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Verrill, Alpheus Hyatt, author, illustrator, naturalist, explorer and science fiction writer of the 20s and 30s, was born in New Haven, Conn., 23 July 1871, the son of Addison Emery and Flora L. (Smith) Verrill; educated at Hopkins Grammar School; Yale School of Fine Arts; spl. Course in zoology under his father; married Kathryn L. McCarthy, 21 January 1892; children --- Dorothy I (Mrs. Russell Rhodes), Eric E. (dec.), Loyola K. (Mrs F. Cintron., jr), Valerie G. (Mrs. P. A. C. Ellis) (dec.); married a second time to Lida Ruth Shaw, 11 November 1944. Illustrated Natural History department Webster’s International Dictionary, 1896; Clarendon Dictionary; many scientific reports and other publications; Invented autochrome process (photography in natural colors), 1902. Extnsive explorations in Bermuda, West Indies, Guiana, Central America, Panama, 1889-1920; rediscovered supposedly extinct Solenodon parodoxus in Santo Domingo, 1907. Resided Dominica, British West Indies 1913-1917; Panama 1917-21. Author of more than 105 books on adventure subjects, natural history, travel and books for boys, the latest being The Real Americans, 1954. Contributor to numerous magazines. Made ethnological expeditions to Panama, Peru, Bolivia, Chili, and Surinam, 1916-28; archaeological expeditions, Central America 1924-1927; discovered remains of unknown prehistoric culture and carried on extensive excavations, Panama, 1924-27; engaged in making series of oil paintings of South and Central American Indians from life, 1926-28; archaeological expeditions Peru and Bolivia 1928-1932; in charge of expeditions 1933, 34, salvaging Spanish galleon sunk in West Indies in 17th century; expedition to the West Indies 1948; expedition to Mexico, 1953. In 1940 he established the Anhiarka Exploratory Gardens and Natural Science Museum at the site of the ancient Indian village of Anhiarka where DeSoto made his first settlement in Florida.; in 1944 established a shell business in Lake Worth, Florida. Home: Route 1, Box 254, Chiefland, Florida. Died November 14, 1954. Buried in the Chiefland Cemetery.
From Who Was Who In America.