John Mickels is a prominent farmer and stockman of Washington County, holding extensive interests in land, in cattle and in oil properties, while making his home in Bartlesville, where he occupies an attractive residence that is the visible evidence of his success in the management and control of his business affairs. Mr. Mickels is a native of the neighboring state of Missouri, his birth having occurred in Macon County September 1, 1877 and came to Bartlesville thirty-five years ago and throughout the intervening period has resided in this section of the state, taking active and helpful part in the development of the natural resources of Washington County. He became engaged with Charles Keeler in the cattle business and followed that pursuit successfully for a number of years, developing large herds, while his annual sales added a substantial sum to his yearly income.
It was about twenty years ago that Mr. Mickels was united in marriage to Miss Rena Tayrien, a representative of one of the oldest, most prominent and most honored families of Oklahoma, of whom extended mention is made elsewhere in this work. Her parents were Cyprian and Susan (Captain) Tayrien, who had five children, of whom Rena is the youngest. She comes of French-Canadian and Osage Indian ancestry. Her grandfather was Enoch Tayrien, an employe of the American Fur Company, who spent the winter months in Missouri; while in the summer season he traveled through the Rocky mountains in the interest of his firm and built boats in which to ship the buffalo hides down the Rivers and streams in the days when the western ranges were covered with great roving bands of bison. On one of his trips to Missouri he met and married Mary Louise Borboney and one of their children was Cyprian Tayrien, who at the death of his mother went to live with an aunt, Loraine Trubley, in Kansas City, Missouri. Later he became identified with the development of Oklahoma, becoming a resident of the Osage mission prior to 1850. He afterward learned the Osage language and for many years was prominently identified with mercantile interests in this section of the state, his knowledge of the Indian tongue being of great value to him in conducting business negotiations with the early Indian patrons of the store with which he was connected. He afterward concentrated his attention upon agricultural pursuits and in many ways contributed directly to the development, progress and up-building of this part of the state. He was three times married, his daughter Rena being the youngest child of the father’s second marriage. To Mr. and Mrs. Mickels have been born three children : Delilah, who is the wife of Roy Elsey, a resident of Ralston, Oklahoma, and the mother of two children, Cleo Adolphus Clarence and Carrol Harding; Clarence Devon, who is attending the military academy at Mexico, Missouri; and Blanche Odel, at home.
Following his marriage Mr. Mickels took up the occupation of farming which he has since followed, covering a period of more than two decades, and his success has been of a very substantial and gratifying character. He has added to his holdings in land and has about two thousand acres situated eight miles south of Bartlesville, where he is extensively engaged in the raising of grain and live stock. He likewise obtains substantial royalties from oil leases and as the years pass by his prosperity is increasing. While giving his personal supervision to the ranch and its further development, he and his family occupy a beautiful home in the city of Bartlesville, where they are surrounded by all of the comforts and many of the luxuries of life.