Gazlay Family History
 

Family HistoryFamily History - Francis E. ‘Frank’ Melvin
(born Francis E. Byron)


Key:1.“+” before a child’s name indicates the child has their own entry in the next generation.
 2.“born xxxx” indicates the child is under 18 years of age so the birth date is not shown.
This family history features Francis E. ‘Frank’ Melvin (born Francis E. Byron) and three of his descendants down to the second generation.


First Generation
1. Francis E. ‘Frank’ Melvin (born Francis E. Byron),1 born 24 July 1888 in Isabella Township, Isabella County, Michigan, the son of Theophilus ‘James’ Byron and Emma Dubois;1, 2, 3, 4 died 1946.2 Frank married, first, 27 October 1907 in Farwell, Clare County, Michigan, Margaret M. ‘Maggie’ Walker (born Margaret Crippen)3 (born 23 October 1891 in Union Charter Township, Isabella County, Michigan, the daughter of Nelson W. Crippen and Luella Courter;4, 5, 6, 7 Maggie died 23 June 1912 in Farwell, Clare County, Michigan6). Frank married, second, 8 July 1913 in Farwell, Clare County, Michigan, Mary Mabelle Patnode9 (born 21 November 1893 in Clare County, Michigan, the daughter of Henry Patenode and Flora Bryan;8, 9 Mary died 11 November 1939 in Bay City, Bay County, Michigan8). Frank married, third, 19 April 1935, Grace F. Egan10 (born 12 September 1888 in Saginaw, Saginaw County, Michigan, parents not determined;10 Grace died 21 February 1961 in Saginaw, Saginaw County, Michigan10). Frank is buried in Surrey Township Cemetery, Farwell, Clare County, Michigan.2 Maggie is buried in Surrey Township Cemetery, Farwell, Clare County, Michigan.6 Mary is buried in Garfield Township Cemetery, Lake, Clare County, Michigan.8 Grace is buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Saginaw, Saginaw County, Michigan.10 Frank was adopted by Alfred A. Melvin and Sarah A. Clark.

Margaret was apparently raised and probably adopted by Edward F. Walker and his wife Charity E. Walker Waddington (nee Brush). Margaret appears in the 1900 US Census living in New York with the Walkers (and bearing their surname). This was about four months after Margaret’s birth father, Nelson Crippen, died. Margaret’s marriage record shows the Walkers as her parents. However, several census records show that Charity had no children, implying that Margaret was not Margaret’s birth mother. It is not clear why Edward Walker and his wife were chosen to raise Margaret.


Child of Francis E. ‘Frank’ Melvin (born Francis E. Byron) and Margaret M. ‘Maggie’ Walker (born Margaret Crippen):

+2i. Clarence A. Melvin, born 25 March 1912 in Farwell, Clare County, Michigan; died 1980. Married Frances S. Harris.

Children of Francis E. ‘Frank’ Melvin (born Francis E. Byron) and Mary Mabelle Patnode:

+3i. Donald F. Melvin, Sr., born 4 June 1916 in Farwell, Clare County, Michigan; died 31 October 2003 in Saginaw, Saginaw County, Michigan. Married Isabel R. Wizner.
+4ii. Keith C. Melvin, born 6 April 1925 in Farwell, Clare County, Michigan; died 4 October 2009 in Saginaw, Saginaw County, Michigan. Married Betty J. Zimmerman.

  1. Michigan, County Births, 1867-1917, Isabella County, Francis E. Byron, born: 24 July 1888 in Isabella Township, Isabella County, Michigan; father: James Byron, farmer, born in New York; mother: Emma Bryon, born in Canada.
  2. Find a Grave (website). Surrey Township Cemetery, Farwell, Clare County, Michigan, Frank E. Melvin, born: 1888; died: 1946 (from record, which includes the text from two obituaries; and provides the names and links for his father, two siblings, three wives, and three children).
  3. Michigan Marriages, 1868-1925, Francis E. Melvin, age 19, born in Isabella County, Michigan, com[mon] laborer; father: Alfred A. Melvin; mother: Sarah A. Clark; not previously married; Margaret M. Walker, age 16, born in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan; father: Edward F. Walker; mother: Charity E. Brush; not previously married; married on 27 October 1907 in Farwell, Clare County, Michigan.
  4. U.S. Federal Census, 1910, Michigan, Clare County, Farwell, E.D. 38, Sheet No. 3B, Alfred A. Melvin, 62, New York, second marriage, laborer, odd jobs; wife of 31 years Sarah A. Melvin, 50, Pennsylvania, second marriage, one child, one living; son (adopted) Francis E. Melvin, 21, Michigan, laborer, odd jobs; daughter-in-law and wife of 2 years Margaret M. Melvin, 18, Michigan, no children.
  5. Michigan, County Births, 1867-1917, Isabella County, Margaret M. Crippin, born: 23 October 1891 in Union, Isabella County, Michigan; father: N. H. Crippin, laborer, birthplace unknown; mother: Luella Crippin, born in Ohio.
  6. Find a Grave (website). Surrey Township Cemetery, Farwell, Clare County, Michigan, Margaret M. Crippen Melvin, born: 23 October 1891 in Mount Pleasant, Isabella County, Michigan; died: 23 June 1912 in Farwell, Clare County, Michigan (from record, which includes a note indicating she was the daughter of Nelson and Luella (Courter) Crippen; and provides the name and link for her husband).
  7. U.S. Federal Census, 1900, New York, Wayne County, Huron, E.D. 111, Sheet No. 18B, Edward Walker, 45, New York, May 1855, farmer; wife of 22 years Charity Walker, 42, New York, June 1857, no children; daughter Margrett M. Walker, 8, Michigan, Oct. 1861; mother Sofronia Johnson, 70, New York, May 1830.
  8. Find a Grave (website). Garfield Township Cemetery, Lake, Clare County, Michigan, Mary Mabelle Patnode McMullen, born: 21 November 1893 in Clare County, Michigan; died: 11 November 1939 in Bay City, Bay County, Michigan (from record, which provides the names and links for her husband and one child).
  9. Michigan Marriages, 1868-1925, Francis E. Melvin, age 24, born in Isabella County, Michigan, painter, father: Alfred A. Melvin; mother: Sarah Clark; previously married once; Mary M. Patnode, age 19, born in Clare County, Michigan, housekeeper, father: Henry Patnode; mother: Flora Bryan; not previously married; married on 8 July 1913 in Farwell, Clare County, Michigan.
  10. Find a Grave (website). Forest Lawn Cemetery, Saginaw, Saginaw County, Michigan, Grace F. Egan Melvin, born: 12 September 1888 in Saginaw, Saginaw County, Michigan; died: 21 February 1961 in Saginaw, Saginaw County, Michigan (from record, which includes a note detailing her husband, marriage, parents, and siblings; and provide the name and link for her husband).
Second Generation
2. Clarence A. Melvin2 (Francis ‘Frank’1), born 25 March 1912 in Farwell, Clare County, Michigan;1, 2 died 1980.1 Clarence married, 2 May 1931 in Porter County, Indiana, Frances S. Harris2 (born 28 January 1910 in Brunswick, Holton Township, Muskegon County, Michigan, the daughter of Walter Harris and Louise Miller;2, 3 Frances died 19823). Clarence and Frances are buried in Hart Cemetery, Hart, Oceana County, Michigan.1, 3

