Charles J. Mellinger
One of the young farmers of Miami township is Charles J. Mellinger, who was born in Clarke county, Ohio, July 16, 1882, the son of B. F. and Emma L. (Johnson) Mellinger, the former of whom was a native of Clark county, Ohio, and the latter of Greene county.
B. F. Mellinger comes of Pennsylvania stock, his parents being natives of that state, who came to Clark county in an early day. In 1876 he married Emma L. Johnson, the daughter of Asahel B. and Mary A. (Gilmore) Johnson, the former of whom was a native of Kentucky, who came to Greene county, Ohio, in an early day, settling at first at Clifton, where he engaged in the general merchandise business with his brother. Later he moved to Yellow Springs. A. B. Johnson and wife were the parents of three children: Frank W., a farmer living near Yellow Springs; Charles S., now in the wall paper business at Xenia, formerly county coroner and deputy probate judge, and Emma L., who became the wife of B. F. Mellinger, and who died February 4, 1917. Mr. Mellinger was a farmer in Clark county for many years, but is now retired from active farm work and lives in Yellow Springs.
Charles J. Mellinger is the only child of his parents, and was reared on the home farm in Clark county, attending the common schools of his township, and later becoming a student of the high school at Springfield for two years. After leaving high school he took a commercial course in Wilt's Business College at Dayton, after which he was engaged as bookkeeper for the Springfield Meat Company for two years. He then took a short course in agriculture in Ohio University, at Columbus, Ohio, after which he engaged in farming in Clark county where he remained until 1910, when he moved to his present farm near Yellow Springs. This farm was owned by his mother for many years before her death, after which it was inherited by him. Mr. Mellinger is engaged in general farming and stock raising, making a specialty of Jersey cattle, having among his herd many show cattle.
In May, 1901, Mr. Mellinger was married to Geraldine Hathaway, daughter of Lewis P. and Amanda (Brown) Hathaway, the former of whom was a farmer ot Warren county, Ohio, and is now deceased, his death having occurred in June, 1917. To this union have been born three daughters: Janet E., Emma A. and Mary Gretchen. Mr. Mellinger is independent in politics.
From History of Greene County Ohio, Its People, Industries and Institutions, vol. 2. M.A.Broadstone, editor. B.F.Bowen & Co., Indianapolis. 1918