The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1921-12-15
HEREDTrY--A FATHER AND MOTHER TIC
BE PROUD OF
BY HARVEY W. WILEY, Washington. d. c.
Chemist

BY HARVEY W. WILEY, Washington. ID. C.
Chemist
The most important factor In what Uttle
'success" | have had In llfc IL hercdity | had
father and mother OF whom any boy might
goods, they were frontlersinen in what was
then the far west. They came from the same
state state into Indiana that sent Lincoln there. Their
hte was hard one, they battled with the for
ests and struggled for the markets. the Ohio
river being the only outlet FOR their products.
MY paternnl grandparents brought my father
state.
The farm on which I was horn was NOT n
large one, very hilly and difficult OF culture
MY father learned the blasterer's trade and
through that avenue earned the greater part OF
tho necessary nancy which spent. Neither
my father or mother had any OF the advantages
OF schools Ny mothers schooling was con
tined 10 six months and my fathers to not over
a year They were both endowed with fine in
tellectual qualities 40 that they became learned
without the ordinary education.
| had few advantages OF schooling as a boy
We were far from any schoolhouso, without
good roads and separated from them by brooks
which In times OF flood were impassabe In
1881 entered the preparatory school OF Han
over college, which was five miles from the
farm whore was born. rented a room for so
cents n week. had old cook stove and a few
chairs and bed which I brought from home
also brought all my provisions from home and
did my own cooking during my entire college
career. This is how | had my first introd uc-
tion to dietetcs and foods, n subject which /
have pursued all my ne. I consider this en-
vironment OF poverty as one OF the factors
which led me into course OF life whore strug-
glo and battle were to be distinguishing fea-
turcs
At Hanover had excellent training In chem
lsry and apparently attracted the attention OF
the Professor OF chemistry In the medical col
lege. Tie resigned his chair In the medical col
lege to become chemist of the department Of
agriculture. The day after graduated l was
chosen by tho board of trustees To be his sue
did not feel qualified for this posi-
tion and accepted 1t on condition that | might
have years leave OF absence. | went to Har-
ward university to take a special course In
chnmiEtry, L graduated from Harvard in June
1873. and went back to the farm to spend the
summer and like Macawber ITO wait for
something to turn up" Something turned up
Purdue university was to he opened In the fall
Of 1874. | elected as professor OF chem
isry. For several yeas held the two posi-
tions, professor OF chemistry at Purdue and In
the medical college at indianapolis.
In 1883 | was called to position in tho de-
partment of agriculture which formerly
filled by Professor Brown OF the medical col
lege, whose resignation to take this place led
into the chemical world. My career In the
department OF agriculture is well known and
lasted for 90 years My principal work during
this time was the promotion OF the beet sugar
industry In the United States and my work In
connection with the aduteraton and msbrand-
ing OF foods leading finally to the enactment
OF the Pure Food and Drug Act,