He attended the public schools until his father's death in 1877.

Two years later he entered Abingdon College, completing the academic course in 1883. A year later he entered Eureka College and graduated in the class of '86. After two years' teaching in the public schools he was elected to the chair of Natural Science in Eureka College. During the summer of '89 he accompanied a Harvard Geological party on a tour through the Eastern and Middle States. Having been granted leave of absence from the college, for the further study of Natural History, he entered Harvard University in 1891, receiving his degree the following year.