3. Donald F. Melvin, Sr.2 (Francis ‘Frank’1), born 4 June 1916 in Farwell, Clare County, Michigan;4 died 31 October 2003 in Saginaw, Saginaw County, Michigan.4 Donald married, 6 November 1944, Isabel R. Wizner4 (born 2 October 1922 in Rhodes, Gladwin County, Michigan, the daughter of Andrew P. Wiznerowicz and Pauline Jablonski;5 Isabel died 9 June 1987 in Saginaw, Saginaw County, Michigan5). Donald and Isabel are buried in St. Andrew Cemetery, Saginaw, Saginaw County, Michigan.4, 5

4. Keith C. Melvin2 (Francis ‘Frank’1), born 6 April 1925 in Farwell, Clare County, Michigan;6 died 4 October 2009 in Saginaw, Saginaw County, Michigan.6 Keith married Betty J. Zimmerman (born 6 April 1928 in Saginaw, Saginaw County, Michigan, the daughter of Paul J. Zimmerman and Ora May Gentz;7 Betty died 23 November 2004 in Saginaw, Saginaw County, Michigan7). Keith and Betty are buried in Roselawn Memorial Gardens, Saginaw, Saginaw County, Michigan.6, 7

  1. Find a Grave (website). Hart Cemetery, Hart, Oceana County, Michigan, Clarence A. Melvin, born: 1912; died: 1980 (from record, which gives the names and links for his father and two siblings).
  2. Indiana Marriages, 1811-2018/2019, Clarence Melvin, born: 25 March 1910 [sic, he was born in 1912, three months before the death of his birth mother] in Farwell, Michigan; father: Frank Melvin; mother: Margaret Walker; one previous marriage; Frances Harris, born: 28 January 1908 in Brunswick, Michigan; father: Walter Harris; mother: Louise Miller; one previous marriage; married on 2 May 1931 in Porter County, Indiana.
  3. Find a Grave (website). Hart Cemetery, Hart, Oceana County, Michigan, Frances S. Melvin, born: 1910; died: 1982 (from record).
  4. Find a Grave (website). St. Andrew Cemetery, Saginaw, Saginaw County, Michigan, Donald F. Melvin, Sr., born: 4 June 1916 in Farwell, Clare County, Michigan; died: 31 October 2003 in Saginaw, Saginaw County, Michigan (from record, which includes a note detailing his marriage and wife; and provides the names and links for his father, two siblings, and wife).
  5. Find a Grave (website). St. Andrew Cemetery, Saginaw, Saginaw County, Michigan, Isabel R. Wizner Melvin, born: 2 October 1922 in Rhodes, Gladwin County, Michigan; died: 9 June 1987 in Saginaw, Saginaw County, Michigan (from record, which provides the names and links for her parents, siblings, and husband).
  6. Find a Grave (website). Roselawn Memorial Gardens, Saginaw, Saginaw County, Michigan, Keith C. Melvin, born: 6 April 1925 in Farwell, Clare County, Michigan; died: 4 October 2009 in Saginaw, Saginaw County, Michigan (from record, which provides the names and links for his parents, siblings, and wife).
  7. Find a Grave (website). Roselawn Memorial Gardens, Saginaw, Saginaw County, Michigan, Betty J. Zimmerman Melvin, born: 6 April 1928 in Saginaw, Saginaw County, Michigan; died: 23 November 2004 in Saginaw, Saginaw County, Michigan (from record, which includes a naming her two husbands and parents; and provides the names and links for her parents, two husbands and two children).