Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1916-02-18

gives some idea of the scope and
value of Mr.. Mikesell's services as a
voluntary observer and an appreci-
alton of what Mr.. Mikesell has done
for this country and for the cause
of practical scientific research.
1t has been a matter of common
knowledge among the citizens of
Wauseon and vicinity that Mr.. Mike
sell has for years been taking syste-
matte observations of the weather
and recording and transmitting
these observations to the Federal
Weather Bureau, as well as furnish
ing the monthly weather reports to
the local press; but few, if any of
Mr.. Mikesell's neighbors and friends
have been aware of the significance
and extent of his observations and
the true value of the records he has
made; in consequence the publication
| referred to above comes as a revela-
tion to those who have known Mr..
Mikesell for many years and will en-
able them to appreciate this quiet
unostintations fellow citizen of ours
at his true worth
Professor Talman calls attention
to the fact that chronological obser-
vations have been generally neglect
ed in the United States while in the
Old World such, observations are col
lected Systematically in several coun-
tries; notably in Germany, Austria,
England, Russia, and Spain; this,
says Prof. Talman, makes the
length and completeness of Mr..
Mikesell's observations at Wauseon
Ohio, of unusual interest and value
A brief sketch of Mr.. MikeselFs
life and activities is given with en-
phasis placed upon his record as an
observer. In 1865 he began to be
particularly interested in the weather
and began the study of meteorology
In 1869 he secured few instruments
and began the systematic observa.
tions which he has maintained un-
til the present time with scarcely
an observation lost during a perio6
of As years.
He continued to read extensively
in science and in history and in the
early summer of 1870 decided to en-
list in the weather service of the
United States Signal Corps, JUS
starting under Gen. A. J. Myer, bu+
finally he gave up that plan. Ii
1875 he began the study of birds an(
since 1888 he has kept very com
plete record of the migrations of {
large number of birds. Beginning il
1884 he sent reports of bird migra
tions to the American Ornitholigist'
Union and later to the Division O
Economic Ornithology of the Unit
ed States Department Of Agricul
ture.
He was elected an associate mem
ber of Orinthologist's Union in Nov
ember 1885.
When the Ohio Meteorological
Bureau was first organized in 1882
Mr.. Mikesell became one of its frs
observers. In the Annual Report o
that bureau for 1889 he published a
article under the title of "Notabl
Meteorological Events" wherein h
gave we'll authenticated accounts o
important weather conditions fror
the earliest settlement of Fultol
County in 1884.
His chronological observation
were begun in 1888. Mr.. Mikesell be
gan to keep the records for his ow
satisfaction, but as he continue
came to think that some day the
might be of some use to others an
has found pleasure in keeping thes
because of the feeling that thereb
he has helped to increase knowledg
of this world of ours.
II We quote herewith the concludin
| paragraph of Prof. Talman's refer
ence to Mr.. Mikesell: "The obser
vations published in this presen
supplement are but a portion of tn
records that this one man has main
| tanned during his busy life. The
constitute one of the most complet
and reliable local records of whic
we have knowledge, as to the de
velopment of plant life and the m
grations of birds and animals. Quie+
| ly, carefully, conscientiously, th
man has merely kept his eyes ope
to see and systematically recorde
the movements of nature about hi
year by year. He has done VIII: