Family of Jesse Jefferson Melton

Family of Jesse Jefferson Melton

(This person can be viewed within the Melton/Sharp Ancestry Chart by clicking here)

Jesse Jefferson Melton

Daughter - Mattie Ketchum Melton

Wife - Martha (Houck) Melton

SCRAPBOOK

1. 1ST LT. JESSE JEFFERSON⁶ MELTON (WEST ALLEN⁵, THOMAS⁴, NATHAN³, ROBERT², RICHARD¹)^1,2,3,4,5,6 was born March 07, 1828 in Greene County, Alabama⁷, and died July 10, 1916 in Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas⁷. He married MARTHA ANNE HOUCK^8,9,10,11 February 09, 1854 in Greensboro, Greene County, Alabama^12,13, daughter of JOSEPH HOUCK and ANN WILLIAMS. She was born Bet. February - April 1834 in Montgomery County, Alabama¹⁴, and died March 27, 1922 in Ft. Worth, Tarrant Co., TX.

Notes for 1ST LT. JESSE JEFFERSON MELTON:

Veteran of the Mexican-American war. Jesse J. Melton was in the same company as his wife's cousin, Dr. Samuel Patton DuBois [Louisa (Williams) DuBois' son]. The Greensboro Independent Volunteers, a company of 108 men from Greene Co., left Greensboro on 27 May 1846. It is noted in Yerby's "HISTORY OF GREENSBORO ALABAMA FROM ITS EARLIEST SETTLEMENT", that Jesse J. Melton and John L. Croom, so far as can be learned, are the only surviving members of this company - sixty-two years after its organization."

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Vol. 2 of Elizabeth Pryor Harper's book "Twenty-One Southern Families" refers to a bible of Jesse Jefferson Melton's as reference material for some of the information in her book. However, I believe that she incorrectly showed Jesse J. instead of his brother James W., who's bible information is contained in the same MS. Gen. Soc. collection where the bible data of Jesse's grandfather and uncle are found.

1850 Census for Greene County: REEL NO: M432-6 PAGE NO: 251A

Greene Co. Deed Book S p 833: JESSE J MELTON to Jackson N CHADWICK 8 July 1854 Melton indebted to Chadwick in sum of $1659.92 promissory note.

1860 Census for Greene County: Page 855

In addition to his Mexican War service, he was a Confederate veteran of Civil War. He enlisted in 1862 in the 1st Def Regiment of Dick Taylor's Corp, Army of AL, LA, & MS. Elected 1st Lt. of Co. A, 1st Batt. AL Cadets on 7/23/1863. Transfered to the 1st Regiment Mobile Vol's 11/1/1863 on account of severe hernia. Appointed Adjutant 11/22/1863 and served in that capacity until final surrender. (Surrender of Mobile occurred on 4/12/1865.) Jesse was paroled from prisoner of war status and discharged on 5/20/1865.

Civil War Muster Rolls:

Melton Jesse J., A Co., 2nd Regiment, Alabama Vols. Mil., Rank 1st Lieutenant, Box#526, Extract#526, Rec#526

1870 Census for Mobile (8th Ward), Mobile County, Alabama: Page 358. His occupation is stated as "Com Mercht". I believe that his occupation was a "commission merchant". An article on pgs 1774 & 5 from Vol 4 of "History of Alabama and Dictionary of Alabama Biography" shows that Price Williams (Martha's 1st cousin, once removed) was also a commission merchant in Mobile, and had previously been a clerk as Jesse had. I suspect that Jesse possibly worked for this man.

A statement by Martha in her Widows Pension Application, and an article appearing in the Ft. Worth Star Telegram regarding their 61 wedding anniversary, both place them in Texas 1876.

Member of the "Robert E. Lee Camp #158, United Confederate Veterans (UCV) Camp in Fort Worth, Texas in the late 1800's and early 1900's (1896-1905 documented).

1910 census shows him living with Martha and Mattie.

