Samuel J. Melvin, p. 1234

SAMUEL J. MELVIN, a well-known farmer and one of the representative citizens of Hanover township, traces the genealogy of the Melvin family to two brothers, Samuel and William Melvin, who came to America in early days with their parents, and located on a farm in Cecil county, Md.

Samuel Melvin was born March 28, 1772, in Ireland, coming with his parents to this country when a child. He grew to manhood in Cecil county, Md., and on December 31, 1795, was married to Tamar Miller, who was born August 5, 1774, in Maryland. Some time after their marriage they set out for the West, and in 1803 came to Washington county, Penn., locating on a farm in the territory now named Jefferson (then Cross Creek) township, where he began to clear away the forest and make a home. After a prosperous and industrious life he died March 17, 1826, having been preceded by his wife, October 13, 1821. They are buried at Bethel Church cemetery in Jefferson township. His brother William came to Jefferson township in 1808, afterward moving to Brooke county, W. Va., and in 1848 settled in Burgettstown, where he died in 1856. The following children were born to Samuel and Tamar Melvin: Ann, born February 21, 1797, Mrs. Edward J. Jones, of Jefferson township; John, died October 13, 1821, and was buried with his mother (he was born March 5, 1799); Henry, a merchant at Wellsville, Ohio, and other places, died at Wellsburg. W. Va., born April 29, 1801; Sarah, born April 2, 1803; William, whose sketch follows; Tamar born August 23, 1807, wife of George Elliott, of Davis county, Iowa; James, a cabinet maker and undertaker at Pughtown, W. Va. (father of ex-Judge Thayer Melvin, of Wheeling, W. Va.), born March 9, 1810; Samuel, died when twelve years of age, born August l, 1812; and Lydia, Mrs. James T. Jones, born November 9, 1816. Of this family none are now living.

William Melvin was born June 9, 1805, in Jefferson township, this county, and received a very limited subscription-school education, working on the farm. His elder brother Henry being a cripple, the greater part of the work fell on William. On June 14, 1827, he was married to Abigail Jones, a native of Maryland, daughter of Edward J. Jones, also a native of Maryland, who resided in Jefferson township, Washington county, at the time of their marriage. William and Abigail Melvin were the parents of the following children: Ann, widow of David Thorley, of Jefferson township; John, a farmer of Jefferson township; Tamar B., deceased wife of Robert Hamilton, of Davis county, Iowa; Mary M., widow of Cyrus M. Stephenson, of Eldersville, Penn.; Samuel J., our subject; Lydia, married Robert P. Cooper, went to Iowa, but died on the home place in Jefferson township, this county; and William, a farmer living on the home place. Mrs. Melvin died July 3, 1850, and was buried in the Bethel graveyard. For his second wife William Melvin married Susan Ann McKeever, a sister of the well known Judge McKeever, of Hopewell township, who is the only member of her family now living. Mr. Melvin began his married life on the home farm, which was then considerably involved. But with untiring energy he labored (often making flour barrels after night, for sale) until the place was free from incumbrance, and various additions and improvements were made and paid for. He possessed abundant vitality, undergoing several accidents which would have resulted fatally to an ordinary man. He was over six feet in stature and well proportioned. He was a bitter enemy of slavery, and at one time the only Abolitionist in Jefferson township. In politics he was first a Democrat, then a Whig, next an Abolitionist or Freesoiler, and finally a Prohibitionist, casting his last ballot for Gen. Clinton B. Fisk for President his last public act. He was a member of the Wesleyan Methodist Church at Eldersville, Penn., and a zealous worker for the cause of the Master. When he passed away, December 23, 1888, Jefferson township lost one of her most worthy and valued citizens, and Methodism one of its most zealous supporters.

Samuel Jones Melvin (our subject) was born February 3, 1839, in Jefferson township, this county. His earlier education was supplemented by two years' preparatory course at Adrian College, Adrian, Mich., where he was a student when the Civil war opened. He came home intending to enlist, but was persuaded by friends to remain at home, as his health was rather feeble. When Lincoln issued a call for ninety-day men, the name of Samuel J. Melvin was drawn, but rather than be drafted, he enlisted, October 21, 1862, as a volunteer in Company A, One Hundredth P. V. I. (Roundheads) at Eldersville, Penn. He served two years and nine months, and during that time was employed as clerk in different departments, from company to corps headquarters, his ability in this line having been discovered in the early part of the service. When drafted he was engaged in teaching school in what is known as Lee's School, Jefferson township, having completed one month of the term when the draft was made. While in the army he suffered from inflammatory rheumatism, chronic diarrhea and typhoid fever. He was honorably discharged July 24, 1865, and returned to Washington county, Penn. Afterward he took a western trip, and, finally returning to his birthplace, began farming on the home place. On November 14, 1867, he was married to Helen M. Hanlin, who was born December 23, 1845, a daughter of Alexander and Margaret (Gracey) Hanlin, of Hanover township. The children of Samuel J. and Helen M. Melvin are as follows: Charles P., a pattern maker of Pittsburgh, Penn.; William Alexander, deceased at the age of seven years; Galbraith Stewart, Mary Gracey and Alice Gertrude, all of whom are living at home. Mr. and Mrs. Melvin remained on the old Melvin farm in Jefferson township until February 24, 1875, when they came to Hanover township and located on the Alexander Hanlin farm, part of which is now their home. He has made many improvements on the place and has erected a pleasant residence, which commands a fine view of the surrounding farms. He follows general farming and stock raising, and is also conducting a dairy business. He voted with the Republican party until 1884, since which time he has been a member of the Prohibition party. He and his wife are leading members of the Wesleyan Methodist Church of Eldersville, Penn., of which he is a trustee and class-leader. He has also, for a number of years, been superintendent of a Union Sabbath-school at Hanlin Station.

Text taken from page 1234 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).

Transcribed February 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project.
Published February 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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