Charles C. Deam

Charles Clemon Deam (August 30, 1865 - May 29, 1953) was the first state forester of Indiana. His interest in botany began at a young age and grew to include categorization and sustainable practices. He discovered 25 new species, 48 plants are named after him and his herbarium includes 78,000 specimen, still preserved at IU Bloomington.

Charles C. Deam
Charles C. Deam
BornAugust 30, 1865
Wells County, Indiana
DiedMay 29, 1953
Bluffton, Indiana
Occupationpharmacist, small business owner surveyor, botanist, American conservationist, forester
Spouse(s)Stella Mullin
ChildrenRoberta Ortenburger
Parent(s)John Henry Deam and Martha Marsh

Early life

Charles C. Deam was born on August 30, 1865[1] on his family farm near Bluffton in Wells County, Indiana.[2] Growing up on the farm, he learned the value of hard work. He earned money doing things such as building fences for another farmer, spending it on a poem book by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. He was also curious from a young age and collected Indian relics he found on the farm.[3] Deam's other interests included the natural world, something his father showed him through farm produce, garden plants and herbal remedies.[2] When he was sixteen, he became deathly ill from typhoid fever. During this time, he received a herbal remedy of milk and old field balsams or cudweed, gradually nursing him back to good health. His mother, also sick, died despite the remedies.[3]

After graduating from high school, he went into teaching at a country school. Unimpressed, he decided to look elsewhere for work. Deam possessed a restless mind, great energy and a tendency to assert order into his world. He decided to attend DePauw University in the fall of 1885 until his money ran out in 1887. He soon sold his books and returned home where he worked odd jobs.[3]

Eventually in 1888, Deam began maintaining a store in Marion where he worked upwards of 110 hours a week. This led to a better job in Kokomo, but Deam considered it backwards.[3] After complaining, a store supplier took note and helped him purchase a dilapidated drugstore in Bluffton during May, 1891. At this time, it was common for druggists to make their own cures, thus birthing Deam's Nerve and Bone Liniment as a claimed cure for aches and pains among men and beasts.[3] During his time as a business owner, he continued to work long hours leading to exhaustion. One day in 1892, he got angry at a woman and she left upset. A perfume salesman in the store spoke to Deam, stating that he should see a doctor. Deam followed this advice and saw a doctor who recommended he take a half-hour walk daily, which he began doing.[3] During the walks, he studied his surroundings, growing his interest in botany.[2]

In June 1893, he married a red-headed school teacher named Stella Mullin. They shared the common values of education and progress and she often accompanied Deam on his nature walks. During this time, he began studying plant life more intensively and discussing botany.[3]

Botanist

In 1896, Deam met Bruce Williamson, a zoologist, who taught him about the scientific method. His love of plants grew, and his interest in taxonomy started. Soon, he was collecting plants along lanes and meadows during his hikes, but could not identify many of them. Williamson loaned him Gray's Manual of Botany, starting his interest in mounting plants. The first plant he mounted was a small snapdragon hung in September 1896 called Ilysanthes dubia. Williamson also influenced Deam by his discussion on becoming published.[4] Eventually, he was introduced to the Indiana Academy of Sciences (IAS) in 1899 by Williamson. The organization focused on gathering scientific minds within Indiana to share their knowledge. Their journal, Proceedings, featured Deam's first botany article, and soon he began to do an annual report on “Plants Rare or New in Indiana”.[5]

By 1897, Deam obtained a botanical library and began working with other botanists, like Stanley and John Merle Coulter who wrote Forest Trees of Indiana in 1891.[4]

Deam's focus on plant identification, migration and growth was more than just for collecting, focusing on understanding the subtle changes in the environment. One instance is when he noticed that Hibiscus militaris was becoming prevalent, something he attributed to poor land management. He wrote:

