- The following story was found in the Nashville,TN Archives
Page 566 Portrait and Biographical Album - Knoxville, TN
James McMellan, who is one of the most popular men of Carroll Township, is operating the celebrated Woodlawn Farm of 200 acres, where with his excellent wife and his two bright and promising boys, he has one of the pleasantest homes to be found in the county. He is largely possessed of all the manly virtues, being uprights, temperate and faithful in the discharge of his duties, both in a business and social way. He is widely known as having been for years the "right-hand man," of Mr. Harvey Sandusky, a wealthy and prominent land-owner of this county who for some time employed Mr. McMellan to look after his agricultural interests and his fine cattle. In the discharge of these duties Mr. McMellan had the satisfaction of leading more prize-winners into the show ring at the county and State Fairs than any other man in Illinois. The subject of this notice was born in Greene County, East Tenn., Sept 17, 1853, and is the son of John D. and Rachael (Rector) McMellan natives of Tennessee and the father a saddler by trade. The latter after the death of his first wife, remarried and moved to Missouri where he spent his last days. The mother of our subject died in Greeneville, Tenn., at the age of forty years. James R. our subject, was the eldest of her two sons, the younger being John, who is now living in Missouri. Of the second marriage of John D. McMellan there were born four children.
During the Civil War the father of our subject was pressed into the Confederate service and James went to live with his grandfather Rector, in East Tennessee, where he received only limited educational advantages, attending school only a few months at the close of the war. He worked mostly on the farm and finally with persuaded by an aunt to come West. He made his way to Logan County, this State, and worked there two and one half years upon a farm. Then desirous of a change he emigrated to Indianola and entered the employ of Dr. Ralston, with whom he remained one year. In the meantime he formed the acquaintance of Mr. Harvey Sandusky, and in due time assumed charge of his fine cattle, remaining in the employ of this gentleman for a period of ten years. In the meantime, taking with him some of the finest specimens of their fat cattle, he visited the fairs at Lafayette, Indianapolis, Chicago, Kansas City, Peoria, Springfield, St. Louis, Mo., and many other places. A warm attachment sprang up between the two men and Mr. McMellan was at the bedside of his friend Mr. Sandusky, at the time of his death.
The marriage of James McMellan with Ida Dye was celebrated in Carroll Township, in 1880. Mrs. McMellan is the daughter of John Dye, a son of Lawrence Dye, one of oldest pioneers of Georgetown Township. Mr. Dye was a man possessing some peculiar traits of character, was a strong Presbyterian in his religious views, was peculiarly kind and genial in his disposition, a great lover of music and a universal favorite in his community. His wife was the daughter of Col. Girard of Mexican war fame and a good man in the broadest sense of the term, strictly, temperate, honest and upright, kind in his family and a generous neighbor. Everybody know Col. Girard and everybody was his friend.
To the parents of Mrs. McMellan there were born nine children and Miss Ida inherited from her father a great taste for and love of music. It was not the lot Col. Girard to become wealthy, and when a young girl Miss Ida entered the employ of Mrs. Sandusky, with whom she remained the long period of eleven years, her faithful and trusted maid and companion. She there met her future husband, out subject, and they, living under one roof for many years, had a good opportunity to become acquainted. Of this congenial union there were born two children only - Harvey and James S. who are bright and promising boys aged seven and one years respectively, Politically, Mr. McMellan is a stanch supporter of the principles of the Republican party, and socially he belongs to the Masonic fraternity. His estimable wife is a member in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church. It is generally conceded that there is not a more hospitable roof in Carroll Township than the house at Woodlawn Farm, and no host and hostess who extend to their guests a more high-bred and hearty welcome. Neither friend nor stranger departs fro their door with other than a comfortable feeling and a sensation that it was good to be there.
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