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Mexican American pension application:

Melton, Jesse J. & Martha, Ala, Tex, 2/4/1887 # C17078

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1st Mobile Volunteers, Local Defense Troops [also called Mobile Guards or Mobile Regiment] was organized in December, 1861, at Mobile, Alabama. It served in General Cantey's Brigade, Department of the Gulf, and later the Department of Alabama, Mississippi, and East Louisiana. The unit participated in the conflicts at Forts Gaines and Morgan, then was ordered to disband on January 25, 1865. However, it seems that a remnant served at Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely, and when Mobile was evacuated on April 12, the few remaining men did disband. Its commanders were Colonel Alexander W. Lumpkin, Lieutenant Colonel Stewart W. Cayce, and Major William Hartwell.

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Melton's found in the 1877 Fort Worth City Directory -

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Melton, W. M. student at law with Hanna & Hogsett

Melton & Stone, Commission merchants, 242 & 244 Houston

Melton, B. M. r Throckmorton nr depot (Jesse's brother Benjamin M. Melton}

Melton, J. J. of Melton & Stone, r Dallas {Jesse Jefferson Melton}

Melton, J. T. r 3rd bet Taylor & Rusk

Melton, O. C. city circulator, Daily Democrat

[for information, these are the Stones which are listed in the 1877 directory-

Stone, D. blksmith, cor 10th & Main

Stone, M. B. of Melton & Stone, r Dallas

Stone, J. F. r Rusk bet 2nd & 3rd]

Melton's found in the 1878-9 Fort Worth City Directory -

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MELTON, Benjamin M (Melton & Stone) res Thirteenth bet Jennings Ave and Monroe

MELTON, James T., teacher private school, res w s Calhoun bet Thirteenth and Fourteenth

MILTON, Jesse J., book keeper Melton & Stone, res s e cor Taylor and Twelfth

MELTON & STONE, (B. M. Melton, M. B. Stone) general commission merchants, cotton weighers and dealers in agricultural implements, n e cor Houston and Fifth

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The following is written to clear a potential lead that proved to be unrelated to Jesse Jefferson Melton.

checked the Probate Record for Tarrant Co.: Melton J. J.; instrument-Comm. Administration; #7438 -

Tarrant Co Probate office - 817-884-1765; Linda Hunter - (817) 884-1766

10/24/02 - Linda Hunter said that this man (J. J. Melton) had a wife by the name of * Lee Melton => not JESSE JEFFERSON.

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More About 1ST LT. JESSE JEFFERSON MELTON:

Burial: block 103 lot 39 space 4 in Oakwood Cemetery

Census 1: 1850, Greene Co, Alabama - pg 251B¹⁵

Census 2: 1860, Greene Co, Alabama - pg 855¹⁶

Census 3: 1870, Mobile, Mobile Co, Alabama - pg 358¹⁷

Census 4: 1880, Tarrant County, TX - ED89, Pg23¹⁸

Census 5: 1900, Ft Worth, Tarrant CO, TX¹⁹

Census 6: 1910, Ft Worth, Tarrant Co, TX -Roll1591, Bk2, pg145a²⁰

Fact 1: 1916, Interment Record

Fact 2: May 20, 1865, Paroled from prisoner of war, Mobile

MILI: Military 1: Bet. May 1846 - 1847, Cpl., Mexican-American War

MILI: Military 2: 1st Lt, 2 Reg't AL Vol Mil. (film374,roll31)

MILI: Military 3: 1862, 1st Lt., Co. A, 1st Battalion Alabama Cadets

MILI: Military 4: Bet. July 23, 1863 - May 20, 1865, Adjutant, 1st Reg., Mobile Volunteers

Occupation 1: Bet. 1850 - 1860, Greene County, Alabama, clerk²¹

Occupation 2: 1870, Commision Merchant (from census)

Occupation 3: 1877, Comm. Merchant (Melton & Stone)²²

Occupation 4: 1878, Bookkeeper - Melton & Stone²³

Occupation 5: 1880, Cotton Merchant (from census)

Residence 1: Bet. 1839 - 1840, San Augustine County, Texas

Residence 2: Bet. 1828 - 1839, Greene County, Alabama

Residence 3: Bet. 1844 - 1860, Greene County, Alabama^24,25

Residence 4: Bet. 1870 - 1873, Mobile, Alabama

Residence 5: Bet. 1876 - 1877, Dallas, Texas²⁶

Residence 6: Bet. 1877 - 1916, Ft. Worth, Tarrant County, Texas²⁷

Notes for MARTHA ANNE HOUCK:

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In Martha's widow's pension request dated Jan., 1917, she states that she and Jesse J. had lived in Texas for about 40 years. This would place them in Texas about 1876.

