George Nelson Salisbury was born on September 16, 1859 in Saratoga, Minnesota to Christopher C. Salisbury (born abt 1824) and his mother, Hannah Merrick Salisbury, they having been married married 2 June 1856.

George was graduated from the University of Minnesota with a B.A. in meteorology. He enlisted in the Signal Corp after graduating from the Fort Meyer meteorology school.

Speaking both French and German, he served also as German translator. He spent three years in the Savannah, Georgia weather office before moving on to the Salt Lake City office. During his stay in Salt Lake City, the Army Signal Corps, in which Salisbury had risen to the rank of Sergeant, was replaced by the civilian Weather Bureau, so he became a civilian employee, thus becoming the first Weather Bureau official in charge in Salt Lake City in December of 1891.

Following that assignment, he relocated to Seattle on Nov 9, 1894.

As many (or most) weathermen are, Salisbury was subjected to ridicule when their prognostications are upended by Mother Nature. One of the family heirlooms is a cartoon printed prominently by the editor of the Seattle Times, ribbing Salisbury about why couldn't he provide relief from the abundance of rain?

In the course of his work, our weatherman produced regular reports to aviators of high-altitude wind direction and speed. This was accomplished by a device, used in about 100 locations throughout the United States, known as a nephoscope. It tracked clouds by timing angular location changes. Amusingly, ChatGPT, the bazillion-dollar Artificial Intelligence whiz, mistakes the term for that of a very different device, spelled with a one-letter difference: the neph r oscope, which is used by physicians to probe kidneys through a slit cut in the patient's body!

Nelson was no slouch. He published several articles in the Monthly Weather Review; he directed laboratory work associated with the University of Washington's first meteorology course in 1905-1906. In 1910 is was changed to climatology. His stipend for the year's work was $100.00

Following his schedule, the Weather Review noted that a week for Salisbury entailed

• providing a lecture to the Methodist Men's club on the effect of cyclones and anticyclones on general weather,
• completing a 23-week practical meteorology course at State University,
• addressing the Young Men's Real Estate Club on the scope of the Weather Bureau work,
• entertaining visits on two days from Ballard High School physical geography classes, and
• another presentation to Brighton High School classes.

Salisbury was National Weather
Bureau chief in Seattle until 1925.

His retirement on August, 1923 completed a 29-year run predicting the weather for Seattle and the Puget Sound. George N. Salisbury died of a stroke on 12 June 1925 in Seattle, Washington, at the age of 65 — (one day before Social Security benefits might have become available to Lila), and was buried in Seattle's Lakeview Cemetery, just north of Volunteer Park.

George Nelson Salisbury and
Lila Pearl (née White) Salisbury

Lila Pearl White, known to the family as "Nana," was born 28 February 1877 in Columbus Junction, Iowa, to John Hancock White (b. 1846 in Union County, Indiana)) and Elizabeth Anne Laverie (b. 1847 in Maryland)

Nana is listed as "school teacher" in the United States Census of 1900.

She was also involved in international mercantile for some time, importing fine china and other foreign products.

George Nelson Salisbury and Lila Pearl White were married in Seattle on February 3, 1904. Four siblings issued from that union:

• George Robert Salisbury Sr (1904-1943)
• Albert Terence Salisbury (1906-1954)
• Clarence Salisbury (1907 – decesed)
• Alice Elizabeth Salisbury Keene (1910-1999)

About her given name...

From ancestry.com:

Throughout history, the name Lila has appeared in various forms across different cultures. It gained popularity as an Indian given name, reflecting the country's rich cultural tapestry.

However, its reach extended beyond India's borders, captivating parents seeking a name that encapsulates the qualities of playfulness and liveliness.

In modern-day usage, Lila has found a home in multiple countries, including those that have been influenced by Indian heritage, such as Nepal and Sri Lanka.

The name has also transcended cultural boundaries and become increasingly prevalent in Western societies, where it stands as a testament to the global appreciation for its delightful meaning.

Whether chosen to honor Indian heritage or simply for its uplifting connotation, Lila has secured its place as a cherished name cherished among families worldwide.

Nana lived to be 101 years old, being laid to rest in Seattle on Feb 10, 1978.