Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-06-09
ELLIOT G. HOWE,
a Native oTJsmaica, who Died Recently
IN New York,


botani-t Of New York, for the bulletin OF the
Torrey Botanical club
Elliot C.. Howe was born at Jamaica,
VT, Feb. II, 1928. Coming to New York |
in early life he received his academic edu
cation in the academies of Troy and Lam
slngburg. Early in life he gave indica-
tions of a love for natural science and
turned his attention to the study of geolo-
gy, zoology and botany. Music also re-
ceived share of his attention, and phar-
macy had attractions for him. This soon
led him to the broader field of physiology
and medicine. III engaged in the study
Of medicine in New York city, and while
there did literary work and repOrtorial
work for the New York Tribune, then
under the management of its celebrated
editor, Horace Greeley. After receiving
the degree NJ. d. he returned to Troy and
commenced the practice of medicine.
Here lac remained three years, giving in
that time such attention as he could to
music and botany. He was leader of the
choir of the Fifth Avenue Methodist
church until he was induced to leave Troy
and enter the large and hOurishing Char
lotteville seminary as teacher OF music,
physiology, and botany. Charlottesville
swamp was in the vicinity of the semi
nary, and it was soon made famous by his
discovery in it of the beautiful American
Jacobs ladder, PoicmoHium Van Bj1mtjde
Britton. This is the first known New
York locality for this plant which then
was thought to be the same as the Eu-
ropean P0lemeHi,p0 cocjUicUm l.. The
continuation of this school was abruptly
terminated by the accidental burning of
the seminary building. DR.. Howe then
/ ion In ha EpV Iu-a ri
Institute, where he taught music, botany
and German. Here he became acquainted
with Miss Emily Il. Sloan who was also a
teacher in the institute and who afterward
became his wife. While here he made
many friends and engaged vigorously in
the study of MOSES. He also began the
study of mycology and entered into CORE
| spondence with the late Rev. NJ. 4. Curtis
! of North Carolina, who at that time was
the chief devotee and exponent of Ameri
| can mycology. DR.. Howe was the first
! New York botanist to take up this study
| with earnest activity. After seven years
| he left Fort Edward and renewed the
! practice Of medicine at New Baltimore, y.
/ y, hut the field here was limited and he
soon went to Yonkers, y. Y, where he
| took a prominent position in his profess
sion. lie was secretary of the Westches-
ter County Homeopathic society for six
years and its president for two years.
/ While here he was able to make large
additions TO his herbarum and TO make
many new botanical acquaintance. He
also became a member of the Torrey Bo-
tanical club. After Is years of great &C
tivity in Yonkers, failing health, long re-
sisted, compelled him to relinquish the
practice of medicine. and II years ago he
removed to Lansingburg. As long as his
health and strength permitted he found
enjoyment in his botanical excursions and
in the study of the local flora.
Seven years ago he lost the use of his
limbs, and since that time he had been
confined to the house helpless invalid.
All these years he found comfort in his
family, wife and four children, two sons
and two daughters. and in his herbarum.
He kept up his botanical correspondence
and exchanges even to the last month of
his life. On the evening of March 2 he
fell asleep and varied and useful life was
closed.
He was the author of several pieces of
musical composition, among which are
"Minnie Moore" his favorite; 1.-The Old
Arm Chair" ellis Pleasant Grave" "The
Dying Drummer Boy" and 1.-The Wan
derer's Dream" piece which was played
by the musicians of both armies during
the Civil war. He was a correspondent of
the Troy Times and at one time the edi-
tor of the Family Journal. In an article
in the Botanical Gazette, February, 1851,
he claimed the hybrid character of Carer
.>uiirdHtU Boot, which character is now
generally admitted. In 1894, in connec-
ton with DR. II. G. Gordinier of Troy, he
published the Flora of Rensselaer, county,
a Record of the Phenogams and Vascular
Cryptogams growing in the county indie
pendent of cultivation. In it they record
1345 species and varieties. He wrote the
descriptive article on the New York species
of carer, published in the 4Sth State Mu-
scum Report. In this he describes a new
species, carer Se0rSd Howe, and two new
varieties, {. leaticulariS mercaS Howe and
{. EDm0nNii djStinct0 Howe.
This article represents much patient and
painstaking labor on the part of its au
thor, who gives very full and detailed
measurements of different parts of the
plant in each species. 1t shows what can
be done by man of firm purpose and in
love with his work, even when hampered
by conditions that would generally be con-
sidered sufficient to incapacitate any one
for all work. He was the author of sew
eral species of fungi, among which are
Tficholomd PcckU, HygrophoruS Pecki-
anus, Puccnjd curtipeS, p. Peckidnus,
McroSphderd mcajSpcrmi, VI. pldtdHi and
NJ Symphoricdrpi.
He was correspondent of Professors
Gray, Wood, LesquereuX, DR.. Vasey and
many other prominent botanists of their
day. He was also correspondent of sew
eral European botansts of note. While
at Fort Edward he directed the attention
of the writer TO the interesting features of
mycology and induced him to enter this
field of botanical investigation, which at
that time was almost a terra iRcO9nta in
this country. This was the beginning of
a friendship that our botanical excursions.
our correspondence, and personal inter
course have served to make stronger and
stronger. He was difiident to fault, strong
ly sympathetic with the suffering, generous
and honorable in his dealings with all and
prominent in his profession for the cor
rectness of his diagnoses of disease.
He has contributed many specimens to
the state herbarium. These fine examples
of Towering plants, MOSES and fungi will
continue silently, but effectively, to bear
witness to his activity in collecting, his
care and neatness in preparing, and his
generosity in giving specimens of plants in
the study of which he took so much pleas
ure. His name is fittingly COMMUNICATED
by two fungi, Strophdrid Howednd PIX and