Fifth Generation

26. Jeptha L T? MELTON⁵ was born in 1834 in Alabama. He died in 1882 in Rains County, Texas. He was buried in Pilgrim Rest Cemetery. There is some disagreement regarding the year of Jeptha's birth - 1830 or 1834. He is shown as 30 years old on the 1860 Kaufman Co, TX census. He is shown as being mustered in the Mexican War from Rusk County in June 1846. These facts seem to make the 1830 date more likely. Kathi O'Neal believes that Jeptha may have left Texas sometime after the Mexican War and gone to live near his sister Agatha and brother James Madison. ( There is a Jeptha L. Melton buried in Pilgrim Rest Cemetery, Rains CO, Tx, with dates 1834-1882 inscribed on the headstone.)

BIOGRAPHY: Oliver Melton thought George and Jep were step-brothers and cousins, whereas Jep's relatives knew only they were brothers. -History of Rains County.

Census: The 1870 census lists George Melton with 6 children of his own plus Mary, infant daughter of Jeptha Melton whose mother had died that January. Again in 1880, George and Elizabeth have their "niece Mary" in their home (and also with her father-PN). -History of Rains County Jeptha L T? MELTON and Mary E were married about Mar 1870. They appeared in the census in Aug 1870 in Quitman, Wood County, Texas. It appears some of their children lived in the house next door. Page 2 shows more children that I've yet to place, but still can't find 8 yr old Mary Adarcy Littleton.

27. Mary E was born in 1845 in Mississippi. She died in 1879. O'Brien in Mississippi
Posted by: yvonne williams (ID *****9231)
yvonnesuelds@yahoo.com
Date: February 15, 2004 at 08:29:39
of 3572

Need help! My grandfather, William Henry was born 8 Jan 1869 probably a county around Attala Co . His father is said to be Timothy O'Brien from Ireland. His mother was Mary E. , maiden name unknown but she first was married to Enoch L. LITTLETON and they had a daughter named Mary Ardecy. William, Mary E., and Mary A. wound up in 1870 in Wood Co., Texas, as Mary E. was married to Jeptha MELTON. They went on to have 4 kids. William went back and forth to Oklahoma a lot, as 2 of his kids were born there, one being my father. Willam did not marry (as for as we know) til in his forties to my grandmother who was 22 years younger than him. Lore has it Timothy left looking for work to Louisiana or southeast Texas and never returned. Anyone with skeltons in their closet from La, Tx, or Ok.? Desperate. yvonne Children were:

	i.	Nancy MELTON was born in 1873 in Rains County, Texas. She appeared in the census in 1880 in Rains County, Texas. She died.
	ii.	Joseph Lee MELTON was born in 1875 in Three Rivers, Rains County, Texas. He appeared in the census in 1880 in Rains County, Texas. He died in 1955 in Three Rivers, Texas.
	iii.	George Melvin MELTON was born in 1876 in Rains County, Texas. He appeared in the census in 1880 in Rains County, Texas. He died in 1966 in Three Rivers, Texas.
13	iv.	Docia MELTON.