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SEABORN J. MELTON

Seaborn J. Melton, representative on his father's side of one of the earliest settled families on Georgia. His paternal great grandparents were natives of England and came to America before or about the time of the Revolution; settling first on the Atlantic coast, from whence they subsequently drifted into the interior. Mr. Melton's paternal grandfather was born on the ship that brought the first ancestors to this country; he was, in recognition of this fact, christened Seaborn, a name handed down to Mr. Melton's father as well as himself.

Mr. Melton's grandfather was an early settler of Georgia, married in this country, but being called to England to look after an estate there, was shipwrecked and lost. Left two sons, one of whom was father of the subject of this sketch. He was born in Greene Co., Ga., grew to manhood there, and in Talbot Co., married there and in 1847, moved to Arkansas, location in Lafayette and afterwards settling in Columbia Co. He was a farmer, a Missionary Baptist, etc., dying in 1871, at the advanced age of 85, born 1804.

Mr. Melton's mother was a native of South Carolina, maiden name was Sarah Franklin, daughter of John Franklin of that state. A widow when she married Mr. Melton's father, having been married previously to a Mr. Brown by whom she had 4 children: Samantha, Elvira, Julia and Peter F. She also had 4 children by her second marriage: Robert N., Sarah D., Seaborn J., and James R.

Seaborn J. Melton was born Putnam County, Georgia, Feb 13, 1833, was 14 when his parents moved to Arkansas. Mr. Melton was a pvt. in the 1st Regt. raised in Ark. Apptd. 1st Lt. soon after enlisting, held this position 15 months, during which time his command was serving in SW Missouri and Arkansas. Regt. was ordered east of the Mill., engaged in battles prior to, during and after the battle of Corinth, Miss. Returned to Ark., helped organize another company...(names battles all over the Ark. - Mo. area: Pea Ridge, etc.) ...Promoted to Captain.

Captain Melton laid down his arms June 1865, and returned home to Columbia Co., Arkansas. He md. March 6, 1866, Miss Sarah E., daughter of William Rose, Columbia co. Ark. (an old settler of that county). In 1870 Capt. Melton moved to Denton Co., Texas for 4 yrs., then moved to Grayson Co. (near Collinsville) where he purchased 193 acres and has resided since. Also owns a tract of timber-land in Cooke Co, 4 miles west of his home.

Has a family of 7 children whose name in of their ages are Willie S. (wife of W.S. Bolling), Mattie, Musa, Lee, Viva V., Junia N., and Otto.

SOURCE: Biographical Souvenir of the State of Texas, 1889.
DONATED BY: Ruth Martin.