Columbia County OR Archives Biographies.....Mellinger, Charles W. February 22, 1864 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/or/orfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Ila L. Wakley iwakley@msn.com July 4, 2010, 12:44 pm Source: History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. III, Published 1928, Pages 457 - 458 Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company CHARLES W. MELLINGER, of Vernonia, who, after an active and successful career, is now retired, is one of his county's most highly respected citizens, being possessed of those qualities which commend a man to the good opinion of his fellowmen, namely, friendliness, stability of character and sound and reliable judgment. Mr. Mellinger was born in Miami county, Indiana, February 22, 1864, a son of William and Sarah (Beeghley) Mellinger, who were natives of Ohio. The father was a good mechanic, being proficient as a carpenter, gunsmith and blacksmith. In Ohio he was married on August 25, 1861, and in 1872 he started with his family for Oregon, traveling by railroad to San Francisco, California, thence by steamship to Victoria, British Columbia, from which point he reembarked for Tacoma, thence went by rail to Kalama, Washington, and by boat to Portland, where he took the train for Albany, Oregon. Locating near Albany, he was employed as a carpenter and blacksmith until 1876, when he came to the Nehalem valley, Columbia county, and took up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres, forty acres of which is now included within the city of Vernonia. He built a log house and began clearing the land with the help of his two eldest sons. Most of the land was eventually cleared, a good orchard planted and in the early days he also gave much attention to raising cattle, hogs and chickens. At that time it was necessary for him to pack his supplies in from Cornelius, Washington county, a distance of thirty miles, there being no wagon roads in the Nehalem valley. He donated many days' work to the building of the first road to St. Helens, thirty miles away. helped to build the first log schoolhouse at Vernonia, and also donated the land and material for the second schoolhouse at that place and for a cemetery. He served on the school board for many years and always showed an effective interest in the welfare of his community. He died on July 8, 1906, and his wife passed away on April 9, 1890. They were the parents of ten children, Mrs. Laura Doane, Elma, Charles W., U. S., Mrs. Elizabeth Fowler, Mrs. Eva Allen, W. J., W. E., Perry O. and G. C. Charles W. Mellinger, who came to Oregon with his parents in 1872, acquired his education in the public schools of Indiana and Oregon, and afterward assisted his father in clearing the home place, cutting and burning the timber, as there was no market for it at that time. In 1885 he took a homestead adjoining the town of Vernonia, built a small box house and began clearing the land. He set out an orchard and, in addition to his own work, took employment at such jobs as could be found in the neighborhood. He carried on his farming operations until 1911, when he bought a general store in Vernonia, enlarged the building and increased the stock, and ran the business very successfully until 1917, when he sold out and retired. He bought four desirable lots in the town, on which he erected an attractive and well arranged house, and has lived here to the present time. He still owns forty acres of the old homestead, which is leased. On March 27, 1892, Mr. Mellinger was united in marriage to Miss Ida May Wilkinson, who was born in Missouri and was a daughter of William and Lucinda Wilkinson. The family came to Oregon in 1872 and settled in Washington county, where they lived two years, and then came to Columbia county, the father taking up a homestead on the Nehalem river, three miles north of Vernonia. He built a log house and cleared about eighty acres of the land, on which he raised hay, grain and vegetables, also having a large dairy and a number of hogs. He developed a good farm and lived there until his death. To him and his wife were born four children, namely: S. A.; Mrs. Mellinger; Mrs. Sophronia Joseph, of Rainier, Oregon; and Mrs. Elma Brough, of Rainier. Mrs. Wilkinson died in the spring of 1925. To Mr. and Mrs. Mellinger was born a daughter, Stella Agnes, who became the wife of John Hall, and they have two children, May, born May 12, 1914, and Ellis, born November 25, 1915. They now live with Mr. Mellinger, for whom Mrs. Hall keeps house. Mr. Mellinger is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and has been active in community affairs, having served for eight years as roads supervisor, fifteen years as school director or clerk of the board, and two years as constable. During this time the historic Stoddard murder occurred, in which Mr. Stoddard was shot and killed by his neighbor, Bacchus. They were two neighbors who had trouble over a fence and cattle damage. Bacchus, who was known to be a dangerous man, shot and killed Stoddard. It fell to Mr. Mellinger as constable to arrest the murderer, who was known to be a very hot tempered person and a dead shot and who would not be taken alive. Mr. Mellinger thereupon deputized three of his neighbors, Bill Wood, Uriah S. Beeghey and Everett Nickerson. In the process of making the arrest, Bacchus was shot and died from the effects of the wound within two days, the shot entering the mouth and breaking his jaw. Mr. Mellinger has given his support to all worthy causes, has in all respects proven a good citizen of his community and enjoys well merited popularity among his associates and acquaintances. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/or/columbia/bios/mellinge1187gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/orfiles/ File size: 6.0 Kb