 
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