MELTON, A. W. - 1914

MELTON, HIGGINS, STEWARD, WELTER, BOUGHNER, BURNS

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 7/6/2009 at 03:43:55

HISTORY OF
Cherokee County
IOWA
VOLUME II
ILLUSTRATED
CHICAGO
THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY
1914
by Thomas McCulla

A. W. MELTON.

A. W. Melton has been engaged in farming in Cherokee county since 1900 and is now half owner of three hundred and sixty acres of fine land located on sections 8 and 9. Afton township. He was born in Winnebago county, Illinois, in 1874, and is a son of William and Elizabeth Melton, the former a native of England and the latter of Illinois. The father came to America with his parents when he was eight years of age and settled in Illinois, where he resided until his death in 1901, following farming during his entire active life. His wife survived him several years, passing away in 1910. To their union were born five children: A. W., the subject of this review; George, of Afton township; E. S., of the same locality; Mary, the wife of William Higgins, of Boone county, Illinois; and one, who died in infancy.

A. W. Melton acquired his education in the public schools of Illinois, and he remained at home until he was twenty-four years of age. In 1900 he moved to Iowa and settled in Cherokee county, where in partnership with his brother he bought two hundred and forty acres of land. To this they have since added, their holdings now comprising three hundred and sixty acres, lying on sections 8 and 9, Afton township. The farm is well cultivated and improved and is ranked among the finest agricultural properties in this section of the state.

On February 14, 1900, Mr. Melton married Miss Nora Steward, who was born in Illinois, a daughter of Alanson and Malinda (Welter) Steward, natives of Canada. The parents came to the United States in 1846 and settled in Illinois, where the father operated a farm until his death, which occurred in 1908. His wife survived him one year. To their union were born ten children: Ella, the wife of Stanley Farmer, of Idaho; Nelson, of South Dakota; William, of Illinois; Mary, who married Wesley Boughner, of Rockford, Illinois; Hattie, who resides in Alberta, Canada; Alanson, of Oregon; James and Charles, of Illinois; Nora, wife of the subject of this review; and Bird, who married Thomas Burns, of Canada. Mr. and Mrs. Melton have become the parents of two children; Lester A., who was born March 9, 1902; and Lula Irene, born March 27, 1907.

Mr. Melton is connected fraternally with the Modern Woodmen of America and the Yeomen and he gives his political allegiance to the republican party. He was for two terms trustee of his township and has been road supervisor of three districts since he settled in the county. He is a man whose success and the methods by which it has been attained have given him a high standing in the community and he is acknowledged to be a substantial and representative citizen.