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Martha was a charter member of the Julia Jackson Chapter #141 of the United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC) that was formed on September 28, 1897 in Fort Worth, TX, she was elected Historian of that chapter in 1898.

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Martha is shown as "head of the house" inthe 1920 census in Ft. Worth, tX. She is living at 1615 Henderson with her daughter Mattie, and with a young family by by the name of Henkley. I suspect that Elizabeth Henkley was the Elizabeth Massie that Martha wrote the Acrostic to in 1917.

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More About MARTHA ANNE HOUCK:

Burial: 1922, Oakwood Cemetery, blk 103 lot 39 space 4

Census 1: 1920, Ft. Worth, Tarrant Co., TX - ED133, sheet11B²⁸

Census 2: 1850, Greene County, Alabama²⁹

Census 3: 1860, Greene County, Alabama - Page 855³⁰

Census 4: 1870, Mobile, Mobile Co, Alabama - pg 358³¹

Census 5: 1880, Ft. Worth, Tarrant Co., TX - ED89, Pg23³²

Census 6: 1900, Ft Worth, Tarrant CO, TX³³

Census 7: 1910, Ft Worth, Tarrant Co, TX -Roll1591, Bk2, pg145a³⁴

Fact 1: Bet. 1896 - 1902, Julia Jackson Chptr (#141) of the United Daughters of the Confederacy in Fort Worth

Fact 2: January 10, 1917, Widow's Application for a Pension

Fact 3: March 27, 1922, Application for Mortuary Warrant

Fact 4: 1922, Interment Record

Residence: 1876, Moved from Mobile to Ft. Worth

More About JESSE MELTON and MARTHA HOUCK:

Marriage: February 09, 1854, Greensboro, Greene County, Alabama^35,36

Children of JESSE MELTON and MARTHA HOUCK are:

i. JOSEPH⁷ MELTON, b. Abt. 1854; d. Bet. July 1864 - July 1870.

Notes for JOSEPH MELTON:

Joseph's death is shown as occurring before 1870 based on the fact that he doesn't appear in the 1870 census with the rest of his family.

More About JOSEPH MELTON:

Census: 1860, Greene County, Alabama³⁷

ii. BABYBOY MELTON, b. Abt. December 1859; d. Bef. June 1864.

Notes for BABYBOY MELTON:

This child is not mentioned in the 1864 letter from Martha's brother. Thus, it is reasonable to conclude that he died after the 1860 census and June 1864.

More About BABYBOY MELTON:

Census: 1860, Greene County, Alabama³⁷

iii. BESSIE T. MELTON³⁸, b. Abt. 1860, Greene County, Alabama; d. June 27, 1873, Eutaw, Hale County, Alabama.

Notes for BESSIE T. MELTON:

This was in the Alabama Beacon, Saturday, July 5, 1873

OBITUARY;

MELTON;

In this county at the residence of Mr. A. P. Evans on the 27th ult. of inflammation of the brain, Bessie T., daughter of Mr. J. J. Melton of Mobile.

note: It is very possible that Bessie had encephalitis, as inflammation of the brain is one of the major symptoms of that disease. Mosquitoes are the primary carriers of encephalitis.

More About BESSIE T. MELTON:

Cause of Death: inflammation of the brain

Census: 1870, Mobile, Mobile Co, AL³⁹

iv. JESSE HOUCK MELTON, SR., b. May 1865, Greene County, Alabama; d. February 08, 1905, Ft. Worth, Tarrant Co., TX⁴⁰; m. LENA BARDEN, December 20, 1894, First Baptist Church, Ft. Worth, Texas; b. April 18, 1869, New York; d. September 15, 1957, Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas.

v. MATTIE KETCHUM MELTON^48,49, b. Nov. 1870, Mobile, Mobile Co, AL; d. 1949, Ft Worth, Tarrant Co, TX..

