University of Wisconsin Madison - Badger Yearbook (Madison, WI)

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20 THE TROCIIOS. pointed tutor by the Regents, but resigned to accept the position of Superintendent of Schools of La Fayette Co., Wis. He has been twice the nominee of the Democratic party for State Superintendent of Public Instruction. He was appointed by the Governor as one of the Regents of the University of Wisconsin in 1866. In 1867, he was elected to the chair of Mathematics in the University, which was changed to that of Civil Polity and International Law in 1873. He resigned in 1874, and officiated as one of the board of editors of the Madison Democrat for two years. In 1871 he was chairman of the Democratic State Central Committee. In 1876 he was chosen President of the Wisconsin State Board of Centennial Managers, and in the same year was again elected to the chair of Civil Polity and Political Economy in the University. He is the first Professor elected from the Alumni. He has prepared courses of lectures upon “ International Law and English Constitutional Law ” and “ American Constitutional Law and Political Economy.” Among his papers are: “ Production and Consumption, Demand and Supply,” read betore the State Agricultural Society in 1873, and “ Wealth, Capital and Credit,” read before the Academy of Science, Arts and Letters in 1880. JOHN E. DAVIES, A. M., M. D., was bom April 23, 1839, at Clarkstown, N. Y. At the age of 12 years he entered the Free Academy (now Columbia College) of New York City, by examination. Here he took the modern classical course. In 1855 he came to Wisconsin, where he continued his studies as best he could, teaching in winter and doing farm work in summer. At the age of 20 years he entered the sophomore class of Lawrence University. Here he graduated in 1862, taking special honors in mathematics and astronomy. After leaving college, he began the practice of medicine, but soon entered the army as a private. He marched with his regiment to Covington and Louisville, Ky., where he was afterwards put on detail by Maj. Gen. Buell, and quartered in a hospital. Soon he was appointed Sergeant-Major, and took part in the battles of Chickamauga and Mission Ridge. After these battles he served six months picket duty on Lookout Mountain, Tenn. He was with his regiment all through its march to Atlanta, Ga. and return to Chattanooga, and afterwards saw

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BIOGRAPHICAI. 19 Freedmen and Free Labor in the South ” (1864), “ South Carolina ” (1865),“ The American Executive” (1866), “OurColleges ”(1867), all to be found in the Christian Examiner; “The Religion of Ancient Greece,” North American Review (1871); “The Caucus System,” Christian Examiner (1871); “A Day with a Roman Gentleman,” Hours at Home (1870); “The Religion of the Ancient Romans,” North American Review (1870). He has been a constant contributor to The Nation. An address upon the “ Agriculture of the Middle Ages,” published 1877 ; papers on the “ Rural Population of England, as classified in Domesday Hook,” “ United States Sovereignty,” “ Peasant Communities in France ” and “ The Origin of Freeholders,” are articles which he has read before the Wisconsin Academy of Science, Arts and Letters. He has published an edition of “ The Agricola and Germanica of Tacitus” (1880); “History Topics for High Schools and Colleges,” with List of Reference Books, was published in 1883. ALEXANDER KERR, A. M., was born in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, August 15, 1828. His early life was spent near Rockford, 111., where his advantages for an education were limited. He entered Beloit College at the age of 21. Here he graduated in 1855 with the highest honors in his class. He spent several years in teaching in Georgia, and for two years wras Superintendent of Public Schools in Winnebago Co., 111. In 1863 he took charge of the public schools at Beloit, Wis. He was called to the chair of Greek Language and Literature in the University of Wisconsin, in 1871. In 1869 he was elected President of the State Teachers’ Association, and has been a member of the Board of Education of the city of Madison since 1873. He has con-tributed largely to the periodical press of Wisconsin. J. B. PARKINSON, A. M., was born at Edwardsville, Madison Co., 111., April 11, 1834. He entered the Preparatory Department at Beloit College at the age of sixteen years. He, howrever, only remained in Beloit College two years, after which he took charge of an overland expedition to California. He spent three years in the mines of California and then returned to enter the University of Wisconsin in 1856. He graduated here in i860, with first honors. He was ap-

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BIOGRAPHICAL. 21 the burning of Atlanta. When Gen. Sherman made his famous march to the sea, Dr. Davies accompanied the army. His appointment as First Lieutenant was made after the battle of Bentonville and the army had entered Goldsboro, N. C. He marched home to Washington with his regiment via Richmond, having served his three years without a day's furlough. In 1865 he resumed his studies in medicine at the Chicago Medical College, receiving the degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1868. The next fall he was elected Professor of Natural History and Chemistry in the University of Wisconsin. In 1875 his chair was changed to that of Astronomy and Physics. In 1879 his department was made to include only Physics. While in Chicago he was one year Professor in the Chicago Medical College, and gave lectures on Inorganic and Organic Chemistry and Toxicology. He has been general secretary of the Wisconsin Academy of Science, Arts and Letters since its organization. Among his publications are: “On Potentials and their Application to Physical Science, “ Recent Progress in Theoretical Physics, “ The Magnetic Polarization of Light, in the Wisconsin Academy Transactions; “The Value of Vital Statistics,” twenty-three manuscript volumes of the trigonometrical survey of Wisconsin, fourteen volumes of vertical angles, ten volumes of records of measurement of the triangulation base line near Spring Green, Wis., two volumes of records of ordinary levels, two volumes of reconnaissance for the triangulation of Wisconsin, two volumes of descriptions of stations selected as triangulation points in Wisconsin, five volumes of computations, sent to the Superintendent of U. S. Coast Survey, at Washington ; “A Translation of Elliptic Functions, “ On the Change of Sea Levels produced by the Deposits of the Glacial Epoch, read before the Wisconsin Academy; “ Outline Sketch of the Triangulation of Wisconsin, under auspices of U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, published in Transactions of Wisconsin Academy, Vol. IV. WILLIAM W. DANIELLS, M. S., B. S., was born in West Bloomfield, Mich., March 10, 1840. His early education was received in Detroit, Wacausta, and Lansing, Mich. In i860 he entered the Michigan Agricultural College, graduating four years later with the degree of B. S. He was assistant Chemist in that institution for two years, and afterwards spent nearly three years in the Lawrence Scien-