Columbia County OR Archives Biographies.....Mellinger, G. C. August 10, 1884 - 
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Ila Wakley iwakley@msn.com November 10, 2009, 12:52 am

Source: History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. III, Published 1928, Pages 223 - 224
Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company

     G. C. MELLINGER, who is numbered among the representative business men of 
Vernonia, Oregon, has for many years conducted the leading hardware store in 
that city and has met with success, due to his sound business methods and 
square dealing. Mr. Mellinger was born near Vernonia, on the 10th of August, 
1884, and is a son of William and Sarah (Beeghley) Mellinger, both of whom 
were natives of Ohio, the mother born near Dayton. The father received his 
education in the public schools of his native state and there learned the 
carpenter, blacksmith and gunsmith trades. He moved to Miami county, in 
northern Indiana, where his marriage occurred August 25, 1861, and he remained 
there until 1872, when he came to the Pacific coast, going by rail to San 
Francisco, where he took a steamboat for Portland. For about four years he 
lived at Albany, Linn county, working as a carpenter and blacksmith, and in 
1876 came to Columbia county and took up a homestead of one hundred and sixty 
acres in the Nehalem valley. About forty acres of this land is now within the 
city limits of Vernonia. After building a log house, he entered upon the task 
of clearing his land, in which he made good progress, the greater part of the 
tract eventually being cleared and cultivated. In this work he was greatly 
assisted by his two oldest sons. He planted a good orchard and devoted much of 
his attention to raising hogs, cattle and chickens, success attending him. His 
early years here were marked by hard work and long hours, to which was added 
the necessity of having to pack in his supplies from Cornelius, Washington 
county, a distance of thirty-five miles, because of the total absence of roads 
in this locality. He persisted however, and his determined and tireless 
efforts were rewarded in the course of time, as prosperity came to him. He 
took a great interest in everything relating to the progress and advancement 
of the community and was liberal in his support of every worthy project. He 
gave many days of personal labor to the construction of the first road to St. 
Helens, a distance of thirty miles, which benefited the community 
immeasurably; he assisted in building the first school house in Vernonia, a 
log structure, and later donated the land and material for the second 
schoolhouse in this place. He also gave the land for a cemetery. He served for 
many years as a member of the school board and no measure for the advancement 
of the public welfare ever lacked his support. He died July 8, 1906, and his 
wife died April 9, 1890. They became the parents of ten children, as follows: 
Mrs. Laura Doane, who lives at North Yamhill, Oregon; Elma, deceased; Charles 
W., mentioned on other pages of this work; U. S., of La Grande, Oregon; Mrs. 
Elizabeth Fowler, of Portland, Oregon; Mrs. Eva Allen, who lives in 
California; W. J., of St. Helens, Oregon; W. E., who died in 1914; Perry 0., 
of Vernonia; and G. C.

     The last named received his educational training in the district school 
at Vernonia, and remained on the home farm until about eighteen years of age, 
when he went to work in the logging camps in the Nehalem country. After 
following that line for several years he leased the Nehalem Hotel, in 
Vernonia, which he conducted about a year, when he sold out and engaged in the 
hardware business, which he has followed continuously to the present time. He 
carries a large stock of shelf and heavy hardware, fence wire, building 
supplies and sporting goods, his stock invoicing at about ten thousand 
dollars. He is courteous and accommodating, gives prompt and efficient 
service, and has built up a large trade throughout the surrounding country. 
Mr. Mellinger is a member of Vernonia Lodge, No. 246, I. O. O. F., and has 
served for four years on the city council. Wide awake and enterprising in all 
of his affairs, he is regarded as one of Vernonia's progressive business men, 
and as a citizen has been found dependable under all circumstances, while by 
reason of his splendid personal qualities, he enjoys the respect and good will 
of all who know him.

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