Adam  Mellis

          The gentleman whose life history we now take under consideration is a descendant of those hardy people from that romantic land of hilss and heather, and he, in many respects, has inherited the sterling characteristics of his worthy father, Archibald Mellis, who was born in Scotland, and who came to the United States when he had reached maturity, locating in Pennsylvania, in which state he married Jane Brander, and from which they came to Indiana, locating in Clark county, near Madison, where our subject, Adam Mellis, was born June 24, 1848. But believing that better opportunities awaited him in Shelby county, a newer country than that along the Ohio river, Archibald Mellis brought his family hither in 1865, locating at Freeport, where he purchased the woolen mill, operating the same in a successful manner until his death in January, 1875.  He was a man of excellent business endowments, and he and his wife were regarded by all as people of honesty and intelligence.  The latter passed away in 1887. To them were born seven children, namely:  John, a soldier in the Civil war;  Nellie was the wife of  Horace Patterson, deceased;  James, who was a soldier in the Civil war, gave his life for his country at Kenesaw Mountain;  Alexander is living at Freeport, Indiana;  Adam, subject of this sketch;  William, living in Hanover township, Shelby county;  Emma J. is the widow of  William Hill, of Freeport.
          Adam Mellis was reared on his father's farm, working during the summer months and attending the common school for a short time during the winter months. Coming here in 1865, he worked in the woolen mills for a time with his father, and later went to farming, of which he has made a success in every respect, now owning one hundred and sixty acres of a most desirable farm, which he has greatly improved, bringing the fields up to a high state of cultivation and erecting on the place a comfortable dwelling and substantial outbuildings, everything in keeping with a twentieth century country place.  All this he has made himelf by thrift, industry and economy.  He spends all his time looking after his general farming interests, raising some good stock, to which he feeds a part of his grain.
          Mr. Mellis was married to Nancy Sleeth on February 12, 1871. She was born in Marion township, Shelby county, Indiana, November 7, 1849, and was educated in the common schools.  No children have resulted from this union, but the subject and wife reared Lola Hargrove.
          In politics Mr. Mellis is a Republican, but he prefers to spend his time looking after his farming interests rather than seek public office.  He is a member of the Methodist Protestant church at Freeport, and he and his estimable wife are held in high favor by their neighbors, owing to their worthy lives.
Chadwick's History of Shelby County, Indiana, by Edward H. Chadwick, B.A., assisted by well known local talent, B.F. Bowen & Co, Publishers: Indianapolis, IN, 1909, p 710-711.
Copied by Phyllis Miller Fleming
For more information on this family, please contact Virginia Flesher

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