The Melvin Family of Bradford, Pennsylvania

This name occurs in early Massachusetts records as Melvin, Melvil and sometimes as Melville. There is a record of John Melvin, a tailor of Charlestown, Massachusetts, in 1684, when he was then twenty-eight years of age. He moved to Concord, married (first) Hannah Lewis, (second) Margaret Shannesburg. It is no doubt from this ancestor that Patrick Melvin sprang, but no connection can be shown from existing records. John seems a persistent name in the family, which fact proves nothing except to show a desire to perpetuate a name honored in the family. John seems to be with but little doubt the grandfather of Patrick, probably the son of a second John Melvin, born August 29, 1679.

(I) Patrick Melvin

Patrick Melvin’s name first appears on the records of Chester, New Hampshire, as a signer of the Presbyterian protest of June 10, 1735, though probably he was in that town earlier. His will was proved April 28, 1759. He devised to his wife Mary and children Benjamin, Abraham, Elizabeth, Mary, John and Jane. Mary, his wife, died October 1, 1795.

(II) Benjamin Melvin

Benjamin, son of Patrick Melvin, was born December 9, 1733, died December 29, 1802. He married, July 13, 1762, Mehitabel, born December 27, 1745, daughter of Samuel Bradley, who was killed by the Indians at Concord, August 11, 1746. She survived her husband and married (second) Deacon John S. Dearborn. She died February 14, 1825.

The former are:

Children

1. Anna. Born March 27, 1763; married Lieutenant Joseph Underhill.
2. Samuel. Born 1765; settled in Maine.
3. Sarah. Married James Orr.
4. Polly. Born 1770, died 1824.
5. Benjamin. Married Elizabeth Sargent and settled in Maine.
6. John. Of whom further.
7. Josiah. Married Sally Blanchard.
8. Mehitabel. Born April 14, 1781; married John Folsom.
9. William. Born 1783; went south.
10. Richard. Born February 14, 1786; married (first) Ann Patten, (second) Jane D. Carr.

(III) John Melvin

John, son of Benjamin Melvin, was born January 8, 1776, in Chester, New Hampshire, died there June 11, 1814. He lived on the old homestead and served in the war of 1812. He married, November 13, 1800, Susannah, daughter of Abraham Sargent, who survived him and married (second) Richard Dearborn.

Children of John Melvin

1. Luther. Born 1801.
2. John F. Of whom further.
3. Lydia R. Married David Currier.
4. Thomas J. Born April 11, 1808, married Harriet Tenney.

(IV) John F. Melvin

John F., son of John Melvin, was born in Chester, New Hampshire, December 2, 1802, died in McKean county, Pennsylvania. He was educated in the country schools, settled in New York state, and in 1826 came to McKean county, Pennsylvania. He was a prominent man in the early days of the county; a pioneer merchant and an extensive dealer in lumber. He owned large tracts of land and also engaged in agriculture. Few men did more for the early development of McKean county than Mr. Melvin. Although he had no known oil property, after his death his land was part of the extensive Bradford oil field. He married, July 12, 1828, Lucretia Farr, born at Bellows Falls, Vermont, October 11, 1810, daughter of Isaac and Pantha (Clark) Farr, both of Scotch-Irish descent. Six children reached maturity, four dying in childhood.

Children

1. Charles C.
2. Adaline E. Married Judge Loyal Ward.
3. Evaline A. Married Hon. C. H. Foster.
4. Thomas Jefferson. Of whom further.
5. John S. Who was killed in the civil war.
6. Mary L. Married L. A. Smith, and died in Dunkirk, New York.

(V) Thomas Jefferson Melvin

Thomas Jefferson, son of John F. Melvin, was born in Bradford township, McKean county, Pennsylvania, August 18, 1847, died February 29, 1904. He acquired a good education in the country schools, finishing with a course at Bryant and Stratton’s Business College at Buffalo, New York. He began business life as a clerk, continuing until 1869, when he established a mercantile business in his own name, which he successfully operated until 1876, when he became an oil operator and producer. He was one of the founders of the Aluminia Shale Brick Company and engaged in many of Bradford’s earlier enterprises, including the organization of the First National Bank of Bradford. He was a Mason, an Elk and a member of the Edgewood and Country Clubs.

He married, September 28, 1869, Marian Belle, born at Russellburg, near Warren, Pennsylvania, 1850, daughter of Horatio Nelson Parker, a merchant and large lumberman of New York and Pennsylvania. She was educated at Irvine Mills, New York, and Warren, Pennsylvania, finishing at boarding school in Clinton, Oneida county, New York, in 1867. She survives her husband, a resident of East Bradford, Pennsylvania, a member of the Universalist church, the Woman’s Literary Club and the Country Club, all of Bradford.

