BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, BELMONT COUNTY, OHIO

"History of the Upper Ohio Valley" Vol. II, 1890.

Presented by Linda Fluharty from hard copies provided
by Mary Staley & Phyllis Slater.


Page 656.

JAMES W. MELLOTT

James W. Mellott, a prominent farmer of Richland township, Belmont county,
is of French descent, being a great-grandson of Samuel Mellott, a native
of France, who settled in Virginia, many years ago. His son, John, came
to Belmont county in an early day, and entered a quarter section of land,
where he settled in a log cabin, and subsisted on the wholesome pioneer
fare while he cleared away the forest. Being a cripple, he did not take
part in the war of 1812, but had the duty of providing wood for all the
women in the neighborhood, whose husbands were in the field. The land
which he entered is still in the Mellot family. He married a Miss Workman,
and one of their sons, William, born in Pennsylvania in 1799, is the
father of the subject of this mention. His mother's maiden name was Mary
A. Ault. She was born in Pennsylvania, and is a daughter of Frederick
Ault, who took part in the defense of the fort at Wheeling, at the time
Elizabeth lane performed her heroic feat of carrying powder past the
enemy's lines, and he often told of how Miss Zane insisted on going,
although there were several other volunteers for the hazardous adventure.
Mr. Mellot was born in 1834, and reared on the farm of his parents. The
education he received in the old log school-house, he supplemented at the
Barnesville academy, and he then engaged in teaching, which was his pro-
fession for twelve years. He now has 150 acres of the old Mellott
homestead, to which he has added eighty-six acres adjoining, making a very
convenient and valuable farm, whIch he has very neatly adorned and improved.
Mr. Mellott was married in 1860, to Hannah J. Merritt, who was born in 1838,
the daughter of Robert and Mary E. (Milligan) Merritt. To this union, two
children have been born: Mary E., wife of Dr. John A. Clark, and Robert W.
Mr. and Mrs. Mellott are members of the Presbyterian church.