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Show Marcus E. Jones A SKETCH By THOMAS C. ADAMSl Having had recent occasion to consult the papers arid diaries of Marcus E. Jones for some special information, facts concerning his career were obtained which brought the thought that members of the Academy would find much interest and receive of the work of this Professor his a measure of inspiration from a short general account early leader in scientific and engineering circles in Utah. Jones-the title was everywhere accorded him in respect for scholarly accomplishments long after his college connections had ended was born in Jefferson, Ashtabula County, Ohio, April 25th, 1852. In 1865 the family moved to Iowa and settled near Grinnell College where Marcus Jones received his formal education; largely classical. He graduated in 1875 but with health greatly depleted because of overwork and in order to restore himself spent the summer of that year "botanizing" throughout Iowa. In this manner he was lead to follow as a profession the scientific work he started earlier as a hobby. During the following three years he taught Latin at Grinnell College, studied what science was afforded him, and spent the greater part of his free time making botannical collections. He was granted a master's degree and for a portion of the early months of 1879 substituted for the professor of Natural Sciences at Colorado College. In 1878, starting with 200 dollars of borrowed money, he purchased a horse, wagon, and supplies and collected plant specimens throughout the Rocky Mountains, mainly in Colorado, selling enough of them to sustain himself and repay the loan. For a number of years afterward he spent a large portion of his time in collecting and in other botannical research and except for intervals of scientfiic work in other fields and more lucrative work neces earn a living, this work was carried on through his' life. During the early period a large portion of his income was obtained from the sale of plant specimens, seeds, etc., and collections made by him now will be found in many institutions throughout the United States and Europe. In 1879, at the expiration of his work at Colorado Springs, he came to Salt Lake City to collect and on the day following his arrival, July 17th, he was at Lake Point on the shores of Great Salt Lake. Following this sum mer's work he returned to Iowa where he was married. With his bride he again came to Salt Lake City in February 1880 to assume the position of Professor of Botany in the Salt Lake and from then until 1923 made College his home in the city. He retained his position at the college only one year, when he resigned because he was "very much dissatisfied with the manage ment of the school" and very likely also because he was confident of his ability to make his own way and enjoyed the greater freedom of his collecting expeditions and private professional work. During the 80's he and Mrs. Jones conducted a private school in their home. He made collections throughout nearly the whole of the Western United States. He was on board the first scheduled train to run over the newly completed line to the Horn Silver Mine and at this time botanized on the deserts to the west. In 1892 he made a long trip as far as Mexico by wagon. He traversed the Salton Sink before the irrigation of this area had been sary to Associate Professor of Civil Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah. 11 |
