Charles C. Deam
Encyclopedia
Charles Clemon Deam was the first state forester
of Indiana
. He was born on August 30, 1865 on the family farm near Bluffton
in Wells County
, Indiana
. Deam grew up on the family farm
where his father taught him about the plants on the farm before attending DePauw University
for two years before leaving due to the cost of tuition
. He was an avid amateur botanist who worked in a pharmacy
, which he would hard partial ownership in until his death. His work in as a clerk in a pharmacy lead him to botany in an indirect way. Long work days of up to 14 hours caused stress. His doctor recommended that he take walks to reduce the stress. It was on these walks that Deam indulged his interest in botany
a hobby that would eventually lead him to a career in forestry for the state of Indiana. Deam's work as a forester has been honored by both the United States Government and the State of Indiana. Two protected areas, Charles C. Deam Wilderness part of the Hoosier National Forest
and Deam Lake State Recreation Area
an Indiana state park are named for him.
Deam collected many different plants on his walks and established an herbarium
. His collection of 78,000 plants is now housed at Indiana University
in Bloomington
and is one of the largest private collections of plants in the state. Deam became a member of the Academy of Sciences in Indiana. Deam's work in botany caught the attention of the Indiana Governor
Thomas R. Marshall
who established the Indiana State Board of Forestry in 1909. Deam was appointed state forester by Marshall soon after. As part of his job he moved to Clark State Forest
in Clark County
. Deam held the position until 1913 when Samuel M. Ralston
was elected governor. Charles Deam was reappointed state foreser in 1917 with the election of James P. Goodrich
and held the job until 1928.
Deam's work as state forester was notable for several reasons. While working at Clark State Forest he actively sought ways to reclaim the forest on land that was cleared for farming and timber. Deam convinced the state to purchase an additional 2000 acres (809.4 ha) to add the state forest
lands in Clark County
. Deam studied the environmental needs of the second growth forests. He noted the history of the forests as they here effected by settlement and farming in southern Indiana. Deam wrote, He wrote about the effects of tree loss on soil erosion. Most of the forests in Indiana had been cut down to make room for farms or strictly for lumbering purposes. The loss of trees and their roots lead to increased erosion.
Charles Deam worked to help farmers and lumbermen by encouraging sustainable use practices far ahead of its time. He worked to have state laws changed so that farmers would not be taxed for the land that they owned that they did not farm. Previously farmers were taxed for every acre of land that they owned. This motivated them to use every acre of land for farming and lead to the mass clearing of their land. The Forest Classification Act of 1921 allowed farmers to leave trees alone on land that was not taxable. Within 25 years 2000 acres (809.4 ha) of woods had be preserved on farmers' lands in Indiana. Deam's legislation served as a model for other states and thereby helped preserve forests in other states. Deam retired as state forester in 1928 but remained with the forestry department as a researcher for many years. He walked through all 1016 township
s in Indiana, discovered 25 new plants and has 48 plants named for him. Charles Deam died on May 29, 1953.
Forester
250px|thumb|right|Foresters of [[Southern University of Chile|UACh]] in the [[Valdivian forest]]s of San Pablo de Tregua, ChileA forester is a person who practices forestry, the science, art, and profession of managing forests. Foresters engage in a broad range of activities including timber...
of Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
. He was born on August 30, 1865 on the family farm near Bluffton
Bluffton, Indiana
Bluffton is a city in Harrison and Lancaster Townships, Wells County, Indiana, United States. The population was 9,897 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Wells County.-Geography:Bluffton is located at ....
in Wells County
Wells County, Indiana
Wells County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of the 2010 census, the population was 27,636. The county seat is Bluffton.-Geography:...
, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
. Deam grew up on the family farm
Family farm
A family farm is a farm owned and operated by a family, and often passed down from generation to generation. It is the basic unit of the mostly agricultural economy of much of human history and continues to be so in developing nations...
where his father taught him about the plants on the farm before attending DePauw University
DePauw University
DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, USA, is a private, national liberal arts college with an enrollment of approximately 2,400 students. The school has a Methodist heritage and was originally known as Indiana Asbury University. DePauw is a member of both the Great Lakes Colleges Association...
for two years before leaving due to the cost of tuition
Tuition
Tuition payments, known primarily as tuition in American English and as tuition fees in British English, Canadian English, Australian English, New Zealand English and Indian English, refers to a fee charged for educational instruction during higher education.Tuition payments are charged by...
. He was an avid amateur botanist who worked in a pharmacy
Pharmacy
Pharmacy is the health profession that links the health sciences with the chemical sciences and it is charged with ensuring the safe and effective use of pharmaceutical drugs...
