Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography/Mather, William Williams

MATHER, William Williams, geologist, b. in Brooklyn, Conn., 24 May, 1804; d. in Columbus, Ohio, 26 Feb., 1859. He was a lineal descendant of Richard Mather's son Timothy. He was admitted to the U. S. military academy in 1823. In 1826 and 1827 he led his class in the newly established department of chemistry and mineralogy, and to him were submitted the proof-sheets of Webster's chemistry, then in process of publication. He also invented an apparatus for drawing water from the lowest depths of the Hudson river, and noting its temperature. After his graduation in 1828 he remained at West Point as acting assistant instructor of artillery during the annual encampment, and was then stationed at the school of practice at Jefferson barracks until April, 1829. From June, 1829, he was for six years the acting assistant professor of chemistry, mineralogy, and geology at West Point. He was then ordered on topographical duty as assistant geologist to George W. Featherstonhaugh, to examine the country from Green Bay to the Coteau de Prairie. This survey was the basis of a report and a topographical map of St. Peter's river valley. He then joined his regiment at Fort Gibson, and marched into the Choctaw country. In 1836 he resigned from the army, and thereafter devoted himself exclusively to science. While still in the army, and acting as an instructor at West Point, he published several papers on chemistry and geology, in the “American Journal of Science and Arts.” He also prepared a small work on geology for the use of schools (Washington, 1833), and a treatise on “Diluvion,” for the use of the cadets. With the consent of the secretary of war he acted, in 1833, as professor of chemistry, geology, and mineralogy in the Wesleyan university, Middletown, Conn., and in 1834 that institution gave him the degree of A. M. In 1836 he was appointed geologist of the first district, or twenty-one counties, of the state of New York. This work required seven years, and his final report was a quarto of 671 pages, with forty-six colored plates, a great undertaking for the early days of geological research. From 1837 to 1840 he also superintended the geological survey of the state of Ohio, and made elaborate reports (2 vols., Columbus, 1838). In 1838-'9 he made a report upon the geological reconnoissance of the state of Kentucky. In 1842 he became professor of natural science in Ohio university, and in 1845 was its acting president. He was acting professor of chemistry, mineralogy, and geology in Marietta college in 1846, and from 1847 till 1850 vice-president and professor of natural science in Ohio university. During his professional life, between the years 1846 and 1850, he acted as geologist and mining engineer to various companies on Lake Superior, and a part of his labors is recorded in thirty-three analyses of ores. Eight reports were also made upon mines in Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Virginia. From 1850 till 1854 he was the agricultural chemist for the state of Ohio, and editor of the “Western Agriculturist.” In 1853 he was appointed geologist of Lieut. Williamson's party of exploration across the Sierra Nevada for the Pacific railroad, but declined through physical disability. From 1837 till his death he gathered a cabinet of minerals that finally numbered 22,000 specimens. He was a member of many scientific and historical societies, and for fifteen years a trustee of Granville college, Ohio. Brown gave him the degree of LL. D. in 1853.