Page:Men of Mark in America vol 2.djvu/257

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FREDERICK HAYNES NEWELL

NEWELL, FREDERICK HAYNES, chief engineer reclamation service United States geological survey, was born at Bradford, Pennsylvania, March 5, 1862. His parents were Augustus William and Annie Maria (Haynes) Newell. His father was a civil engineer, an enterprising, inventive and resourceful man who held responsible positions. His ancestry in America is traced back for eight generations. Several members of the family took part in the Indian wars and in the Revolution.

Frederick Haynes Newell was graduated from the Massachusetts institute of technology in 1885, and took a post-graduate course in engineering at that institution 1886-87. On October 2, 1888, he was appointed assistant engineer of the United States geological survey and by promotions he reached his present rank in 1902. He was one of three commissioners appointed by President Roosevelt, October 22, 1903, to investigate and report upon the land laws of the United States. He has also, by the direction of the government, made extensive examinations of the water resources of the country.

Mr. Newell was married to Erne Josephine Mackintosh, April 3, 1890. They have had four children all of whom are living in 1906. He is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, of the National Geographic Society, and of the Cosmos club of Washington. He is the author of many scientific reports published by the government, and of a standard work on irrigation. His reading has been extensive and has covered a wide range of subjects. He is fond of walking, bicycle riding, and of outdoor exercise in general.

In youth he was neither large nor strong. The death of his mother while he was an infant deprived him of many of the influences of home life. Frequent change of location and many tasks requiring manual labor greatly interfered with his studies. His own preference determined the choice of his profession but in preparing for his work there were many difficulties to be overcome, and it is to these that he attributes the first strong impulse to make a determined fight for