, which he would hard partial ownership in until his death. His work in as a clerk in a pharmacy lead him to botany in an indirect way. Long work days of up to 14 hours caused stress. His doctor recommended that he take walks to reduce the stress. It was on these walks that Deam indulged his interest in botany
Botany
Botany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...
a hobby that would eventually lead him to a career in forestry for the state of Indiana. Deam's work as a forester has been honored by both the United States Government and the State of Indiana. Two protected areas, Charles C. Deam Wilderness part of the Hoosier National Forest
Hoosier National Forest
The Hoosier National Forest, in the hills of south central Indiana, is a property managed by the United States Forest Service. Composed of four separate sections, it has a total area of . It is headquartered in Bedford, with a regional office in Tell City...
and Deam Lake State Recreation Area
Deam Lake State Recreation Area
Deam Lake State Recreation Area is an Indiana state park in Clark County, Indiana in the United States. The park is and sits at an elevation of . Deam Lake State Recreation area is open for year-round recreation. Much of the recreation is centered around Deam Lake. It is named for Charles C...
an Indiana state park are named for him.
Deam collected many different plants on his walks and established an herbarium
Herbarium
In botany, a herbarium – sometimes known by the Anglicized term herbar – is a collection of preserved plant specimens. These specimens may be whole plants or plant parts: these will usually be in a dried form, mounted on a sheet, but depending upon the material may also be kept in...
. His collection of 78,000 plants is now housed at Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
in Bloomington
Bloomington, Indiana
Bloomington is a city in and the county seat of Monroe County in the southern region of the U.S. state of Indiana. The population was 80,405 at the 2010 census....
and is one of the largest private collections of plants in the state. Deam became a member of the Academy of Sciences in Indiana. Deam's work in botany caught the attention of the Indiana Governor
Governor of Indiana
The Governor of Indiana is the chief executive of the state of Indiana. The governor is elected to a four-year term, and responsible for overseeing the day-to-day management of the functions of many agencies of the Indiana state government. The governor also shares power with other statewide...
Thomas R. Marshall
Thomas R. Marshall
Thomas Riley Marshall was an American Democratic politician who served as the 28th Vice President of the United States under Woodrow Wilson...
who established the Indiana State Board of Forestry in 1909. Deam was appointed state forester by Marshall soon after. As part of his job he moved to Clark State Forest
Clark State Forest
Clark State Forest, located just north of Henryville, Indiana in the United States, is Indiana's oldest state forest, formed in 1903 as a forest research facility and a nursery and later expanded by the Works Progress Administration. Originally 2,028 acres of total land area, it is now almost...
in Clark County
Clark County, Indiana
Clark County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana, located directly across the Ohio River from Louisville, Kentucky. At the 2010 Census, the population was 110,232. The county seat is Jeffersonville. Clarksville is also a major city in the county...
. Deam held the position until 1913 when Samuel M. Ralston
Samuel M. Ralston
Samuel Moffett Ralston was Democratic politician, the 28th Governor of and a United States Senator from the U.S. state of Indiana. Born into a large impoverished family, he took many jobs as a child including working in a coal mine...
was elected governor. Charles Deam was reappointed state foreser in 1917 with the election of James P. Goodrich
James P. Goodrich
James Putnam Goodrich, , a Republican, was the 29th Governor of Indiana from 1917 to 1921. His term focused on reforming the operations of the state government and overseeing the state's contributions for World War I. He nearly died twice during his term, and spent a considerable time bedridden...
and held the job until 1928.
Deam's work as state forester was notable for several reasons. While working at Clark State Forest he actively sought ways to reclaim the forest on land that was cleared for farming and timber. Deam convinced the state to purchase an additional 2000 acres (809.4 ha) to add the state forest
State forest
A state forest is a forest that is administered or protected by some agency of a sovereign state.The precise application of the term varies by jurisdiction...
lands in Clark County
Clark County, Indiana
Clark County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana, located directly across the Ohio River from Louisville, Kentucky. At the 2010 Census, the population was 110,232. The county seat is Jeffersonville. Clarksville is also a major city in the county...
. Deam studied the environmental needs of the second growth forests. He noted the history of the forests as they here effected by settlement and farming in southern Indiana. Deam wrote, He wrote about the effects of tree loss on soil erosion. Most of the forests in Indiana had been cut down to make room for farms or strictly for lumbering purposes. The loss of trees and their roots lead to increased erosion.
Charles Deam worked to help farmers and lumbermen by encouraging sustainable use practices far ahead of its time. He worked to have state laws changed so that farmers would not be taxed for the land that they owned that they did not farm. Previously farmers were taxed for every acre of land that they owned. This motivated them to use every acre of land for farming and lead to the mass clearing of their land. The Forest Classification Act of 1921 allowed farmers to leave trees alone on land that was not taxable. Within 25 years 2000 acres (809.4 ha) of woods had be preserved on farmers' lands in Indiana. Deam's legislation served as a model for other states and thereby helped preserve forests in other states. Deam retired as state forester in 1928 but remained with the forestry department as a researcher for many years. He walked through all 1016 township
Township
The word township is used to refer to different kinds of settlements in different countries. Township is generally associated with an urban area. However there are many exceptions to this rule. In Australia, the United States, and Canada, they may be settlements too small to be considered urban...
s in Indiana, discovered 25 new plants and has 48 plants named for him. Charles Deam died on May 29, 1953.
Books
Charles Deam wrote four books about plants in Indiana.- Trees of Indiana - 1911
- Shrubs of Indiana - 1924
- Grasses of Indiana - 1929
- Flora of Indiana - 1940