University of Missouri - Savitar Yearbook (Columbia, MO)

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l JSAVITARQ S'f?i4,.?H!'4-'.?HF'N.P'l4g79 VF Sb -ik 'Sb 1? 41.2 Sb we ik as as as as as as as as vslvslvgastvslwslzslfsl f' Bram Bitton, QYI. Q. HE subject of this sketch, though probably not known to a great number of our readers, has for many years been a warm friend of educational institutions and .especially of Missouri University, and it is because his liberality A to, and generous interest in, this University have not ff been properly recognized and appreciated that we have ff' decided to dedicate this volume ofthe Savitar to his Dr. Litton was born in Dublin, Ireland, May zo, 1814, and died in St. Louis September 22, 1901. He came to America in 1817 with his parents, residing for a short time in Pittsburg, after which he took up his residence in Nashville, Tennessee. He graduated from Nashville University in 1831, and after having taught four years in Paris and jackson, Tennessee, he was made professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy in that institution. Three years later he resigned this position in order to go to Europe and per- fect himself in chemistry. After spending a short time in Paris, Hei- delberg and Bonn he went to Giessen and worked with the great Liebig six months. Recommended by Liebig he was given the oppor- tunity to work in Rosa's laboratories in Berlin. He was also privi- leged to study with Wohler in Gottingen while abroad. When he returned to America he was appointed Professor of Chemistry and Pharmacy in St. Louis Medical College. When the founders of the scientific school of Washington University were seek- ing a man capable of filling the chair of chemistry, they were referred by Dr. Horsford, of Harvard, to Dr. Litton. This aroused their inter- est in a man eminently qualified for the place, whose fame was abroad, but at home was overlooked because of his modest demeanor. He ac- cepted this position and held it for thirty-five years, resigning it in 1891. During this time he lectured in both Washington University and St. Louis Medical College. The University never had a more faithful, more competent, more loyal servant than this pure man, who, consecrating every effort of mind and body on chemical laws and the science of natural philosophy, gradually drifted away from the jealou- sies and the bickerings of an active life, where one jostles constantly . .pai X567 ,- fw '. 'll fw Xpv memor . lvl iq!! Y if fl 5

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USAVITARZ V-- -mined 1

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JSAVITARQ against his fellows. It was much to the regret and against the pro- test of the entire Faculty that Dr. Litton resigned as chemist in St. Louis Medical College and Washington University, for they felt that his high ideals and unceasing efforts had done much to raise the stand- ard of their work and advance the reputation they had gained. Dr. Litton's work, however, has been beneficial not only to the schools of the state, but alsofto the people in general. In 1854, in the employ of the Missouri State Geological Survey, he made an examina- tion of the lead regions of Southeast Missouri. He has the honor of being the first man to make a scientific investigation and complete re- port of the geological conditions of that part of the state. ' It will no doubt be of interest to our readers to know that Dr. Litton was at one time a member of the Faculty in Missouri State University, being a Professor of Chemistry here in 1849. This event awakened in him an interest in the institution which he retained until the end of his life, leading him to present to it in 1887 his large and valuable scientific library consisting of some fifteen hundred to two thousand volumes, many of which are very rare and expensive These works comprise some of the best writings of English French and German scientists The gift was not only valuable in itself but has been the means of establishing a scientific library which if properly cared for will be of mestimable value at some not far distant date He also contributed recently to the different laboratories of the Um versity several thousand dollars worth of physical apparatus This is probably the most choice apparatus of its kind which has ever been in our laboratories For all this generosity and liberality to the great University of the State of Missouri we take this means of paying tribute to the memory of that noble man 44 I l Q ' 1 I , . Y TW' -c-n,:,,,.rT7,fV.w-,....,., ,,,-,g,,Tl , 4 A 5 I. - Q . . , . , Y - 1, , X , , -, .X A., , , , J 2 F' . , , M - 1 ' ' . ,, 4 ' I . Jay ? i V J .. -L.. t -fax.: ,E ge . . , ., h JV, .f 4 Cl