Sweetwater County WY Archives Biographies.....Mellor, William H. 
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 October 30, 2011, 2:03 pm

Source: See below
Author: A. W. Bowen (Publisher)

WILLIAM H. MELLOR.

   Relatively speaking nothing in the history of Wyoming can be called old or
claim the sanctity of real antiquity, but there has been crowded into the
existence of territory and state so much of heroic achievement, so much that is
daring and admirable, and so much of progress and success, that its standing is
as high as many places on which sits the majesty of centures. No men have in any
age endured more than the pioneers of the state and among the heroic figures of
that noble and daring class no individual stands out more conspicuous or has a
higher claim upon public interest than the well-known pioneer and worthy
citizen. William H. Mellor. He was born in Lancashire, England, on July 3, 1832,
the son of Robert Collinson and Mary (Higginson) Mellor, both of English birth.
The father was a prosperous cotton manufacturer, located for years in the city
of Blackburn, Lancashire. He was a man of considerable prominence, holding
important official positions in his city besides being a leading worker in the
Wesleyan Methodist church. After attaining a comfortable competency, from 1848
he lived a life of honorable retirement, being an earnest Christian and a
zealous advocate of temperance, living closely to his ideals of manhood. It is
said that he never used tobacco in any form and never tasted intoxicating liquor
from early boyhood having been free from all habits tending to pollute the body
or dull the intellect. John Mellor, the father of Robert, was a designer and
blockcutter, and in addition to his regular vocation he was identified with the
commercial interests of his town as a grocer and was successful in the sense in
which the term is usually understood. The Mellors have long been known as deeply
religious people, the ancestors for many generations having been noted for their
piety. John Mellor was one of the leading Non-conformists of his native city and
for twenty-five years he was the superintendent of the Sunday-school of the
Wesleyan church to which he ever belonged. Possessing many virtues be lived to a
ripe old age, accomplishing nearly ninety-three years of life. Mary Higginson,
wife of Robert C. Mellor, was born in the city of St. Helens, Lancashire, and
bore her husband six children, William H. being the eldest. She was the daughter
of William Higginson, a prosperous dealer in books, stationery and groceries,
and died in 1862, honored and respected by all. William H. Mellor received his
early educational training in Paradise Academy, Blackburn, Lancashire, England,
and when a youth accepted a clerkship in the office of an attorney in his native
town. Later he was similarly employed in the office of the Blackburn Cotton
Manufacturing Co., where he continued until his twenty-fourth year, meanwhile
remaining under the parental roof. In 1856 he came to the United States landing
on November 1 in the city of New York, where he worked in a grocery house until
April, 1857, when he gave up his position to learn the trade of boilermaking.
Entering a shop in Paterson, N. J., he devoted his energies unreservedly to the
end in view, and became a skillful workman. Some years later he left Paterson
and went to Kewanee, Ill., where he found employment in a sash-and-door factory,
but after a short time engaged in coal mining. After remaining in Kewanee until
1862 he changed his abode to Macon county, Mo., in the same year returning to
Illinois to resume work in the mines for the winter, thereafter revisiting his
friends in Missouri, thence in 1864 making a trip to his native country, where
he remained until the spring of 1865. After revisiting the scenes of his youth
and renewing old acquaintances, he came back to the United States, landing in
New York two days after the assassination of President Lincoln. During the
ensuing three years he lived in Macon, Mo., then locating at Point of Rocks, as
an employe of the Wyoming Coal and Mining Co., and was in charge of the
company's store at the above place until January, 1870, when he came to the site
of Rock Springs and erected the first building in what is now one of the most
thriving and prosperous of Wyoming's mining cities. The Wyoming Coal and Mining
Co. having large interests here, the management opened a general store and
supply house of which Mr. Mellor took charge, in addition to the superintendency
of the recently opened mines. He soon was compelled to devote his entire time
and attention to the mining interests, which grew in magnitude and importance
with each occurring year. Meanwhile the town grew apace and the influx of
population became such that the term city could be very appropriately applied,
and it is now one of the leading mining centers of the state, and one of the
most beautiful and thriving, as well as romantically situated cities to be found
in all of the Rocky Mountain region. Mr. Mellor was the superintendent for
fifteen years, during which time he did more than any other man in this section
to develop the rich mineral resources of the county. He ably and successfully
managed the mines of the company, and demonstrated abilities which placed him
among the leading mining experts of the West. Resigning the superintendency in
1886 be went into a lucrative cattle business until 1894, when he retired from
active life. On June 21, 1857, in New York City, Mr. Mellor and Miss Elizabeth
Scott were joined in holy wedlock. Mrs. Mellor is a native of Cumberland county,
England, the daughter of George and Mary (Hall) Scott, the father for many years
being the head of a large shoe business. Six children have been born to Mr. and
Mrs. Mellor, Frederick, who died in January, 1862, aged two years; Ann E.;
Edward; Charles; Lula; Elizabeth. Mr. Mellor is a stanch supporter of the
Republican party and has been elected to official positions involving
responsibility -and trust. In 1896 he was made justice of the peace and three
years later the office of assessor was thrust upon him by his fellow citizens.
He discharged the duties of both positions in an able and satisfactory manner,
proving himself worthy of the confidence with which he was honored. In 1900 he
was also made an active member of the board of U. S. census-takers, and then won
the praise of those under whom he acted. Fraternally he holds membership with
the Pythian Lodge of Rock Springs and has labored earnestly and conscientiously
for its upbuilding. No one who knows Mr. Mellor will question his unsullied
integrity, his devotion to principle or his loyally to the interest of his
fellow men. As a citizen he has performed a good part and to-day enjoys the
well-earned fruits of many years of honorable efforts in various lines of
activity. He has seen grow up around his first humble domicile amid the mountain
fastness a city of no mean proportions, with every interest of which he has been
identified. To the growth and development of this thriving city he has
contributed with a free hand and clear brain, and much of its present prosperity
is directly attributable to his painstaking efforts. All who come within the
range of his influence speak in the highest terms of his many estimable traits
of character, being always foremost in advocating moral reforms and public
improvements, making all personal and private interests subordinate to the
public good. In a very important sense he is the father of Rock Springs, as well
as one of its most worthy citizens. No person in the state stands higher in the
esteem of the people.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

PROGRESSIVE MEN OF THE STATE OF WYOMING

ILLUSTRATED

CHICAGO, ILL.
A. W. BOWEN & CO.
PUBLISHERS AND ENGRAVERS
1903


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