Notes for MATTIE KETCHUM MELTON:

Mattie never married.

She was a founding member (charter member #2) of the Julia Jackson Chapter #141 of the United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC) that was formed on September 28, 1897 in Fort Worth, TX, she was elected Secretary for that chapter from 1897-1902.

Organized Texas' first "Anne Carter Lee" chapter of the "Children of the Confederacy" in 1902. The chapter was authorized by the "Mary Custis Lee Children of the Confederacy", which was, itself, founded in Alexandria, Virginia in 1896.

In a Mortuary Warrant Account statement dated May 22, 1922 for costs incurred by her mother, Mattie's address was shown as 804 West Oleander Street in Ft. Worth, Texas.

At the time of her death in 1949, her last known address is shown to be the Elmwood Sanatorium in Fort Worth, Texas.

Although Oakwood Cemetery records in Fort Worth show her as being interred there in 1949, they have no further dates or markers for her (i.e. in Sexton books). This could be possible if she was cremated. Was she?

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I don't know where she got her middle name, no Ketchum in family that I can find. Maybe it was from a friend of the family. There was a First Lt. William H. Ketchum from Mobile in the Civil War. Could it have been from him?

Further research of Confederate Military History shows that William H. Ketchum was also an officer in the Spanish American War. William was in was the Alabama Volunteers, which was also the same regiment Mattie's father served in during the Spanish American War. "The regiment proceeded to Mexico, first serving under General Pillow, and later under General Shields. In 1847 Colonel Seibels of Montgomery a battalian. It reached Vera Cruz too late to join Scott's column, but performed garrison duty at Orizaba until the end of hostilities. It's captains were: John G. Burr, T. E. Irby, Tennent Lomax, Blanton McAlpine and Gibbs.

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It seems quite possible that Mattie's middle name was given in honor of William H. Ketchum. The following information relates to his Civil War activities. Interestingly, the locations (Atlanta, Spanish Fort) are also the locations where Mattie's Uncle Joseph W. Houck Jr.'s regiment fought after his letter of June 21, 1864 was written.

Ketchum's-Garrity's Battery

This battery of light artillery was organized at Mobile in May 1861, and the officers and men were from that county. It went to Pensacola, and remained there till May 1861. It lost 7 killed and wounded, and several horses at Shiloh. Attached to Ruggles' brigade, it was engaged at Farmington without loss. Moving into Kentucky as part of Chalmers' brigade, its loss was light at Mumfordville. At Perryville and Wildcat-Gap the battery fought, with a few casualties at the latter place. At Murfreesboro its loss was 27 men killed and wounded, and 30 horses. The battery was more fortunate at Chicamauga, but lost several men and two guns at Mission Ridge. The battery was in Sherman's way day and night as he moved on Atlanta, and suffered very considerably. It fought at Franklin and Nashville, with small loss, and endured the siege of Spanish Fort with only two men killed. The battery surrendered at Meridian.

Captains -- Wm. H. Ketchum; resigned. Wm. H. Homer; resigned. James Garrity; wounded at Murfreesboro and Marietta.

Lieutenants -- Wm. H. Homer; promoted. David Bush; resigned. John A. Yuille; resigned. John Slaughter; resigned. James Garrity; promoted. David Bond; killed at Jonesboro. Maynard Hassell; killed near Atlanta. Henry Ferrell. Jonathan Pressler. John W. Jackson.

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An "Alph Ketchum" was in the same outfit (Co A, First Battalion, Alabama Cadets) with Mattie's father in 1862-1863. This person could also be her namesake.

