Shelby county missouri obituary Thomas Melson,

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Shelby County Herald, Shelbyville, Missouri  10 June 1874
Thomas Melson, father of John D. Melson, of this place, died here at  his
son's residence on the 2nd inst. He was born in Buckingham county, Va, in
1788, being eighty six years old when he died. He embraced  religion  and
connected himself with the Methodist church  early  in  life.  He  was  a
licensed exhorter, and class leader for about sixty years.  Religion  was
the theme of his conversation, the burden of his thoughts, and  the  sole
object for which he lived. To glorify God, save himself, and benefit  his
race, was understood by him to be the object of life.

Some months before his  death,  his  naturally  strong  mental  faculties
failed him so that at times he knew his nearest friends with  difficulty,
and the time of death was unconscious of his  dying  condition  and  said
nothing of his future. Doubtless Father Melson is  in  heaven  today--May
the richest benedictions of heaven rest on  his  children,  grandchildren
and friends. L. Rush Shelbyville, Mo., June 8, '74.


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