Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1889, volume 6).djvu/594

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560
WINCHELL
WINCHESTER

ter, known as " Winchell's Watts," was long used by the Baptist churches in this country. — His nephew, Alexander, geologist, b. in North East, Dutchess co., N. Y., 31 Dec, 1824, was graduated at Wesleyan in 1847, and spent the following year in teaching natural science in Pennington semi- nary, N. J. In 1848 he became teacher of natural science in the Amenia (N. Y.) seminary, but in 1850 he removed to Alabama, and had charge succes- sively of several institutions. He was called to the chair of physics and civil engineering in the Uni- versity of Michigan in 1854, and a year later was transferred to the chair of geology, zoology, and botany, which he then held until 1873. In 1866-'9 he filled a similar professorship in the University of Kentucky. Meanwhile he made a survey of a railroad from Ann Arbor to Manchester, and was appointed in 1859 director of the geological survey of Michigan. The beginning of the civil war prac- tically brought the survey to a close, although Prof. Winchell made palaeontological researches in the material that it had accumulated, and in his pub- lications established seven new genera and 304 new species, most of which were fossil. In 1869 the geological survey resumed its work, and he was designated as its director, but he resigned in 1871. He accepted the chancellorship of Syracuse uni- versity in 1873, but at the end of the year retired from this office to become professor of geology, zoology, and botany. In 1875 he was invited to fill a similar chair in Vanderbilt university, and thereafter until 1878 continued to divide his time between the two institutions. As he had con- tributed by editorial request certain articles to the " Northern Christian Advocate," in which he de- fended a belief in the existence of a preadamite race, and as he was understood to hold the doctrine of evolution, his resignation from the professorship at Vanderbilt was asked by Bishop Holland N. McTyeire, president of the board of trustees of that university. Prof. Winchell refused, and his lectureship was declared abolished by the college authorities. In 1879 he was recalled to the chair of geology and palaeontology in the University of Michigan, which he still retains. He was actively connected in 1886-'7 with the geological survey of Minnesota. The degree of LL. D. was conferred on him by Wesleyan in 1867, and his name has been assigned to fourteen new species. Prof. Win- chell has lectured extensively on geology, and con- tributed to numerous periodicals. By his investi- gations he has established the Marshall group in American geology. His bibliography includes about 200 titles. In addition to his reports on geology, he has published "Genealogy of the Family of Winchell in America" (Ann Arbor, 1869) ; " Sketches of Creation " (New York, 1870) ; "A Geological Chart " (1870) ; " Michigan," being condensed popular sketches of the topography, climate, and geology of the state (1873) ; " The Doctrine of Evolution " (1874) ; " Reconciliation of Science and Religion " (1877) ; " Preadamites, or a Demonstration of Existence of Men before Adam " (Chicago, 1880) ; " Sparks from a Geologist's Ham- mer" (1881); "World Life, or Comparative Geol- ogy " (1883) ; " Geological Excursions, or the Rudi- ments of Geology for Young Learners" (1884); " Geological Studies, or Elements of Geologv " (1886); and "Walks and Talks in the Geologi- cal Field" (1886). — Alexander's brother, Newton Horace, geologist, b. in North East, Dutchess co., N. Y., 17 Dec, 1839, was graduated at the Uni- versity of Michigan in 1866. In 1860 he had been assistant on the geological survey of Michigan, for which he reported a complete " Catalogue of the Plants of the State of Michigan." In 1866 he be- came superintendent of public schools in Adrian, Mich., but resigned in July, 1869, to accept the office of assistant state geologist of Michigan. A year later he joined the geological survey of Ohio, where he remained until 1872, when he became state geologist of Minnesota, in connection with which he is also professor of mineralogy and geol- ogy in the University of Minnesota. Prof. Win- chell is president of the Minnesota academy of natural sciences. In 1887 he was appointed a mem- ber of the U. S. assay commission, and he is man- aging editor of " The American Geologist," issued at Minneapolis. His bibliography includes nearly fifty titles, and comprises " Annual Reports on the Geology and Natural History Survey of Minnesota " (15 vols., Minneapolis. 1872-'88), and " Geology of Minnesota" (2 vols., 1884-'8).


WINCHESTER, Elhanan, clergyman, b. in Brookline, Mass., 30 Sept., 1751 : d. in Hartford, Conn., 18 April, 1797. He began to preach about 1769, and in 1771 was ordained pastor of an open- communion church at Rehoboth, Mass. About a year later, adopting the views of the close-com- munionists, he was excommunicated by his church, and after residing in Charleston, S. C, in 1774-'80, he became pastor of the 1st Baptist church in Philadelphia. In 1781, with the majority of his congregation, he founded a Universalist church there. In 1787-94 he preached successfully in England. Among his numerous publications are " New Book of Poems on Several Occasions " (Bos- ton, 1773); "Hymns" (1776); "The Universal Restoration, Exhibited in Four Dialogues " (Lon- don, 1788 ; 4th ed., with notes by William Vidler, 1799); "Course of Lectures on the Prophecies that Remain to be Fulfilled" (4 vols., 1789; American ed., 2 vols., 1800) ; " Oration on the Discovery of America," delivered in London (1792) ; " The Three Woe Trumpets" (1793); "The Progress and Em- pire of Christ," a poem (1793) ; and " Plain Politi- cal Catechism for Schools " (1795). A sketch of his life and review of his writings was issued after his death by William Vidler (1797), and his life was also written bv Edwin M. Stone (Boston, 1836).


WINCHESTER, James, soldier, b. in White Level (now Westminster), Md., 6 Feb., 1752; d. near Gallatin, Tenn., 27 July, 1826. He served in the Revolution, being commissioned lieutenant in the 3d Maryland regiment, 27 May, 1778, was captured by the British, and exchanged, 22 Dec, 1780. He then settled in Sumner county, Tenn., where he married and resided on a large estate. On 27 March, 1812, he was appointed a brigadier-general in the regular army, and on 18 Sept. he relieved Gen. William Henry Harrison of his command at Fort Wayne, much to the dissatisfaction of the soldiers, some of whom refused at first to serve under the new commander. On 24 Sept., Harrison was given command of the Northwestern army, including the force under Winchester. The latter had already set out, on 22 Sept., for Maumee rapids with 2,000 men. He was opposed by about 1,200 British and Indians under Maj. Muir ; but Muir, alarmed by exaggerated reports of Winchester's strengtfi, fled without offering battle. Winchester was afterward joined at Fort Defiance by Harrison, who, having quelled a mutiny among the troops, left him there in command of the left wing of the army, with which he intended to move on Detroit. Winchester now moved on Maumee rapids as he had been ordered, and though Harrison soon afterward recommended the abandonment of the movement, in view of reports that Tecumseh was in position to cut off his supplies,