Jacob Melly

Jacob Melly, who resides in Red Bud, and is one of its representative business men, deserves honorable mention in this volume, and with pleasure we present the record of his life to our readers. He is now engaged in he manufacture of brick and is doing a good business. He claims Illinois as the state of his nativity, his birth having occurred in Belleville in 1858. His parents, Michael and Sophia (Rudolph) Melly, were both natives of Alsace-Lorraine, France, and in childhood came to America. Their marriage was celebrated in Centreville, Ill. They afterward removed to Belleville, and about 1859 went to Evansville, Ill., whence they came to Red Bud a year later.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Melly was born a family of six children, all of whom are yet living, namely; Mary, Sophia, Jacob, Joseph, Emil and Willie. The father here established a brick manufactory, and from his yards came nearly all the brick which has been used in the building of this place. Evidences of his handiwork are therefore seen on every side and indicate his thrift and enterprise. He continued business along that line until his death, which occurred in 1882. In politics he was a stanch Democrat, was an active Christian gentleman and a man of sterling worth, who had the high regard of all with whom business or social relations have brought him in contact.

Under the parental roof Jacob Melly was reared to manhood, spending his boyhood days amidst play and work in the usual manner of farmer lads. The public schools of the neighborhood afforded him his educational privileges. From early life he was more or less in his father's brick-yard and soon became familiar with the business, which he has carried on continuously since, enlarging his facilities to meet the demand of his increasing trade. He now does an extensive business, orders coming from long distances for the product of his yards is of the best quality and therefore finds a ready sale on the market.

Mr. Melly, his sister and mother, live together in the old home, which has now been the abode of the family for a number of years. They are all members of the Catholic Church and are people of prominence in the community, where they have many friends.