Page:Men of Mark in America vol 1.djvu/418

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SAMUEL FRANKLIN EMMONS

EMMONS, SAMUEL FRANKLIN, geologist and author, born in Boston, Massachusetts, March 29, 1841. Received early education at Latin school of E. S. Dixwell; studied at Harvard, A.B., 1861; A.M., 1864; Ecole Imperial des Mines, Paris, 1862-64; the Bergakademie, Freiberg, Saxony, 1864-65, inclusive. He is fourth in a family of seven children. His father, Nathaniel Henry Emmons, was an East India merchant, standing high in the business community of Boston. His mother was Elizabeth Wales, daughter of Thomas and Anne (Beale) Wales. His first paternal ancestor in America was Thomas Emmons, who settled in Newport 1638 and in Boston 1648. His great grandfather was a first cousin of Benjamin Franklin.

In May, 1867, he volunteered as assistant geologist on the United States exploration of the fortieth parallel, receiving a permanent appointment the following year, and with the exception of two years spent ranching in Wyoming, has been in the government geological service ever since.

He became a member of the National Academy of Sciences in 1892, of which he is now treasurer; the Geological Society of America, of which he was president in 1903; the American Philosophical Society (honorary); the American Society of Arts and Sciences; the Colorado Scientific Society, of which he was a founder and the first president; the American Institute of Mining Engineers, of which he was twice vice-president; the Geological Society of London, of which he has been a fellow since 1874; the Swiss Academy of Natural Sciences (honorary); general secretary of the Fifth International Congress of Geologists. He is also a member of the Century and University clubs of New York, and of the Cosmos and Metropolitan clubs of Washington, District of Columbia.

He was married first to Weltha A. Steeves, a second time to Sophie Dallas Markoe, and a third time to Suzanne E. Ogden-Jones. His scientific writings are principally in the field of economic geology and have appeared in the publications of the United States Government, as well as in leading scientific journals. Among them may be