“I have known the shores of the Wabash River near Bluffton … since 1880. In the early history of our state our streams were clear. But when the forests were removed, the streams became muddy and sediment was deposited on the shores and on the gravely and rocky bars which made suitable habitat for this species. The same is true of other plants, some of which no clog some of our smaller streams.”[5]

Field Work

In 1910, Deam began to focus more on plants native to Indiana, particularly vascular plants. He continued to collect plants by walking, but soon used a horse and carriage, bicycle, motorcycle, and  in 1915, a Ford Model-T touring car. He customized the car with an ash frame to sleep two and added a canvas tarp to block the rain, naming it the Weed Wagon.[5] During their often day-long adventures, Deam and his assistant (at one time Ralph Wilcox) cruised rural roads looking for new plants. Once they found a specimen, the plants were laid on newsprint for a plant press to compress and dry. On the newsprint they noted the plant's name, the habitat and gave each sample a serial number, later recording it in a specimen log. The Weed Wagon allowed Deam to go from collecting around 1,200 specimens a year to 3,760 in 1916, a year after its purchase.[5]

His ventures into the Indiana Brush are noted by Indiana University botanist Paul Weatherwax. He discussed that despite Deam doubting himself, he always worked through the day and often went were his fellow botanists would not.[6] Through his trips, he collected detailed knowledge on Indiana's plant life, and in 1911, he published his first book titled Trees of Indiana. It was so successful that copies sold out and required reprinting on several occasions.  Deam's Shrubs of Indiana (1924) included numerous pictures from specimens at his herbarium and identification keys.[6] His third book, Grases of Indiana (1929), garnered attraction due to its ink drawings, his ability to translate scientific knowledge to the average reader, and folklore on certain plants, like Kentucky Bluegrass. His final work, Flora of Indiana, took him eight years to complete, from 1932 to 1940. Its name is .[7] Weatherwax spoke of Deam's published efforts as:

"...of critical significance to plant taxonomy and ecology in Indiana and the entire Midwest. Great natural areas of the native vegetation were yielding to axe, plow, fire, and drainage; and a host of migrant species were coming in by way of railroads, highways, and agricultural practices. Deam's particular service was to leave an accurate and detailed record of what plants were here and what was happening to them."[7]

His work as a botanist led to the discovery of 25 new species and 48 plants are named after him. One example is the Deam Oak, a natural hybrid discovered in Wells County by Williamson.[5] In addition, his collection efforts amounted to 78,000 plants throughout his career, documented in his herbarium.[6]

Forester

Indiana experienced 70 years of deforestation, beginning in 1830.[7] By 1900, Indiana's forests were nearly decimated with only 7% remaining forested compared to the height frontier settlers saw of 87%.[8] Deam was one of few people who cared. Considered the father of Indiana forestry, he contributed greatly to sustainable development.[9] The loss of trees affected soil erosion on plots with many new farms and lumber operations.[2]

This dramatic change led to more focus on Indiana's forests. Deam's work in botany caught the attention of Indiana Governor Thomas R. Marshall, who established the Indiana State Board of Forestry in 1909.[2] As part of his job, he moved to Clark State Forest in Clark County. He first took the position as state forester in 1909 and remained there until 1913, taking a hiatus due to his dislike of political inquiries and campaign contributions.This was when Samuel M. Ralston was elected governor. He resumed the position in 1917 with the election of James P. Goodrich.[9][10] The State Board of Forestry became the Department of Conservation in 1919, headed by Richard Lieber.[9] In 1926, Deam noticed how many younger men received training for forestry. Desiring to concentrate on publishing, he retired from state forester in 1928 at the age of 63 only to be rehired as a state forestry researcher.[11] Ultimately, this allowed him to invest more time into his books and revisions.

