The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-04-20
THE sHoEmAKER or sp1cELAxD.
An Amateur Astronomer whose Observation
arc Esteemed of Much Value.

From IRE byi1naro', Journal
SPcelnnd, Henry County Ind. hns long
hocn colcbrnted for its academy. founded by tho
Society of Friends. But Spiceland mas also tho
b.st practical astronomer ia Indiana, in the
shape Of u shoemaker. who earns his daily
broad FOR he ia pOorl by cobblinR. VIM Daw-
son il tho name Of the Quaker shoemaker and
astronomer who made his own telescope, con-
slructed MS own obServnoty, AMI who Ior more
mum Institute and the meteorological Bureau at
Washington with statistics and observations.
Of Lectures in Spiccland. and when walking
with Garrison Davis the principal OF the acad-
inquired Of Mr.. Davis II that was an obscrva-
tory connected with tho academy Ho replied:
No II Is private observatory, built by a very
excellent and worthy man. q shoemaker. Will
liam DawHQn. who constructed his own tela-
sc22pe and is truly q proficient in gsiroqomy."
ments was talking with quiet, plain. Looking,
Intelligent man. who was half soling n pair OF
who Thy in his stocking feet l DO not know
when have moro enjoyed an hour than whom
Listening to this humble. unpretentious Quaker
shoemaker. who unostentatiously and lcarnedly
di,scoureed Of astronomy and meteorol9gy AZ
mered," like Whittler's cobbler. Keezan. that
tough old Teuton of the colonial days.
i. l learned that Dawson was born in Stark
when years old 10 Cadiz Henry County. Ind.
He had only tho advantage OF common school
few. but he had access 10 the N7o Castle Courier
and tho weekly religious paper OF the Sooe tyot
ever intense. and not ono q the charactcrs
which figure In bmiles's Self-help ever
knowledge. He began early 10 study the phases
OF tho weather. to observe clouds and winds.
anu 70 note the degrees oil heat ana cou on
higher, and sun, moon. and stars IN their
diurnh and annual revolutions Intensely inter-
cstcd him. AS 10 grew older, and by his trade
Of shoemaker aud cobLler he obtained little
means. ho studied optics. and finally could
command q small telescope. But his mems
were limited. lie informed me that in the most
hush tim"s he never made moro than $500 In q
year. and that In the last few years, on account
Of the heavy importation Of roady-made boots
and shoes from the East he has rarely reached
$500 with which to support himself and family
altogether four persons.
In 1854 h. began to keep a regular record oe
thermometrlcal and bnrOmotrical observations.
Six years later the Smithsonian Institute heard
Of him and wrote to him, asking him TO- mako
aud keep observations for tho Meteorological
Bureau. Alter the first year the officers OF the
bureau found his report SO accurate that they
begged him TO send them copy Of all his
struments ana the annual reports OF tle Sm!tn,
sonian Institute. and this has constituted all
his compensation for years and yenrs OF ntght3
snd days Of regular Observations. Untortunate-
~. when he began h9 contributions for the In-
stitute. the powers That DO at Washington had
ceased 10 grant to their Observers, certain In
struments necessary for accurate observations:
among these are the nsychromeier and some
Mcteorology has been trans'erred 10 the War
Department the powers Mt Washington are not
more liberal and am sorry TO- say that VIII
Instruments. suffers for the want OF them.
| learned many interesting iacts from MIR. d.
in regard to the Weather ia tho last quarter OF a
century. In answer to my question. What
sH Scs oSa h9 eo Eased DAY" wy 10 Henri county
record. and without ceaslna hammering his
leather: - Thu, 9th and 10Th Of January 1896.
Indicated Is degrees below zero; and on the 81
OF January. 1879 when att A. NJ. my present
Zero But" he continSei. Il would inform
thee that the thermometer employed In 1888
an eRa T ME 5S ssss
| and have found out that there - tendency In
ordinary S to mark an hIf bS he he
proved instruments sent from Washington"
Henry County. he informed me. Is the highest
! observations showing that Knightstown Is about
500 leet ahoye tho level OF tho sea. viii Spice
Mississippi waters minglo with those of the
Gull Of Mexico; My brother CALVIN hal in
in the Interior Of the State. Mr. Dawson con-
nrmed THIS. lndla9npolls Is 6J5 ieet above ne
ss ey aHf 9 lHdnaPS S oT 5 h Swsg Is
| place absolutely in this State Is NV Harmony.
! WAi,h Ia only 800 Ic,t above tho Can oi MeN.eo.
| Aurora, Dearborn county Is 5oJ i"tt above tho
Bu; b. Ia = lnterrstlns norton OF my Of nv
lattl 10 astronomy; II nre ny his 9"A sharp
a 'I94., ..sa t,WA4 ..M..; !lgIs 49, ~. ~
1iuaaltaH, Has. lo,Ia 4 ,s;t .;' 81. si;Ss:
pui r'i ..r ug oy' places. These o ono cost him
.euse.u 500 and 500. II sent to Dublin and
| huigAistaWu, Ina. ior G.l IRA 2. Is 9. ana with
| these constru Tod the tube ~ his telescope. |
mounted To bic observatory with him. This ob-
| s-rya'9ry De planned 20 that It rests upon tho
sentrll lrilon 81 his house. The dome. OF
any part 0T tic heavens in view. I had II
/ glorious view OF tho sun on "a bright LAY near.
/ the end OF February AMI ! was Intensely in
! tcrcsted as he narrated To- mo tho various OBJ.
| serVutious be- made Of ecius -. Of spots On the
| sun, aud Of tho planets and fixed stars. He
/ said that TO him tao sight which. o. al others.
trgnsit ~ Mercury on the Gih Of May. 1873
! | looked into his little library which c1Hsisted'
for the most part OF the B.hie. ne reports 81 tho
| Smithsonian Institute. ana X'lNs Eneyelnpo-
u "'4 s,Avr Nh IN tere VIZ nos u,i i, 10
| tronnmy. on yes" he replied. there are
| many, especially certain volumes tho named
| thenl on ccllpses. which would ho Of the great
est aid 10 me. but | cannot AFFORD 20 buy tlcm."