Clergyman; born in
Minaville, N. Y., May 18, 1834; graduated at Union College in 1855, and at Princeton Theological Seminary in 1858, and was ordained a minister in the Presbyterian Church on May 5 of the latter year.
The same year he went as a missionary to the
Choctaw Indians.
In 1859-69 he was engaged in missionary work in
western Wisconsin and
southern Minnesota; in 1869-70 was superintendent of the
Presbyterian missions in
western Iowa,
Nebraska, and the
Rocky Mountain Territories; and in 1877 became superintendent of the
Presbyterian missions in
Alaska.
In 1885 he was appointed
United States general agent of education for the
Territory of Alaska.
In 1887 he organized at
Sitka the Alaskan Society of Natural History and Ethnology; in 1884 induced Congress to grant a district organization to
Alaska; in 1891 introduced reindeer into that region; and in 1898 was authorized to secure a colony of Laplanders for
Alaska.
He was several times a commissioner to the general assembly of the Presbyterian Church, and moderator in 1897.
He gave $50,000 to establish a Christian college in
Utah in 1896.
He is a member of the National Geographical Society, and many other similar organizations.
His publications include
Alaska and missions on the North Pacific coast;
Education in Alaska, and elaborate reports on
Alaska in the annual reports of the
United States Commissioner of Education.
