Bio of Melvin, Patrick (b.1856) Wabasha Co., MN
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Made available to The USGenWeb Archives by: Barbara Timm
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This bio comes from "HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY" 1920.
Check out Barbara's site for more great information on this book:
http://www.rootsweb.com/~mnwabbio/wab3.htm
There are also some pictures and information from descendents for some 
of the bios on her pages.

Melvin, Patrick (page 293), a well to do resident of the village of
Plainview, where he and his wife are enjoying a well earned leisure after
many years spent in agricultural activities, was born in Canada, February
7, 1856, son of Edward and Margaret (Welch) Melvin. The parents were born
and married in Ireland, later emigrated to Canada, and came from the
latter country to the United States in 1870, settling in Plainview
Township, Wabasha County, Minn., where they spent the rest of their lives
in farming. Edward Melvin died in 1880 and his wife in 1902. Patrick
Melvin first attended school in Canada, but completed his educational
studies in Wabasha County. After remaining with his parents until he was
19 years old, he started out in the world for himself, and for seven
winters was employed in the Wisconsin timber lands at lumbering, working
as a farm hand in the summers. During this period he was carefully saving
his money with an eye to the future. In 1883 he bought 80 acres of land in
Plainview Township, and set to work with a strong heart and will to carve
out his fortune. In 1887 he added 80 acres in Elgin Township. Still later,
he bought another 80-acre tract, adjoining the home farm, these combined
purchases giving him 480 acres of land in all. His agricultural operations
were conducted with vigor and good judgment and had profitable results. He
took a prominent part in the development of the crop and stock raising
industries of his township, also took a helpful part in the general
affairs of the community, and was a man highly respected and esteemed by
his neighbors. In the spring of 1919 Mr. Melvin gave up the farm, and,
leaving his sons to run it, retired to Plainview, where he purchased his
present home, a nice, modern bungalow, where he and his wife are spending
the afternoon of life in quiet and happiness. Mr. Melvin was married April
6, 1886, to Louise Mulcahy, who was born March 10, 1862, in Galena, Ill.,
daughter of Richard and Catherine (Swift) Mulcahy. The children born of
this union are as follows: Eddie, who died February 20, 1887; George, born
October 30, 1887, who married Bertha Gessner, and is now a farmer in
Oakwood Township; Frank, born October 8, 1889; Harry, born January 8,
1892, who married Grace McGrath; Josephine Celeste, born May 6, 1894, who
married Edward Schad; Charles E. born July 18, 1896; Arthur Joseph, born
August 14, 1898; and Angela Marie, born October 14, 1900. Mr. Melvin and
his family are members of the Catholic church.