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More About MATTIE KETCHUM MELTON:

Census 1: 1910, Tarrant County, Texas (39yrs)⁵⁰

Census 2: 1880, Tarrant County, TX - ED89, Pg23⁵¹

Census 3: 1900, Ft Worth, Tarrant CO, TX⁵²

Census 4: 1920, Tarrant County, TX - ED133, Pg11B⁵³

Fact 1: Bet. 1896 - 1902, Notes from Julia Jackson Chapter (#141) of the United Daughters of the Confederacy in Fort Worth

Fact 2: Bet. 1901 - 1902, Confederate Veteran newspaper articles

Fact 3: May 22, 1922, Mortuary Warrant Account

Fact 4: 1949, Interment Record

Occupation: 1900, art teacher

Endnotes

1. Harper, Elizabeth Pryor, Twenty-One Southern Families: notes & genealogies, (Patricia Freeman, Compiler & Editor), Pages 114 &115, Gives marriage data, locations lived, and shows her to be the mother of Bessie.

2. Dawdy, Doris Ostrander, Artists of the American West - a biographical dictionary, (Chicago, Sage Books: Vol I-1974, Vol II-1981, Vol III-1985), Volume III, page 298, Mrs. Jesse J. Melton.

3. Falk, Peter H., Who was Who in American Art 1564-1975, "MELTON, JESSE J. (Mrs.) [Painter] early 20th C. - Addresses: Ft. Worth, TX - Sources: WW13."

4. Grauer, Michael R. & Paula L., Compilers, Dictionary of Texas Artists, 1800-1945, Martha is listed in this compilation.

5. Grave Stone.

6. Harper, Elizabeth Pryor, Twenty-One Southern Families: notes & genealogies, (Patricia Freeman, Compiler & Editor), Pg 115, Jesse is mentioned several times in the will of his father, West Allen Melton, and is a co-signer of the papers associated with disposition of West's estate. The author of this book states that some material came from Jesse's Bible, and was probably a mistake, as the material she refers to more likely came from his brother James W. Melton.

7. Yerby, William Edward Wadsworth, History of Greensboro, Alabama from its earliest settlement, (Northport Alabama - Colonial Press c1963 (first published in 1908)), In 1908, Jesse and John L. Croom were the last two living veterans from an initial company of 108 Greensboro Independent Volunteers formed in 1846. This outfit left Greensboro on May 17th, 1846 for the Mexican-American War.

8. Fort Worth Genealogical Society (FWGS) Footprints, Vol 40, No. 1, February 1997 - pg 32, Melton, Jessie J., b 1828 Green Co AL; enl 1862 Mobile, 1st AL State Guards; in 1913 lived on 8th Ave in Ft. Worth; d 7/10/1916; bur Oakwood..

9. Virgil D. White, Index to Mexican War Pension Files, (1st edition, Waynesboro TN, National Publishing Company, 1989,), pg 359, Jesse J., Martha H., WC-16190, 19 Aug 1916 & SC10006, 4.Feb 1887, both TX, srv Co A 1st AL Vols as a CPL 1846-7 sol died 10 Jul 1916 in Ft. Worth TX. (WC=widows certificate, SC=soldiers certificate).

10. Powers, John and Deborah, Texas Painters, Sculptors, and Graphic Artists, (Published in 2000), Melton, Jessie, Fort Worth, PainterExhibitions: Annual Texas Artists Exhibition, Fort Worth (1910)References: Falk.

11. Confederate Veteran, Vol IX, page 346.

12. Harper, Elizabeth Pryor, Twenty-One Southern Families: notes & genealogies, (Patricia Freeman, Compiler & Editor), Page 115, Shows date & county of marriage.

13. Greene County, Alabama Marriages 1823-1860, "Electronic," Shows date of 2/7/1854, rather than 2/9/1854.

14. Harper, Elizabeth Pryor, Twenty-One Southern Families: notes & genealogies, (Patricia Freeman, Compiler & Editor), Page 115.

