Surnames: Melvin, German, Weideman, Hempfner, Gasch, Metcalf, Whitney, Anderson, Kloth, Kugel, Lindberg, Pupp, Brockman

----Source: Abbotsford Tribune (Abbotsford, Clark County, Wis.) 11/23/1944

Melvin, James W. (22 May 1867 - 17 Nov. 1944)

Funeral services for James W. Melvin, 77, who died Friday night, were held Tuesday morning at 10 o’clock at St. Bernard’s Catholic church, with the Rev. Francis Brockman singing the requiem high mass. Internment followed in the Abbotsford cemetery.

The pallbearers were Gerhard Anderson, Herman Kloth, Rudy Kugel, Albin Lindberg and George and William Pupp.

All the children, except Staff Sgt. William Melvin, somewhere in France, attended the funeral. Mrs. William Melvin, of Stevens Point and a sister, Mrs. Freeman Metcalf, and son, Ralph, of Hayward, also attended.

James Melvin was born May 22, 1867, in Jackson county, Town of Irving. On June 1, 1904, he was married to Lydia Whitney. To them were born eight children, all of whom survive, except a daughter, who died in 1922.

They lived on a farm in Irving township until 1924 and then for five years farmed north of Owen. In 1924 they moved to their present home in the Town of Holton, on highway 29.

Mr. Melvin had been in fairly good health until Saturday, Nov. 4, when he suffered a slight stroke. The following Tuesday he was taken to St. Mary’s hospital, Wausau, where he died, Friday night, about 9:30.

He is survived by his widow and seven children: Mrs. Harley (Loretta) German, Curtiss; Mrs. Henry (Margaret) Weideman, Abbotsford; Mrs. George (Elizabeth) Hempfner, Dorchester; Francis Melvin, Mrs. Rolland (Genevieve) Gasch, and Archie Melvin, all of Abbotsford; and Staff Sgt. William Melvin, somewhere in France.

Also surviving are a sister, Mrs. Freeman Metcalf, Hayward, a brother, Martin Melvin, Black River Falls; and 11 grand children. Four brothers and three sisters preceded him in death.