Henry Shimer

Henry Shimer (September 21, 1828 - July 28, 1895[1]) was a naturalist and physician in Mount Carroll, Illinois. He was also a teacher at the Mount Carroll Seminary, which later became Shimer College, and was the husband of the seminary's founder, Frances Shimer.

Shimer was born in 1828 in West Vincent in Chester County, Pennsylvania.[1] He worked as a stonemason in his youth, and took up teaching at the age of 18.[2]

In March 1854, Shimer left Pennsylvania and traveled west to Mount Carroll, Illinois after a failed love affair.[2][3] He may have done work on the construction or expansion of the Mount Carroll Seminary, for which the owners were unable to pay him.[4]

On December 22, 1857, Henry Shimer married Frances Ann Wood, the co-principal of the Mount Carroll Seminary.[2] Their union was widely reputed to be a marriage of convenience.[3][4]

Shimer subsequently left for Chicago to study medicine. He graduated from the Chicago Medical College on March 1, 1866.[2] Shimer also obtained a Master of Arts from the University of Chicago by examination.[1]

In the 1880s, Shimer became wealthy by speculating on real estate in Iowa, allegedly inspired by a dream.[3] At the time of his death his estate was worth approximately $200,000.[3]

On July 28, 1895,[1] Henry Shimer committed suicide, either with a revolver[5] or by hanging[3]. He had amended his will five days previously to leave his entire fortune to his wife, leaving his mother and sister destitute.[3] In a highly publicized trial, the will was successfully contested.[4]

Shimer was a prolific entomologist, and published widely, describing a number of novel species and genera.[1] He also served for a time as the assistant State Entomologist of Illinois.[1] In addition, he was an expert taxidermist, and had a collection of over 1000 mounted birds.[2] His collections were provided to the seminary for educational purposes.[2]

Shimer traveled widely within the United States, stopping along the way to work as a stonemason. He sometimes covered more than a thousand miles on foot.[2] He is said to have worn boots at all times.[3]

Published works

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Henry Shimer, A.M., M.D.". Entomological News 6 (10): 10. December 1895. http://books.google.com/books?id=RpAUAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA305. 
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Jeriah Bonham (1883). "Henry Shimer, A.M., M.D.". Fifty Years' Recollections. pp. 493ff.. http://books.google.com/books?id=ZCsEAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA493. 
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "Trying to Break the Shimer Will". Chicago Daily Tribune: p. 2. 1896-06-30. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/428586311.html?dids=428586311:428586311&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI. 
  4. ^ a b c Harold Henderson (1988-06-16). "Big Ideas: Tiny Shimer College has survived for 135 years on great books, high hopes, and very little money.". Chicago Reader. http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/big-ideas/Content?oid=872366. Retrieved 2010-04-16. 
  5. ^ "Noted Entomologist Kills Himself". New York Times. 1895-07-31. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9E03EED7103AE533A25752C3A9619C94649ED7CF.