Children of Thomas Jefferson Melvin

1. John Parker. Of whom further.
2. Charles C. Born in Limestone, New York, June 10, 1872, now (1912) treasurer of McKean county, Pennsylvania; he resides in Bradford with his parents, unmarried.
3. Milton P. Born in Bradford, May 10, 1876; founder of a sanatorium for tuberculosis patients at Bradford; married, February 13, 1898, Mabel L. White, and has a son:
   1. Milton F. Born April 9, 1908.
4. Thomas Jefferson. Born in Bradford, July 29, 1878; he prepared for the profession of the law, but is now superintendent of Melvin & Peterson’s brick works at Bradford.

Two other children died in infancy.

(VI) John Parker Melvin

John Parker, son of Thomas Jefferson Melvin, was born July 17, 1870, at Limestone, Cattaraugus county, New York, the home of his grandparents. The home of his own parents at that time being Bradford, Pennsylvania, where he attended the public school. He entered Phillips Exeter Academy (New Hampshire) whence he was graduated, class of 1888. After a year spent at Harvard University he began the study of law, under George A. Berry, of Bradford, Pennsylvania. He passed the necessary examination and in 1893 was admitted to the bar. He at once began the practice of his profession in Bradford, where he is firmly established as a brilliant and reliable attorney and counsellor. He is interested in business outside his profession, being a director of the Aluminia Shale Brick Company, and a partner of Melvin & Peterson, brick manufacturers. In politics he is a Republican; was chairman of the McKean county Republican committee in 1898; in 1899 was elected district attorney; re-elected in 1902, serving most efficiently for six years. He is prominent in the Masonic order; is past master of Bradford Lodge, No. 334, Free and Accepted Masons, and now district deputy grand master of the twenty-second district of Pennsylvania. In Capitular Masonry he is past high priest of Bradford Chapter, No. 260; in Cryptic Masonry he is past thrice illustrious Master of Bradford Council, No. 43, and deputy grand master of Council District, No. 3. He is also a devotee of Templar Masonry, and is an officer of Bradford Commandery. He also belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Heptasophs and the Royal Arcanum. His club is the Bradford Country; his church: Universalist.

He married, at Bradford, Pennsylvania, July 5, 1892, Adda Laney, born at Spartansburg, Pennsylvania, April 19, 1871, was graduated from the Bradford high school, later entering Lake Erie Seminary at Painesville, Ohio, continuing until 1890. Mr. and Mrs. Melvin have a son, Parker L., born May 27, 1895, now a student in Bradford high school.

Adda (Laney) Melvin is a daughter of William K. Laney, born in Germany in October, 1844. When he was a mere infant his father died, and when but six months old his mother came to the United States, settled in Venango county, Pennsylvania. He remained with her until his fourteenth year, then left home and began working in the oil fields during the summer, obtaining his education during the winter months in the public schools. He was careful of his earnings which he invested in oil wells, and was also engaged in contracting for drilling of wells, having fulfilled large contracts in different states. In 1862 he enlisted in Company I, One Hundred and Forty-second Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, serving until the close of the war. He participated in many of the famous battles fought by the Army of the Potomac, including Antietam, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. He was captured on the first day of the Gettysburg fight, but shortly afterward released. He rejoined his company and was present at the surrender of General Lee. After the war he returned to Bradford, where he died in February, 1892. He was an active member of the United Veteran Legion, which he served as lieutenant-colonel of Bradford Post. He was a member of the Masonic Order, belonging to Lodge, Chapter, Council and Commandery. He married, in Meadville, Pennsylvania, in July, 1870, Flora, daughter of Charles Huntley, who survives him, a member of the Presbyterian church of Bradford, her home.

Children of William K. and Flora Laney

1. Adda. Of previous mention.
2. Grace E. Born at Parkers Landing, Armstrong county, Pennsylvania, now resides at Palo Alto, unmarried.
3. Charles W. Born November 11, 1878, married Effie Smith, resides at Independence, Kansas, and has:
   1. Elizabeth. Born June, 1907.

Grandfather Laney lived and died in Bremen, Germany, where his children were born. Charles Huntley was of Welsh descent. He married Catlin; he died in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, leaving two children: Flora, married William K. Laney, and Elsie.

Source

Jordan, J. W. 1840-1921. (1913). Genealogical and personal history of the Allegheny Valley, Pennsylvania. New York: Lewis Historical Pub. Co.

This genealogy is based upon the source cited above. Only the structure and formatting have been changed for clearer presentation; the genealogical and biographical content has been preserved.