Prof. Joseph Le Conte Dead
An Authority on Geology and Other Branches of Science
Born in 1823

San Francisco, July 6. - Joseph Le Conte, Professor of Geology and Natural History at the University of California, died to-day in the Yosemite Valley, where he had gone for a brief outing.

Joseph Le Conte was a Southerner by birth and a Huguenot by descent. He was the author of many books, among them the leading geological text book used in colleges of this country, and of numerous articles on scientific subjects. Once he was president of the American Association of the Advancement of Science. In the civil war he served the Confederates as an expert chemist, and also as a member of the Mining Bureau.

Born in Liberty County, Ga., on Feb. 26, 1823, young Le Conte had the best educational advantages the country could afford from his early youth until he was graduated from the Lawrence Scientific School at Harvard University in 1851. After his preparatory training he went to the University of Georgia, being graduated from there in 1841. Then he came to this city to the College of Physicians and Surgeons, and took its degree in 1845, obtaining his degree of Master of the Arts from the University of Georgia in the same year. From here he went to Harvard. In 1879 the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws was conferred upon him by his Southern Alma Mater, and Princeton University awarded him the same honor five years ago. He was married in January, 1847 to Miss Caroline Elizabeth Nesbet of Georgia.

With Louise Agassiz, under whom he had studied at Harvard, Mr. Le Conte went to Florida on a profitable exploring expedition in 1851. The next year he became a professor in Oglethorpe College, after which he occupied the chair of Geology, and Natural History in Franklin College for a year. In 1857 he began to teach chemistry and geology in South Caroline College where he remained for twelve years, leaving there to take the position at the University of California, which he retained till his death. He was not only an authority on geology, but also on optics, aerostatics and physiology. The more important books he wrote were as follows: “Religion and Science,” a collection of Sunday lectures; “Elements of Geology,” a text book for colleges and universities; “Sight or the Principles of Monocular and Binocular Vision,” “A Compendium of Geology,” a class book for high schools, and “Evolution and Its Relation to Religious Thought.”

Genealogical Notes:

1860 Liberty County US Federal Census
Page 471
15th District
88-74 John LeConte: 38, Planter, $2,000, $22,370, Georgia
88-75 Joseph LeConte: 37, Planter, $3,000, $31,690, Georgia

1870 Alameda County, California US Federal Census
City of Oakland
Page 219
1376-1356
Jos. LeConte: 47, Professor, Georgia
C.E.: 47, Georgia
Sarah E.: 18, Mass.
Carrie E.: 6, South Carolina
Joseph: 4/12, California
Kate McCabe: 37, Servant, Ireland
Mary McCane: 22, Nurse, Ireland
F.H. Harrington: 30, Gardener, Prussia

Liberty County LeConte Family Links

The New Georgia Encyclopedia has a detailed account of the illustrious LeConte family of Liberty County.

Documenting the American South has two volumes of material related to the LeConte Family of Liberty county, including The Autobiography of Joseph LeConte and the Emma Florence LeConte Journal.

The LeConte's Woodmanston Rice Plantation and Botanical Garden site contains detailed information about the LeConte family plantation in Liberty County.

Source:
The New York Times, July 7, 1901, Page 5

Submitted by Bob Franks