Elias McMellen
Encyclopedia
Captain Elias McMellenCaptain Elias McMellen (b. 1839-11-16 - d. 2 March 1916, was a bridge-maker and Captain in the Union Army
.
McMellen's wife’s name was Annie E. Wenditz (November 13, 1841-April 1, 1899). They were married on 21 Sep 1865 and had the following children: Ella, Sara (also known as Sadie), Joseph, Walter and James. Their home for many years was located at 28 East Vine Street, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
; he provided a home for his mother next-door.
During the Civil War, McMellen enlisted for service in the Union Army
, becoming a private in Co. K, 79th P. V. I., which regiment was assigned to Gen. Negley's brigade. At Perryville, he contracted camp fever through exposure, and was sent home on a furlough. In 1863 he was mustered out of the 79th Regiment on a surgeon's certificate, and the same year, when his health had somewhat recovered, was again received into the service, as first lieutenant of Co. C, 21st Pa. Cavalry. Later, he was appointed captain of the Color Company of the regiment, Co. 1, 21st Pa. Cavalry. Capt. McMellen participated in the last charge made by the Army of the Potomac
, on the morning of the surrender of Gen. Robert E. Lee
.
When he was twenty years old he built the bridge over Chickies Creek, at Snavely's Mill, and went on to build some of the most celebrated covered bridges in Pennsylvania
. In this work of building and contracting he was very successful, and many iron, wooden and stone bridges in Lancaster and adjoining counties were erected by him, his reputation as a bridge builder being second to that of no man in eastern Pennsylvania. He died 2 March 1916 and is interred in the Greenwood Cemetery in Lancaster, PA.ref>BIOGRAPHICAL ANNALS OF LANCASTER COUNTY, PA
McMellen's Bridges include:
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
.
McMellen's wife’s name was Annie E. Wenditz (November 13, 1841-April 1, 1899). They were married on 21 Sep 1865 and had the following children: Ella, Sara (also known as Sadie), Joseph, Walter and James. Their home for many years was located at 28 East Vine Street, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster is a city in the south-central part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is the county seat of Lancaster County and one of the older inland cities in the United States, . With a population of 59,322, it ranks eighth in population among Pennsylvania's cities...
; he provided a home for his mother next-door.
During the Civil War, McMellen enlisted for service in the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
, becoming a private in Co. K, 79th P. V. I., which regiment was assigned to Gen. Negley's brigade. At Perryville, he contracted camp fever through exposure, and was sent home on a furlough. In 1863 he was mustered out of the 79th Regiment on a surgeon's certificate, and the same year, when his health had somewhat recovered, was again received into the service, as first lieutenant of Co. C, 21st Pa. Cavalry. Later, he was appointed captain of the Color Company of the regiment, Co. 1, 21st Pa. Cavalry. Capt. McMellen participated in the last charge made by the Army of the Potomac
Army of the Potomac
The Army of the Potomac was the major Union Army in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War.-History:The Army of the Potomac was created in 1861, but was then only the size of a corps . Its nucleus was called the Army of Northeastern Virginia, under Brig. Gen...
, on the morning of the surrender of Gen. Robert E. Lee
Robert E. Lee
Robert Edward Lee was a career military officer who is best known for having commanded the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia in the American Civil War....
.
When he was twenty years old he built the bridge over Chickies Creek, at Snavely's Mill, and went on to build some of the most celebrated covered bridges in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. In this work of building and contracting he was very successful, and many iron, wooden and stone bridges in Lancaster and adjoining counties were erected by him, his reputation as a bridge builder being second to that of no man in eastern Pennsylvania. He died 2 March 1916 and is interred in the Greenwood Cemetery in Lancaster, PA.ref>BIOGRAPHICAL ANNALS OF LANCASTER COUNTY, PA
McMellen's Bridges include:
- Bucher's Mill Covered BridgeBucher's Mill Covered BridgeBucher's Mill Covered Bridge or Butcher's Mill Covered Bridge is a covered bridge that spans Cocalico Creek in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. After the Landis Mill Covered Bridge, it is the second shortest covered bridge in the county...
- Built in 1881 - Forry's Mill Covered BridgeForry's Mill Covered BridgeForry's Mill Covered Bridge is a covered bridge that spans Chiques Creek in West Hempfield in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. A county-owned and maintained bridge, its official designation is the Big Chiques #7 Bridge...
- Built in 1869 - Kauffman's Distillery Covered BridgeKauffman's Distillery Covered BridgeKauffman's Distillery Covered Bridge or Sporting Hill Bridge is a covered bridge that spans Chiques Creek in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. A county-owned and maintained bridge, its official designation is the Big Chiques #1 Bridge...
- Built in 1874 - Keller's Mill Covered BridgeKeller's Mill Covered BridgeKeller's Mill Covered Bridge is a covered bridge that spans Cocalico Creek in Ephrata Township, Lancaster County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. A county-owned and maintained bridge, its official designation is the Cocalico #5 Bridge...
- Built in 1891 - Landis Mill Covered BridgeLandis Mill Covered BridgeLandis Mill Covered Bridge is a covered bridge that spans the Little Conestoga Creek in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. A county-owned and maintained bridge, its official designation is the Little Conestoga #1 Bridge...
- Built in 1873 - Lime Valley Covered BridgeLime Valley Covered BridgeLime Valley Covered Bridge or Strasburg Bridge is a covered bridge that spans Pequea Creek in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. A county-owned and maintained bridge, its official designation is the Pequea #8 Bridge....
- Built in 1871Note: - Miller's Farm Covered BridgeMiller's Farm Covered BridgeMiller's Farm Covered Bridge was a covered bridge constructed by Elias McMellen in 1871. The bridge was located in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. In 1962, the bridge's remaining parts along with timbers from Daniel Good's Fording Covered Bridge were used in the construction of the Willow Hill...
- Built in 1871. Willow Hill Covered BridgeWillow Hill Covered BridgeWillow Hill Covered Bridge is a covered bridge located off U.S. Route 30 that spans Miller’s Run in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States...
is a reconstruction of that bridge. - Pine Grove Covered BridgePine Grove Covered BridgePine Grove Covered Bridge is a covered bridge that spans the East branch of the Octoraro Creek on the border between Lancaster County and Chester County in Pennsylvania, United States. It is the longest covered bridge in Lancaster County....
- Built in 1884 - Pinetown Bushong's Mill Covered Bridge - Built in 1867
- Red Run Covered BridgeRed Run Covered BridgeRed Run Covered Bridge or Oberhaltzer's Covered Bridge is a covered bridge that once spanned the Muddy Creek in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. It was built in 1866 by Elias McMellen and is currently situated on private property next to the Red Run Campground...
- Build in 1866 - Risser's Mill Covered BridgeRisser's Mill Covered BridgeRisser's Mill Covered Bridge or Horst's Mill Covered Bridge was a covered bridge that spanned Little Chickie's Creek in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. It was burnt by an arsonist on July 8, 2002. As of October, 2006, a concrete bridge is being built 100 feet north of the site of...
- Built in 1872 - Pool Forge Covered BridgePool Forge Covered BridgePool Forge Covered Bridge is a covered bridge that spans the Conestoga River in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. The bridge is now on private property where it was once used as a storage barn before the owner added a road to receive vehicle traffic.The bridge has a single span,...
- Built in 1859