In 1903, the State Board of Forestry purchased 2,000 acres (810 ha) of worn land in Clark County near Henryville, Indiana, adding to state forests under Deam's direction.[2][7] Deam investigated which species were suitable for reforestation, coming to the conclusion that the poor soil supported conifers and pines best, leading to much of Indiana's new forests populated by conifers.[7][9] Deam focused on educating farmers after forestry management, developing educational material to promote woodland management. Previously, farmers were taxed based on land they did and did not farm[2] and conservation law before 1905 encouraged farmers to maintain farmland.[9] Deam attempted to rectify this with a bill, the Forest Tax Classification Act, in 1921. Its intentions were to give farmers who agreed to protect forests on their land from fire and grazing a tax break. A total of 400,000 acres are now enrolled and protected due to the bill.[9] His sentiment for all of these contributions is displayed by the destruction of Indiana forests by early settlers:

"The extreme fertility of the soil attracted the relatives and friends of the first settlers which displaced the Indians until 1832…. [S]ettlement rapidly followed and magnificent forest areas were cut and burned to obtain more arable land…. People soon learned that they could enter or buy a tract of land, sell off enough timber to erect a house and barn and to pay for the land. Saw mills were soon built every few miles along the railroads. It was soon learned that Indiana white oak, black walnut, yellow poplar, etc., were among the best of their kind in the world."[2]

Death

Deam remained active late in his life, but was increasingly exhausted. On May 29, 1953, Deam died at age eighty-seven, a few months after his wife.[11]

Legacy

Deam's work was honored by both the United States government and the state of Indiana. In 1947, he was awarded the Mary Soper Pope Memorial Award in botany.[12] He traveled through all 1016 townships in Indiana, discovered 25 new plants and has 48 plants named for him.[5][10] Charles C. Deam died on May 29, 1953.[10]

His legacy continues on with two protected areas. Charles C. Deam Wilderness, part of the Hoosier National Forest and Deam Lake State Recreation Area, an Indiana state park named after him.[10][13][14] Deam's herbarium collection of 78,000 plants[6][10] is now housed at Indiana University in Bloomington, one of the largest private collections of plants in the state.[2] Furthermore, the work he and his associates contributed led to better sustainability practices. In 1900, 1.5 million acres were wooded in Indiana. That number is currently 4.5 million with timber harvesters planting more than they use.[11]

Published Works

Charles Deam wrote four books about plants in Indiana.[2][6][7][10]

Trees of Indiana - 1911
Shrubs of Indiana - 1924
Grasses of Indiana - 1929
Flora of Indiana - 1940

References
  1. Carman, Sam. "Charles Deam: In His own Words". University of Southern Indiana. Archived from the original on May 29, 2010. Retrieved September 29, 2010.
  2. "Our Land, Our Literature: Charles C. Deam (1865-1953)". Ball State University. Archived from the original on May 16, 2008. Retrieved September 28, 2010.
  3. Jennifer, Harrison (Fall 2010). "Naturalist Charlie Deam: Forestry and Conservation Pioneer". Traces of Indiana and Midwestern History. 22: 46.
  4. Harrison p. 50.
  5. Harrison p. 51.
  6. Harrison p. 52.
  7. Harrison p. 53.
  8. Harrison p.46.
  9. Harrison p.54.
  10. "Charles Clemon Deam (1865-1953)" (pdf). Indiana Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved September 29, 2010.
  11. Harrison p.55.
  12. "Cranbrook Institute of Science Director's Papers". Cranbrook website. Retrieved Dec. 27, 2016.
  13. "History of the Deam Wilderness Area". United States Forest Service. Retrieved September 29, 2010.
  14. "Deam Lake State Recreation Area". Indiana Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved September 28, 2010.
  15. IPNI.  Deam.
Primary Sources
  1. Charles C. Deam papers, 1881-1983, bulk 1900-1953 at the Indiana University Archives.
  2. Deam Wilderness manuscripts, 1963-1988 at the Indiana University Lilly Library.

Further reading
  • Kriebel, Robert C., Plain Ol' Charlie Deam: Pioneer Hoosier Botanist, 1987, Purdue Research Foundation.
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