The Saint Paul Globe, 1881, April 24

James D. Skinner

Death of the Well-known Civil Engineer.

Mr. James D. Skinner, civil engineer, died at an early hour yesterday morning after a brief illness. Few men were more generally known in this community than he; few men as little understood. He was the son of Rev. Dr. T. H. Skinner, of New York, one of the most eminent divines of this country, his mother being a Davenport. He was graduated with high honors at Yale College, and developing an aptitude for civil engineering he qualified himself for what was to be a life work by a thorough course of study. Attracted to the west by its promise of a great future, he settled in St. Paul in 1853 and engaged in his chosen calling with eminent success, assisting in the survey of a large territory adjacent to this city and in the platting of town sites anear and afar. When the St. Paul & Pacific railroad company was organized, he was entrusted with the construction of the first division from Minneapolis westward, and performed the work with signal ability. When this work was completed, he took a position in the office of the United States engineer of this department, and for years, under Col. Farquhar and Maj. Allen, was entrusted with the superintendence of some of the principal river work, including the making of plans for the reservoirs on the st. Croix and Mississippi rivers. In the meantime, he had been conducting a considerable amount of work in the way of hydraulic engineering, and his opinions and conclusions were universally regarded as worthy of the highest consideration. About a year ago, failing health compelled a cessation from active work, and since that time he has been practically without occupation, through his opinions have been frequently sought by those who had learned to estimate them at their true value. Though on the verge of the grave for months his indomitable will kept him up, and it was not till about ten days ago that he surrendered and took to his bed. He died at the age of 50. 

Mr. Skinner was a man of fine education and large reading, and was besides a connoisseur in music and the fine arts. He was familiar with both ancient and modern literature, and having a wonderfully retentive memory could quote page and page from the master poets, dramatists, novelists and historians. He was companionable with but few, but to those few his conversation was highly esteemed. Though he had his faults, the shroud that now covers his mortal remains will screen them from the censure of the public. The remains, in charge of Major J. P. Pond, will be taken East for interment, leaving by the 8:05 P. M. train this evening. 

Obituary – James D. Skinner, Esq.

To the Editor of the Globe.

The old settlers of St. Paul, and all who were acquainted with the late James D. Skinner, must hear with deep regret of his sudden and untimely death. Like most old Minnesotians, Mr. Skinner was a peculiar man. Endowed by nature with a peculiarly capacious, subtile and acute intellect, a liberal education in early youth and a long course of subsequent application, study and research, accompanied with much practical experience and observation, had in many respects made him, in varied scientific and artistic learning, knowledge of languages and literary accomplishments, almost phenomenal. His curiosity and taste had led him to explore and investigate almost every field of knowledge and art, and to peruse the entire catalogue of ancient and modern literature, and his great and exact memory enable him easily to retain, in ready store for convenient use, very much of all he had read or acquired. Everybody, who knew him intimately, will recall how readily and copiously his sprightly intellect and nimble thought, for the purpose of illustrating or enforcing the views or opinions he advanced or urged, he could draw upon this vast reservoir of mental acquirements. The opinions and criticisms of such a mind upon science, art or literature, or even upon current events, of the times, must always command attention, and often control the opinions and sentiments of his associates and intimates upon these subjects. Such we known to have been the impress of the intellectual characteristics of our lamentable friend. Indeed, it is one of the many sad reflections forced upon us by this melancholly [sic] event, that the light of such a mind, and the attractive splendor of such acquirements shall so soon expire and be extinguished in dusty death, and to dumb forgetfulness a prey forever. 

But our lamented friend’s claims for recognition and our sorrows for his untimely loss are not limited alone to intellectual superiority or acquirements. To those who knew him best he was one of the most interesting and fascinating of companions and associates. He had the rare quality of winning and entertaining all who came within the charmed circle of his intimate acquaintance. It was to these only, however, that the full magnetism of his social qualities were ever fully displayed; for without any great violation of a true analysis of his character, it may be properly said that, 

“He was a scholar, and a ripe and good one; Exceeding wise, fair spoken and persuading; Lofty and sour to them that loved him not; But to those men that sought him, sweet as summer.”

He is gone now, and the places that knew him shall know him no more forever. After life’s fitful fever it is hoped he sleep well; but oh, what a sad commentary on the vanity and nothingness of life is the dark and fatal extinction of such a light? How disconsolate it is to reflect that all this toil and strife and struggle for earthly gain, knowledge or achievement, which could only be justifiable if its aim was immortality, is all to end in that inevitable hour of dark eclipse by the shadow of death.

“No further seek his merits to disclose, Nor drag his frailties from their dead abode, Where they alike in trembling hope repose – The bosom of his Father and his God.”

St. Paul, April 23d, 1881

DeWitt C. Cooley.