Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 01.djvu/307

 BETHUNE.

BEVERIDGE.

became professor of botany in Iowa agricultural college, serving from 1870 to 1884, when he accepted a position as professor of botany and horticulture in the University of Nebraska. In addition to his duties as professor he served as acting chancellor of the university from 1889 to 1891. He acted as editor of the botanical depart- ment of the American Naturalist from 1880 ; was president of Iowa academy of sciences from 1875 to 1884 ; president of the society for the promotion of agricultural science, 1883 to 1885, and was made a fellow of the American association for the advancement of science. He was the asso- ciate editor of the botanical department of the second edition of Johnson's Cyclopedia in 1893. His principal publications are: "Report on Insects " (1873-'74) ; " Geography of Iowa " (1876) ; " The Erysiphei of North America " (1877) ; " Botany for High Schools and Colleges " (1880) ; "Essentials of Botany" (1884); "Reports of the State Botanist of Nebraska " (1887 to 1892) ; " Preliminary Reports on the Native Trees and Shrubs of Nebraska" (1891). He received the degree of Ph.D. from the Iowa university in 1879.

BETHUNE, George Washington, clergyman, was born in New York city, March 18, 1805. His father emigrated from Scotland, and became a prominent merchant of New York, and his mother — also of Scotch descent — was a daughter of Isabella Graham, the philanthropist. The son was graduated at Dickinson college in 1823, studied theology at Princeton, and was ordained in the Presbyterian ministry in 1825. In the fol- lowing year he united with the Dutch Re- formed church, in which he held pastorates at Rhinebeck and Utica, N. Y., Philadelphia, Pa., Brooklyn, N. Y., and New York city, for a period of thirty-five years, during which time he wrote several volumes in both prose and verse, which gave him a national reputation. He was a grace- ful poet, an eloquent orator, a keen wit, an en- thusiastic disciple of Izaak Walton, and a good man. In 1859 he visited Italy, where he regained his failing health, and at Rome preached in the American chapel. He returned to New York in 1860. His last public effort in this country was a patriotic speech delivered at the great union meeting held in Union Square, New York, di- rectly after the fall of Fort Sumter, in which he earnestly advocated the preservation of the Union. Among his published works are: " Lays of Love and Faith," a collection of hymns, " Orations and Discourses," " Memoirs of Joanna Bethune," " Fruits of the Spirit," "Early Lost, Early Saved," " British Female Poets, with Bio- graphical and Critical Notices," and "The His- tory of a Penitent." He died suddenly of apoplexy in Florence, Italy, April 27, 1863.

BETTS, Samuel Rossiter, jurist, was born at Riclunond, Mass. , in 1787. He was graduated from Williams college in 1805, and soon after was ad- mitted to the bar at Hudson, N. Y. His practice was interrupted by the war of 1812, in which he served as an officer, and was made judge-advo- cate on the staff of Governor Tompkins of New York. In 1814 he was elected a repesentative to the 14th U. S. Congre.ss. He declined a re-nomin- ation. Frrom 1823 until a few years before his death he was judge of the United States district court. He codified the maritime laws of the United States. In 1830 Williams college conferred upon him the degree of LL.D. He is the author of a valuable book on "Admiralty Practice" (1838). He died in New Haven, Conn., Nov. 3, 1868.

BEUNAN, Thomas Francis, R.C., bishop, was born at Tipperary, Ireland, October 1853. He im- migrated to the United States ; was graduated at Allegheny college ; studied classics at Rouen, France, and theology at Innsbruck, Austria, receiving the degree D.D. at Rome in 1880. He was ordained priest at Brixton Tyrol, July 4, 1884 ; engaged in missionary work in Pennsyl- vania and became a domestic prelate in the pope's houseliold in 1888. He was consecrated first bishop of Dallas, Tex., at Erie, Pa., April o, 1891 by Bishop Mullen ; resigned in 1892 ; was vicar apostolic auxiliary of Labrador 1893-94, and of the See of St. John. Newfoundland 1894-95. He was recalled to Rome, and was acting auxiliarv in the diocese of Frascati and Albano.

BEVERIDGE, Albert Jeremiah, senator, was born in Highland county, Ohio, Oct. 6. 1862 ; son of Thomas H. and Francis E. (Parkinson) Beve- ridge, and grandson of John Beveridge. He re- moved to Illinois with his parents ; became a plowboy, teamster and logger, and was grad- uated at De Pauw university in 1885, having paid his own expenses. He studied law under Senator McDonald 1886-87 ; was admitted to the bar in 1887, and engaged in practice in Indiana- polis, Ind. He was married Nov. 24, 1887, to Katherine Maud Langsdale of Greencastle, Ind. He entered politics in 1884 ; became a prominent political speaker, and was elected to the U.S. senate from Indiana as a Republican for the term 1899-1905.

BEVERIDGE, John Lourie, governor of Illi- nois, was born at Greenwich, N.Y., July 6, 1824 ; son of George and Ann (Hoy) Beveridge : grandson of Andrew of Abernethy, Scotland, and Isabel (Cummings) Beveridge, and of James and Agnes (Robertson) H03'. John removed to Illinois in 1842, and to Tennessee in 1845 : became a lawyer, and was married in 1848, to Helen M. Judson of Chicago. He practised in Chicago, 1850-61 ; served as major of the 8th Illinois cavalry ; as colonel of the 17th Illinois cavalry and as briga-