Samuel Aughey

Born 1831-01-12 Milford, PA (USA)

Died 1912-02-23
Juniata County, PA (USA)

Buried
Mifflintown, PA (USA)
Saint Stephens Lutheran Cemetery

Aughey was professor of natural science at the University of Nebraska from 1871-1883/4. He helped found the Nebraska State Historical Society and the Nebraska Academy of Sciences, serving as the Academy's first President. Although he published practical work on soils, geology and various agricultural concerns, many of his publications were more concerned with promoting settlement in Nebraska than with factual accuracy. He was a strong proponent of the "rain follows the plow" doctrine that farming the land increases the rainfall on that land, a then popular but entirely false idea. He also speculated in real estate promotions and in his own ideas about the presence of coal in Nebraska. His speculations led to a scandal in 1883 that eventually forced his resignation from the University.

The on-line Encyclopedia of the Great Plains has a longer and more detailed biographical sketch of Aughey.
The on-line history of the University of Nebraska has a page titled "Aughey's Scandals."
The Nebraska State Historical Society has hosted a page describing Aughey's contribution to the control of grasshopper infestations in the 1870s.

Places Lived

Juniata County, PA
Milford, PA
Codorus, PA
Gettysburg, PA
Lionville, PA
Blairsville, PA
Dakota City, NE
Lincoln, NE
Spokane, WA

Author Of

Nonfiction

Keywords

Sciences; Birds--Nebraska; Ornithology; Geology; Soil Science; Agriculture; Scientists; Scandals

Education

Pennsylvania College
Divinity Degree, 1858, Lutheran Theological Seminary College, Gettysburg, PA

Occupation

Ordained Lutheran Minister
Missionary
Taught as Professor of Natural Sciences at the University of Nebraska, 1871-1883
Mining Engineer

Places Worked

Various churches in Pennsylvania
University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE

Bibliography

The Renovation of Politics. A Discourse Delivered in St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Lionville, Chester County, Pa., On the Evening of January 4th, 1861. 1861.
Notes on the Nature of the Food of the Birds of Nebraska. 1878.
Sketches of the Physical Geography and Geology of Nebraska. 1880.

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