Reverchon displayed an interest in the natural world at a young age, and along with his brother amassed a collection of nearly 2,000 species of plants during his childhood.

Maximilien received a plot of land southeast corner of the colony in exchange for their shares in the failed company.

Reverchon was struck by a train on July 6, 1905, fracturing his arm and badly bruising his back while examining some bugs near the railroad track in Greenville, Texas.

[3] Reverchon never recovered from his injuries and died at his adopted son RM Freeman's home on December 30.

[4][5] At the time of his death, his home the Rose Cottage contained a rich herbarium with more than 2,600 different species and 20,000 specimens.