Mellinger Family
Years prior to the Revolutionary war four brothers by the name of Mellinger came from Germany to America and settled in Lancaster or Westmoreland County, Pa. Some of the descendants of these four brothers afterward went to Kentucky. The names of three of them were Joseph, John, and David. The date of their immigration to Kentucky is not known, but we find them there as early as 1795. In 1806 these three brothers and two sisters found their way through the forests of Ohio to the present limits of Washington Township; here they entered two half sections of land on Loramie Creek. Lockington is now located on part of this land. The date of the settlement of the Mellingers in Shelby County is in some doubt: by some it is claimed that they came as early as 1806; by others, not until 1809. From the best information we can gather we are of the opinion that they came in 1806. It is well known that they were among the very first settlers in the county.
To attempt to give a history of the early settlement of these pioneers is impossible, for there are none now living who know anything of them except as tradition has handed it down from one generation to another. It is known that there were but few white settlers in this part of the State. All their trading was done in Cincinnati. There was not a road, mill, school, or church within many miles of them. Of these three brothers and two sisters, we can write only of the three brothers. Joseph Mellinger, the eldest of the three, was born in Pennsylvania in 1772. When or whom he married we cannot learn. He was one of the prime movers in the organization of Shelby County, and was one of the first board of commissioners of the county. Of his family we know nothing except of one son, Benj. F., who was born in 1821, and in 1841 married Eliza Vanvactor, with whom he raised a family of three children, Joseph L., Louisa F., and Sarah. Benjamin F. and his wife both died in 1849. Joseph Mellinger (sen.) died in 1840.
John, the second brother, was born in Pennsylvania about 1774, married in Kentucky about 1795, died in Shelby County—date of death not known. He was the father of Wm. Mellinger, Esq., who was born in Kentucky in 1797. He was the oldest of the family, and was raised in the woods without any advantages of schools, for it will be remembered there were no schools in his boyhood days. Yet Esq. Mellinger did not suffer himself to remain without an education, which he acquired by his own fireside with the aid of such books as he could borrow. In -— he married Jane Huey. By this union they had eleven children, who grew up to their majority. Esq. Mellinger was a prominent and useful man in his county. He served as commissioner of the county for six years, and was justice of the peace of his township for more than twenty years. He died in 1869, esteemed and respected by all. His wife died in 1871.
Wm. Mellinger, Jr., a son of the above, was born in 18331, and lived with his parents during his minority. In 1855 he married Margaret Campbell, a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Brown) Campbell, who settled in this county in 1834. Mr. and Mrs. Mellinger have a family of five children, whose names are as follows: Ida A., Olive J., Frank B., Carrie B., and Maude. In 1872, after the death of his mother, he bought the old homestead of his father and grandfather, where he now resides.
Allen B. Mellinger, another son of Wm. Mellinger, Esq., was born in 1841. In 1861 he married Mary Rouse, a daughter of Furnam and Margaret (Silders) Rouse. They have five children, viz., Viva, Jesse, George, Grace, and Walter.
Of David, the third pioneer brother, we only know that he raised a family of ten children, all of whom have died or moved away, and only one of his descendants is left in the county, viz., Elizabeth A. Burnett.
From History of Shelby County, Ohio; R. Sutton & Co, Philadelphia PA, 1883