Background
Their home for many years was located at 28 East Vine Street, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He provided a home for his mother next-door.
Their home for many years was located at 28 East Vine Street, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He provided a home for his mother next-door.
McMellen"s wife’s name was Annie East. Wenditz (November 13, 1841 – April 1, 1899). During the Civil War, McMellen enlisted for service in the Union Army, becoming a private in Company K, 79th P. V. I., which regiment was assigned to General
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 Company C, 21st Pennsylvania Cavalry. Later, he was appointed captain of the Color Company of the regiment, Company
1, 21st Pennsylvania
Cavalry. Captain McMellen participated in the last charge made by the Army of the Potomac, on the morning of the surrender of General Robert East. 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 March 2, 1916 and is interred in the Greenwood Cemetery in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Bucher"s Mill Covered Bridge, built in 1881
Forry"s Mill Covered Bridge, built in 1869
Kauffman"s Distillery Covered Bridge, built in 1874
Keller"s Mill Covered Bridge, built in 1891
Landis Mill Covered Bridge, built in 1873
Lime Valley Covered Bridge, built in 1871 Note:
Miller"s Farm Covered Bridge, built in 1871
Willow Hill Covered Bridge, a reconstruction of the above bridge
Pine Grove Covered Bridge, built in 1884
Pinetown Bushong"s Mill Covered Bridge, built in 1867
Red Run Covered Bridge, built in 1866
Risser"s Mill Covered Bridge, built in 1872
Pool Forge Covered Bridge, built in 1859.