Grundy County IL Archives Biographies.....Melbourn, G W 1835 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com February 26, 2006, 12:37 am

Author: History Grundy County 1882

G. W. Melbourn, plasterer, Gardner, was born in England, March 23, 1835; is a 
son of Robert and Mary (Smith) Melbourn, also natives of England, where they 
died; they were the parents of seven children, viz., Thomas, William, G. W., 
James, John, Robert and Mary. Our subject had no chance to attend school in 
his native country, only Sunday school, his father having died when he was 
young. He came with his brother, William to New York, landing April 23, 1853; 
he soon engaged with a farmer by the name of Remington, whose son taught him 
to read, write and cipher. In 1858, he rented a farm in Michigan, and two 
years later, he farmed a short time in Missouri, and was driven out by the war 
of the rebellion. He came directly to this county, and when he arrived, had 
but 50 cents. He early sought employment by the day and began to build up. In 
1862, he enlisted in Company D, One Hundred and Twenty-seventh Illinois 
Volunteer Infantry, and served until the close of the war; he was slightly 
wounded in the face, the buck-shot yet remaining in his jaw-bone. On his 
return from the war, he labored in a coal mine in this county for sixteen 
months, after which he engaged with Henry Eldred in the mason and plastering 
business, which he has continued mostly since, and now ranks among the best 
plasterers in the county, his work always giving entire satisfaction. November 
5, 1855, he was married to Lucy Day, the result of the union being seven 
children, viz., William, Katy (deceased), David, Charles, Hella, Hattie and 
Carrie. He is now Road Commissioner. By economy and frugality, he secured 
eighty acres of fine land in Greenfield Township, which he recently sold for 
$4,000. He votes the Republican ticket.

Additional Comments:
Source: History of Grundy County, Illinois. (1882) Chicago: O.L. Baskin & Co. 
Historical Publishers.

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