New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-11-17

mo west Indies. which came about after lie had
made trips OF investigation 20 Jamaica and PORTO
Rico,
He has occupied the endowed professorship Al
Columbia. which was named after the E',"'
botanis- Torrens since he came 10 The university
I'm lSes Since Columbia became closely ASSOCIATED
with the New York Botanical Gardens great
deal OF MS work has been done At that place Ne-
he not only carried on Investigations. but conducted
rar-ss OF graduate students for study ana re-
search Among the undergraduates he IS not 50
well known IS he has appeared in the botanical
classroom the campus only TWO o. me SIX Gay
a week that he worked.
He was q descendant Of Joseph Underwood, who
first came to this country in 1881 and settled at
bingham Mass. Later the family moved 20 Water
town. y. Y He was born October q. 1S55. the son
OF John Linklaen and Jane Hannah Smith Under
wood. In hts youth he attended the CaZenovia
seminary where lie prepared for Syracuse Cniver-
sity. which he entered in ls73 At the university
he was known as t. close student. and proved some
thing OF his application al the time By earning
election to the two honorary societies, Phi Beta
Kappa and Sigma ri In 1871 he was graduated
with sae degree OF Bachelor OF Philosophy and I'M
nedately turned hts attention n graduate work IN
botany receiving the degree OF Doctor OF PAioso-
ply \ year ago his university honored him by
granting him the degree OF Doctor OF Laws in
recognition % the distinguished work which he had
done
Immediately after receiving his Doctors degree
he was appointed 20 the chair of botany and zool
oEy IN the Illinois Wesleyan University. which he
occupied until 1859. when he resigned 10 become
professor OF biology ar his alma mater. While he
a. the Illinois Wesleyan University he married
Miss Marie Annette Spur. and had daughter.
Helen WiLoughby Underwood. who recently was
graduated from Cornell.
From Syracuse he went to De PAW University
20 take charge OF the department q biology and
was called from there 10 the Alabama Polytechnic
Institute where he remained FOR one year. When
Columbia came look about for 10
assume a position IN the department Of botany the
name OF Dr. Underwood suggested TO the
trustees and. upon the recommendation Of DR..
Nathaniel Lord Britton. who is now emeritus
professor at Columbia and director Of the New
York Botanical Gardens. pr. Underwood was called
Since tr-n he had been closely associated with the
director i1 much - The work that has been done
both az Columbia and a. the New York institution.
He VAS q delegate 20 the international Botanical
Congress held IN Genoa IN 1s91. and had been
chairman II the board OF scientific directors al the
garden since 1Gl. lie the author OF several
works which are recognized as standards Of author
lty I'm their field and also wide contributor 10
scientific magazines. In 1881 he published Native
Ferns and Their Allies" and followed il, In 1S92
with 'Siou'ds. Midews. and Mushrooms. Hs had
been editor q the bulletin and memoirs OF the
Torrey Botanical Club since ISIS
He was councillor Of the New York Academy
~ science. a fellow OF the New York Association
for the Advancement OF Science and member
Of The Botanical Society OF America of which he
wa% president in lsQ'. He was member OF the
Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity.
when be first cana New York he occupied
apartments in the city, but later his for bot
any led him 20 the country. ard no purchased
farm AT RsddinE Conn There ~ had been much
Interested in culivstiuE those plants 10 which he
was devoted, and his small country place Is said
70 be "a model Of its kind. Each Sunday he went
To this place which he considered his home. coming
20 New York during tho week TO attend 10 his pro
fessional duties. He occupied an apartment on
Mornlng~ide avenue when ne IN the city.
lie vas well liked 10y those professors with whom
he was associated and regarded as a man OF
kindly ard genial temperament. As one man ex-
pressed IT.. He had everything 20 live for"