Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography/Orton, Edward

ORTON, Edward, geologist, b. in Deposit, N. Y., 9 March, 1829; d. in Columbus, Ohio. 16 Oct., 1899. He was graduated at Hamilton, at Lane and Andover theological seminaries, and at the Lawrence scientific school of Harvard. In 1856-'9 he was professor of natural science in the New York state normal school at Albany. He was called to the chair of natural history in Antioch college in 1865, and became its president in 1872. A year later he accepted the presidency of the Ohio state university, which he held until his resignation in 1881. Since that time he had filled the chair of geology in that institution. Prof. Orton was assistant state geologist of Ohio in 1869-'75. and since 1881 had entire charge of the survey. The degree of Ph. D. was conferred on him by Hamilton in 1876, and in 1881 that of LL. D, by Ohio state university. He was a member of scientific societies, and was president of the State sanitary association of Ohio in 1884-'5. Besides various addresses, scientific papers, and contributions, he is the author of the article on Ohio in the "Encyclopaedia Britannica."