WI BIO - Dane Co - VAN HISE, Charles Richard
Biographical Review of Dane County, WI. Chicago: Biographical Review Pub. Co. 
1893, Vol II, pp 339-340

Charles Richard VAN HISE, Ph. D., Professor of Geology at the University of 
Wisconsin [Madison, Dane County, Wisconsin], non-resident Professor of 
Pre-Cambrian Geology at the University of Chicago, and Geologist in charge of 
the Lake Superior Division of the United States Geological Survey, was born 
in Fulton Township, Rock County, Wisconsin, 29 May 1857. His parents are 
William Henry and Mary (GOODRICH) VAN HISE, the former born and reared near 
Trenton [Mercer or Burlington County?], New Jersey, and the latter near 
Bangor [now in Penobscot County], Maine. They were married in Rock County, 
Wisconsin. They [William Henry and Mary (GOODRICH) VAN HISE] had a family of 
seven children, four daughters and three sons. Mr. [William Henry] VAN HISE 
was a farmer in early life, but later became a merchant. He and his wife are 
now residents of Georgia.

The subject of our sketch [Charles Richard VAN HISE] spent the first eight 
years of his life on the farm. When he was eight years old the family moved 
to East Milton [Rock County, Wisconsin]. He attended school at the latter 
place two years, at Milton Junction [Rock County, Wisconsin] three years, and 
at Evansville [Rock County, Wisconsin] Seminary, preparing himself for 
college. He entered the University of Wisconsin in the fall of 1874, and 
graduated in the metallurgical engineering course in 1879. In the meantime 
he had remained out of college one year to engage in teaching.

From the University of Wisconsin he received the following degrees: B. Met. 
E. in 1879; B. S. (1880); M. S. (1882); and Ph. D. (1892). He was an 
instructor in the University of Wisconsin (1879-1883); Ass't Professor of 
Metallurgy (1883-1886), Prof. of Metallurgy (1883-1886), Prof. of Metallurgy, 
(1886-1888); Prof. of Mineralogy and Petrography (1888-1890); Prof. of 
Archean and Applied Geology (1890-1892). He was an Ass't, WI Geological 
Survey (1881-1882); Ass't US Geologist, Lake Superior Division US Geological 
Survey (1883-1888). He has been Chief of Lake Superior Division US 
Geological Survey since 1888; Prof. of Geology, Univ. of WI, since 1892; and 
Non-Resident Prof. of Pre-Cambrian Geology, Univ. of Chicago, since 1892.

He is a fellow of the American Ass'n for the Advancement of Science, and of 
the Geological Society of America; a member of the Philosophical Society of 
Washington, D. C., and of the National Geographic Society. He has frequently 
read papers before these societies. His chief work has been an investigation 
of Pre-Cambrian rocks of America, and particularly the iron-bearing series of 
the Lake Superior region. The laws of occurrence of the iron ores have been 
somewhat fully elucidated. His researches have resulted in the publication 
of the following articles: [list of articles published by the subject 
omitted here].

Professor [Charles Richard] VAN HISE was married at Evansville [Rock County], 
Wisconsin, 22 December 1881, to Alice RING, a native of Wisconsin and a 
daughter of John and Janet (BUSHNELL) RING. Mrs. VAN HISE completed her 
education at Oberlin College, Ohio, and is a lady of much culture and 
refinement. They [Charles Richard and Alice (RING) VAN HISE] have two 
children: Mary Janet, born 26 July 1887; and Hilda Alice, born 08 June 1891. 

Submitted by Cathy Kubly