GEORGE W. MELLINGER.

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         One of Louisa county’s pioneer settlers who for many years was identified with the agricultural development of the county is George W. Mellinger, who is now living retired in Oakville. A native of Germany, he was born in Baden on the 28th of March, 1828, and is a son of Joseph and Margaret (Hoak) Mellinger, who spent their entire lives in the fatherland. Of their nine children only two are living: Michael, who is also a resident of this county; and George W., our subject.

         Educated in the common schools of his native land, George W. Mellinger continued to reside there until twenty-two years of age, at which time he decided to test the truth of the wonderful stories he had heard about the oppor- . . .

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. . . tunites of acquiring riches in America. He took passage for the United States in 1851, and landed in New York, in which state he remained for three years thereafter. At the end of that period he returned to the old country for three months. On again coming to America, he was married in New York in 1855 and the following year came to Iowa, locating in Burlington, where he remained for a year. He then came to Louisa county and when he first settled in this county Mr. Mellinger rented land, but by close application, careful management and frugal living he acquired the capital in six years to buy eighty acres of prairie. He cultivated and improved this, adding to his holdings from time to time as he was able until, when he retired in 1906, he owned three hundred and twenty acres of land. Since he has been residing in Oakville he has sold two hundred and twenty acres but still owns one hundred acres on section 30, Elliott township, and he also has a fine residence in the village in which he is now living.

         In 1855, while living in Orange county, New York, Mr. Mellinger was united in marriage to Miss Sophia Herr, also a native of Germany, and they are the parents of twelve children: Barbara, who married John Kreimer, of Wisconsin; Elizabeth, the wife of R. Linden, of Montana; Henry, who is living in Louisa county; Frank, of Oakville; Margaret, who is deceased; John, residing in Missouri; George E., of Louisa county; Fred, who is deceased; Michael, also living in this county; Rosie, who is at home; and Anna and Emma, both of whom are deceased.

         The family are all communicants of the Roman Catholic church. Mr. Mellinger is a democrat and for many years served as trustee and school director in his township. Careful consideration of his life but confirms the statement that the only requisite capital necessary for success in America is energy sustained by perseverance and determination of purpose. He came to this country, possessing practically no capital, but he had an inexhaustible supply of diligence, and although he met with obstacles and defeats, discouragements and misfortunes, persistence won the battle, and he is now living retired in full enjoyment of the mental ease and physical comfort provided by his many years of toil.