15. Census, 1920, TX, Tarrant Co, Fort Worth, roll1850, p65b.

16. Census, 1850, AL, Greene County, roll6, p312b.

17. Census, 1860, AL, Greene Co, Greensboro, roll108, p855.

18. Census, 1870, AL, Mobile Co, Mobile, roll31, p358a.

19. Census, 1880, TX, Tarrant Co, Fort Worth, roll1328, p39a.

20. Census, 1900, TX, Tarrant Co, Fort Worth, ED89, Sheet4a.

21. Census, 1910, TX, Tarrant Co, Fort Worth, ED132, S15a.

22. Census, 1850, AL, Greene County, roll6, p251a.

23. Census, 1860, AL, Greene Co, Greensboro, roll108, p855.

24. Census, 1870, AL, Mobile Co, Mobile, roll31, p358a.

25. Census, 1880, TX, Tarrant Co, Fort Worth, roll1328, p39a.

26. Census, 1900, TX, Tarrant Co, Fort Worth, ED89, Sheet4a.

27. Census, 1910, TX, Tarrant Co, Fort Worth, ED132, S15a.

28. Snedecor, Greene County Directory for 1855-1856, page 31.

29. Fort Worth City Directory, Melton, J. J. of "Melton & Stone (Commision Merchants, 242 & 244 Houston)", r Dallas.

30. Fort Worth City Directory.

31. Snedecor, Greene County Directory for 1855-1856, page 31, His name is shown as "Jesse S. Melton".

32. "Alabama Beacon," A Greensboro, Alabama Weekly Newpaper published from 1840 - 1912..

33. Fort Worth City Directory, Melton, J. J. of "Melton & Stone, Commission Merchants, 242 & 244 Houston", r Dallas.

34. Fort Worth City Directory, 1878-1879 - Milton, Jessie J., bookkeeper, Melton & Stone, residence southeast corner of Taylor & twelfth.

35. Harper, Elizabeth Pryor, Twenty-One Southern Families: notes & genealogies, (Patricia Freeman, Compiler & Editor), Page 115, Shows date & county of marriage.

36. Greene County, Alabama Marriages 1823-1860, "Electronic," Shows date of 2/7/1854, rather than 2/9/1854.

37. Census, 1860, AL, Greene Co, Greensboro, roll108, p855.

38. Harper, Elizabeth Pryor, Twenty-One Southern Families, (Patricia Freeman, Compiler & Editor), Page 114, "Bessie (MELTON) Greene Co. Died at the residence of Mr Abner P EVANS in Hale Co 29 June 1873 Bessie eldest daughter of Mr. Jessie J. and Mrs Mattie MELTON of Mobile aged about 13 years.

39. Census, 1870, AL, Mobile Co, Mobile, roll31, p358a.

40. "Arlington, Texas Journal," February 9, 1905, Obituary Section.

41. Census, 1880, TX, Tarrant Co, Fort Worth, roll1328, p39a.

42. Census, 1870, AL, Mobile Co, Mobile, roll31, p358a.

43. Census, 1900, TX, Tarrant Co, Fort Worth, ED90. Sheet3a.

44. Census, 1880, CO, El Paso Co, Colorado Springs, roll90, p411b.

45. Census, 1910, TX, Tarrant Co, Fort Worth, roll1590 Bk2 p79a.

46. Census, 1920, TX, Tarrant Co, Fort Worth, Roll1848, Bk2, Pg88b.

47. Census, 1930, TX, Tarrant Co, Fort Worth, roll T626_2393, p40a.

48. Powers, John and Deborah, Texas Painters, Sculptors, and Graphic Artists, (Published in 2000), Melton, Mattie K., Fort Worth - Artist, teacherReferences: Fort Worth City Directory 1904-1921.

49. Confederate Veteran, Vol V, page 603; Vol IX ,page 346; Vol X, page 10 & several others., Entries in this periodical show that Mattie was very active in the "Daughters of the Confederacy" at least during the period of 1897-1902. There are also two pictures of Mattie in that paper.

50. Census, 1910, TX, Tarrant Co, Fort Worth, roll1590 Bk2 p79a.

51. Census, 1880, TX, Tarrant Co, Fort Worth, roll1328, p39a.

52. Census, 1900, TX, Tarrant Co, Fort Worth, ED89, Sheet4a.

53. Census, 1920, TX, Tarrant Co, Fort Worth, roll1850, p65b.