Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1920-09-02

Graduated at Yale College
B. A. 1916 NJ D. 1920
State Geologist
OF
Connecticut 1S35-1S42
State Geologist
OF
Wisconsin 1S54-1S56
Died at Hazel Green May 2. 1856
Emminent as Poet
Rarely accomplished as linguist
Learned and Acute in Science
A Man Without Guile
Many persons motoring by stop
for moments meditation at the
sepulchre OF this remarkable man.
DR.. Percival came to Wisconsin at
the instance of an eastern mining
company to investigate its holding
in Wisconsin. This was in 1853, and
the next year Governor Barstow
appointed him state geologist, the
salary, large for the time, was $4,000
a year. But he survived only two
years, dying May 2, 1856, while en-
ga ed in writing his second annual
report He was not yet quite 81. The
monument was erected not many
years ago by admirers after the grave
had remained unmarked through an
extended period.
AT Hazel Green he made his home
| IN the family of DR.. Jenckes, but the
place now is greatly altsred. For a
! time he occupied room over what
now is the postoffice. That building
| is wholly gone.
| It is said that Percival understood
ten languages and was especially
accomplished in Danish, German
Italian and English. He began to
versify at fifteen, and at the age Of
twenty, While yet in college wrnte
the Tragedy OF Zamor. All the Nun
ey he made he put into books, and
when he died there was nothing left
but his library. 1t sold however, for
$4,000. It is believed that his spirit
was blighted by crushed affection
in his young manhood. His poetry is
pure and platonic. 1t was of the over
bending sky, the streams, the eagle
in it's flight trees the flag, graves of
ancestors and friends Of early days.
Disappointed in love, nature became
his love, nature became his mistress.
He was wholly absorbed in intel
lectual pursuits, and Stunned inter
course with his fellow men when
possible He was eccentric in dress.
He went about in Madison and at
Hazel Green, at Galena and wherever
he CHANGED to be in a tattered gray
coat with trousers patched by him
self, and an old weather beaten
glazed cap, ear pieces of sheepskin.
The thoughtless knew him as t'old
stone breaker, but his ardor was
great in the performance of public
duty. In later life he did no poetiz-
ing.
He walked with head bent forward,
blue eyes downcast, step slow and
hating, timid, morbidly sensitive,
shrinking character" His smooth face
was pale; he was below medium
height; figure slight and frail nose
somewhat Roman, swelling forehead,
intellectual temples, abundant flow
ing hair For many years prior to
his death his mood was peculiarly
silent. His home in New Haven, Con-
necticut, before he came west had but
one entrance, and that at the rear. In
Madison, where he spent one winter
he browsed chiefly in the old historical
society room, and formed almost no
acquaintance. He rarely if ever spoke
to a woman and woman never was the
object Of his song. His expression ha-
bitually was one of self forgetfulness.
If he did not rank with Bryant, Dana
and Halleck contemporaries he surely
was at. the head of the secondary list
of American poets.
Before coming to Wisconsin for
ten years. he lived in strictest seclu-
sion and his most intimate friends
scarcely could obtain access to him.
He refused all social intercourse, by
some was deemed insane. He emerg-
ed only from his retreat when driven
by absolute want and assumed the
employment that brought him to Wis
consin. 1t was said of him that "the
flower on which the dewdrop shone
had to him more than poetic delight.
The rock which concealed sunless trea
sures had for him more than scientific
interest. The petals Of blossoms we're
to him a curious labEatory where
sunlight and sky, warmth and winds
hidden causes and skyey influences
were beautiful and wondrous chemis-
try vieing with the dreams of the al
chemist"
s. s. 81
DR.. Percival was born September
Is, 1895. and died May 2 1856.
His father was a doctor and the boy
was in Yale at Is, the head of his
class at 20, and issued his, first vol
ume of poetry at %. Other volumes