Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1854-06-22
ron nE vi1oiSfAs
Josiah Holb4ook

death bF HEEfutHf#l uIoNAltfEs III lftaA4AhA'''
creek. i, iAe immediate vicinity 1T Lyuehhurg'
en Saturday. June 18th. 1854. This announce
mrnt will be felt more keonlY By ofhtrs than 10y
the citizens If l,ynehburg; and yet bis sudden
aud unexpected dissolution has produced very
deep and painful emotion IN many hearts N our
community. Hundreds of children. who had re
eeite3 instruction from him, mourn his loss, and
vii visit his grave with tears Of aiteeilonate re
membranes.
Sir. llaibrook has been long and fasorably
known ia the scientific world. His name i, ia
m.liar "a thousands who never saw his face. For
many wears he was "A contributor TO the leading
religious and literary periodicals Of the country,
and D., -. gained for himself very large rpFuta-
ton. especially. "a Geoogist and Mineralogist.
lis learning and information in these depart
;s..iss ef science were varied mud e2tonsiYe and
re venture 10 affirm that no man ever displayed
a wider range Of purely disintercsted phllan-
thropy,iu any pursuit Of life than was displayed
b. Mr. Holbrook IN the pursuit Of his faforite
sciences. For several years past he has been un-
firiugY employed in the effort 10 simplify these
sciences bv lectures, small hooks. and newspaper
articles, soas 10 adapt them to the comprehension
of little children In this attempt, he succeeded
admirably, Us hundreds can testify who have
Witnessed the results of biz system Of instruction
in this city. More recently Mr.. Holbrook has
been engaged in carrying out into practical ope-
ration "a plan, which he has thought of for years,
the design Of which was to collect and exchange
tie minerals of one section of the country for
those of another carried on by schools, and pr-
yate individuals. This plan be intended should
be very wide inits sphere Of operations, extend
iBg To- foreign lands, 10 be carried on by foreign
ministers. lie had enlisted great many sehol-
ars aud statesmen in behalf Of his cause, and had
he been spared. he, no doubt would have pushed
II 10 the accomplishment of some interesting and
valuable results On this plan he had operated
extensively in the state Of New York, aud in
Washington city, and had succeeded, by CORES
pondonce and other means, in awakening consid-
cradle interest in his plan of operations in the
state OF Ohio and in various other sections Of
our extended country.
1t was with tho view of cauyiag forward, on
an increasingly large scale his cherished project,
TINT Mr. Ilohrook visited Virginia sometime du-
ring the past winter. He first came TO Rich.
mnnd, where he made some acquaintance from
the ncighborhood OF i4ynchburg and at their re-
quest. hc concluded 10 visit this place. and see
what lac could do in Inrtheranee of his plan. On
his arrival after looking round he made known
his object and the plan of carrying it into effect,
Ia "A few ndyduals,wbo Immediately took hold
of it and encouraged him in his "labor of love-
In short time, Mr.. lIolbrook succeeded in gath
ering around him large class OF boys who, as
Il weather would Hdmt,with the opening Spring,
were seon accompanying their mild, gentle, and
well informed instructor in excursions about the
city, breaking the rocks, prying into the areann
Of nnture, and collecting specimens for cabinets
OF minerals
Mr.. Iolhrook succeeded in awakening great
deal of interest on the subjects of Geology and
Mincralogy among the little children Of the city
aud its vicinity. 1t is indeed almost incredible
10 state with what astonishing facility many of
them-boys and grls-acquired II knowledge of
minerals under his instruction. Before he came
amongst ~ there were hundreds of children who
knew nothing of the aaats Of the minerals that
were scattered in almost boundless profusion
around our city, Who in short time, would re-
eoguzo. nj sight, large number-select the best
specimens label, and classify them in well ar
ranged cabinet for future use.
The children became strongl Y attached TO their
mild, patient. kind, and pious instructor Rel-
eian seemed 10 blend most beautifully with all
that lac said and did. He directed the minds of
his pupils To the goodness and wisdom OF God,
everywhere displayed in his manifold works
Mr.. tlolbrook boarded at the Cabell House,
whore hundreds Of his pupils visited him almost
daily for instruction, and examined, under his
eye,the thousands OF specimens which he had
collected in his travels of research. In his room
the children were perfectly ut home and the feel
ug of interest that he always manifested in their
behalf was truly parental
Mr. llohrook won the confidence and esteem
OF nil who mate his acquaintance. He quiet,
unobtrusiYe, pious old gentleman; easy in his
manners, ailectionote in his disposition, insruc-
tive in conversation, and always engaging ON his
avorite topics. Every door was open to him,
and he was everywhere II welcome visitor. The
writer is Of the opinion that Mr.. llolbrool was u
member of the Presbyterian or Congrcgatonalist
church. But he was no bigot in religion, and
scarcely II seetnran. He was decidedly pious
man, and was liberal in his religious views.
Ia Ii .r,lt
state of the weather would permit MIR. Iiolbrool,
made a visit to some locality in the IL. ghhorhood
Of lynchbarg, for the purpose oi collecting min
erals, aud examining he rocky strata and iorma-
tons exposed to view on the bluffs and precipi
tous sleeps along the Black water creek, and the
James Riyer. lie made frequent visits 10 the
Tunnel on the Railroad. just on the Northwest
! ern suburbs of the city. Here he found much
/ 10 engage his attention. He frequently spoke OF
itas one of the most interesting localities he had
/ ever seen. To this spot lie often conducted his
pupils and watched over them with peculiar pleas
IRE. as the little fellows, one after another. came
/ bounding to him with some lew and curious min
eral 10 ask its name, and learn something of its
! history. Here, especially, he found an immense
aud ineNhausible deposit of gdtReiS imhedded in
/ in gnciss and mica slate. His pupils collected
large quantities of these crystals of various size.
from the bgness of a small pan head, to the size
of partridge egg. Here h entertained his youth
ful disciples with his simple, but beautiful and in.
structvc diseourses ON the subjects that occupied
their attention. Near this spot he ended his pur-
suits in this life ceusing lat once to work and
live"
There is high bluff or point of rock near the
/ Tunnel, that rises nearly perpendicularly above
the Black-water creek, on which Mr.. Hobrook
spent portions of his time, breaking the rocks
aud collecting specimens. At the foot of thi,
bluif, in an eddy Of deep water. his body was