American ethnologist, born in Richmond, IN, in 1861; had only a common-school education, but from the age of twelve showed a decided taste for ethnographic studies, and began compiling a systematic, geographical list of all the Indian tribes in both Americas. While pursuing his researches he learned the printer’s art, and practiced it, either as an apprentice or a compositor, for over six years. His list of 3,000 tribes, being completed as far as his resources went, in 1885 was submitted to the United States Bureau of Ethnology, in Washington, and accepted as one of the bases of a Dictionary of Tribal Synonyms. He subsequently discovered the whole sacred ritual of the Cherokee priesthood, and collected new data concerning the South Atlantic Indians. He investigated for the government the ghost-dance among the western tribes, and gathered an exhaustive collection of curios, etc., relating to the Kiowa tribe, which were exhibited in the ethnological section of the Columbian Exposition. He wrote Medical Mythology of Ireland (1887); Funeral Customs of Ireland (1888); Holiday Customs of Ireland (1889); besides the monographs above mentioned, published in periodicals or in government reports.
