The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-02-20
OBITUARY.
ALEXANDER w1NcHE11.

ALEXANDER wINCHELL.
Professor Alexander Winchell died at Ann
Arbor, Mich, yesterday morning. Alexander
Winche, geOlogist, was born at North East,
Duchess County, New York. December 81 1924.
While still young IL evneed strong inclination
toward what has been his pursuit in life, and
began teaching at the early age OF 10 years.
After having been thus engaged for several
years, he entered the Wesleyan University at
Middletown Conn, from which he graduated III
1947. During the two or three succeeding
years lie taught The natural sciences in New
YORK Summaries, engaged in the study of botany,
and In 1849 married Miss Julia Frances Lines OF
Utica, New York. In 1850 lie removed 10 Ala
bama, where for several years he had charge Oh
institutions OF Learning, and coninu d actively
mis- natural history studies, sending valuable
CORRECTION OF plants, animals and fossils 10 th 0
Smithsonian Institution In 1853 In the same
year, on the recommendation of Professor Louis
Agasslz, lie was nominated professor Of physics
and civil engineering In the University OF
nllehieap, and early III 1854 entered upon his
duties IN the institution with which he has been
SO long connected. In 1856, lie was made pro-
IeS>Or Oh geology, ZOOLOGY and botany, which
CHAIR he continued TO nil until june 1873
During his oeriod lie performed other labors
OF importance. III 1859 lie served as President
OF The State Teachers Association ana edited
and published the Michigan Journal of Educa-
ton, aud about The same time began that system
OF popular writing and occurring science
which lie has diligently kept Up since. Ftom
1853 TO 1861 he occupied the position OF State
GeOi0gist OF Michigan, ana again from 1869 10
1871 acting also as director of the geological
survey OF Minnesota IN 1870, The lesults Of
his labors Ia this field of duty were embodied in
several volumes OF reports Of The surveys. They
include The Grand traverse Region OF Michl-
gam" geological map Of ichigan and an official
geological survey OF The salt lands OF Minnesota,
with numerous papels in scientific journals.
His study OF The geological and chronological
material collected during the survey yielded
seven new genera and 304 new species Of ami
mals mostly fossil. During this period also he
filled fiom 1866 TO 1869 chair In the Kentucky
University similar to thai occupied IN The
University OF Michigan.
In 1872 lie accepted the position of Chancellor
OF Syracuse University, N Y, but resigned IN
1874, aud during several successive years held
tie chaE OF geology and zoology IN that institu-
non, While uiing on tie same subj CT at
Vanderbilt University, Tennessee. In 1879 lie
was recalled 10 The University OF Michigan and
assumed the Chair Of geology aud palRJnt olOgy,
which lie held al the time OF his death.
While thus actively engaged as a biologist and
educator, Professor WlncheI has been an indus
trous writer. and, in addition 10 lhe works
named, has produced considerable number Of
WORKS OF popular science. bis hfst production
ot this Kind was oketches Of Creation 1S70)
About tile same time appeared a work on The
Geneaogy of the Wincbell Family in America
Later works comprise Geology of the Stars
Qo72l; The Doctrine of Evolution Q874; Re-
Cancellation Of Science aud Religion QS77); Pre-
adamfIes QSSo); Sparks from a Biologists
Hammer Q8SI); World Lie Q8s3); Geological
Excursions 1883; Geological Studies q 1856;
and Shall We Teach Geology? 1850. In addl-
lion to the foregoing Walks and Talks in The
Geological Field QSS6) was written for the
Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle"
Within recent years Professor Wiuchell has
been engaged on geological work under the
auspices OF the Uniled States Geological Sur
Vey, and IN The summers OF 1886 and 1887
served on the Minnesota Geological Survry IN
the region north of Lake Superior, publishing
extended reports of each years explorations. IN
1888 lie was Chairman OF ID committee TO organ
ize the American Geological society," and be-
came Vice president of tie Society wuen organ
lied. In 1888, lie, with six others, established
the American GeoogiSt, 10 whose pages he has
since been active contributor. In 1867 he
received The degree OF Doctor OF Laws from the
wesleyan University. be was member OF tie
American Association Tor The Advancement of
Science since 1850, aud was a corresponding or
honorary member or most OF The scientific sOci-
cites III Tie United States and VI many in Eu-
rope.
Professor Winchell occupied high rank
among American scientists. His long -cOntinued
services as all educator in advanced Institutions
OF learning, his labOrs IN The field practical
geologlst, The valuable reports Ia which his geo.
logical observations are embodied, the collec
tons he has made and the new genera and
species bed, and his many works devoted
To the popuarlZation of science, constitute IL
vast amount OF important laDOrS, indicative of
unusual industry III the field of scientific study.
bis works or popular science are written 10 a
clear and interesting manner, which goes far to
explain their popularity, while at the same time
they are OF fullness and accuracy, and possess
an abundant reference 10 authorities which are
indicative OF The carefulDeSs aud very wide
reading oil the author, and make them OF value
10 learned as well as uEleaTned readers. He
was Christian scientist While believer in
tie theory Of evolution, he did rot consider that
this was lrIeconciiable with the teachings Of
Christianity. He did important work in the d-
rection of harmoniZlng tie doctrines of religion
and science. lie was The contributor OF a val
liable article on Darwinsm TO the Encyclopedia
Americana.