Homer Burton Melat was born on 27 May 1858 in Rockland Township, Venango County, Pennsylvania.^1,2 He was the son of William Perry Melat and Caroline Morrison.^1,2 Homer married Mary Hulda Brown, daughter of John H. Brown and Catherine Domer, on 11 February 1884 by Rev. R. M. Felt at Rockland Methodist Church.^1,3 He died on 13 August 1942 in Rockland Township, Venango County, Pennsylvania, at age 84.^1,2 He and Mary Hulda were buried in Melat Cemetery, Rockland Township, Venango County.⁴

     Homer and Mary lived in Rockland Township, Venango County, Pennsylvania.² Homer was first engaged in the timber business, and later become interested in oil field work. He became a successful driller, rig builder, and oil producer. In 1904, he began to spend more of his energies in surveying. Homer held the office of Venango County Surveyor from 1909 to 1929. He was also on the Board of Road Viewers for the county most of that time. Homer was a field representative for the Philadelphia and Boston Petroleum Company, a position he held until his death. He was a member of the Pennsylvania Society of Civil Engineers and various Masonic lodges.² He bought 1 acre in Rockland Township from William Perry Melat for $30 on 28 August 1887.⁵ He bought 3 acres and 96 perches in Rockland Township from William Perry Melat for $150 on 15 October 1891.⁶ He bought 1 acres and 141 perches and another 18 acres in Rockland Township from William Perry Melat for $160 on 18 January 1896.⁷ He bought 35 acres in Rockland Township from William Perry Melat on 23 July 1898.⁸
     Homer and Mary raised a family of four daughters and 5 sons, one son having died in infancy.
     Homer and Hulda attended the Domer Evangelical Chapel in Rockland Township.⁹

     Abbie Amanda Melat was born on 18 February 1860 in Rockland Township, Venango County, Pennsylvania.¹ She was the daughter of William Perry Melat and Caroline Morrison.¹ She married Miles Briggs Smith, son of William Smith and Elizabeth Armstrong, on 3 July 1879.¹ She died on 31 December 1928 in Rockland Township, Venango County, at age 68.¹ She and Miles Briggs Smith were buried in Rockland Cemetery, Rockland Township.¹

     Abbie Amanda Melat and Miles Briggs Smith lived in Smith's Corners, Rockland Township.¹

     Florence May Melat was born on 5 July 1862 in Rockland Township, Venango County, Pennsylvania.¹ She was the daughter of William Perry Melat and Caroline Morrison.¹ She married Albert Jackson Carner, son of John Carner Jr. and Sarah Ann Turk, on 6 May 1883.² She died on 13 March 1891 in Rockland Township, Venango County, at age 28.¹ Florence and Albert were buried in Melat Cemetery, Rockland Township.³

     Benjamin Franklin Melat was born on 27 September 1864 in Rockland Township, Venango County, Pennsylvania.¹ He was the son of William Perry Melat and Caroline Morrison.¹ He married Mel Flowers, daughter of Franklin Flowers and Susanna Snyder, on 19 September 1891 in Franklin, Venango County.^1,2 He died on 21 April 1950 in Shreveport, Louisiana, at age 85.¹

     Benjamin Franklin Melat also went by the name of Frank Melat. He was in the oil business from a young age in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana.¹ He was listed as the head of a family on the 1900 Census of Rockland Township, Venango County. The household consisted of Frank, Mel and their daughter Ada. Frank was working as a driller.³ Frank and Mel lived in Rockland Township until 1915 when they moved to Shreveport, Louisiana.¹ Frank was a laborer for Gulf Oil Corporation for a short time before becoming an independent oil operator. He was active in the development of the discovery well in the Smackover Field at Saxton, Louisiana.¹
     Frank and Mel were charter and very active members of the King's Highway Christian Church in Shreveport.¹ He was a 32 Degree Mason and a member of several Masonic lodges.¹

     Caroline Louise Melat was born on 13 June 1869 in Rockland Township, Venango County, Pennsylvania.¹ She was the daughter of William Perry Melat and Caroline Morrison.¹ She married George Hazen Peacock, son of William Peacock and Thomason Spence, on 20 May 1903 in Franklin, Venango County.² She died on 31 July 1952 in Leominster, Massachusetts, at age 83.¹ Carrie and George were buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Leominster, Massachusetts.^1,3

     Caroline Louise Melat also went by the name of Carrie Melat.
     Aunt Carrie was stricken with polio as a young child but never let her handicap interfere with her active life. She was intelligent and well read. Carrie lived in Franklin, Pennsylvania before her marriage where she served as governess for a young girl. Carrie accompanied the family by train to the World's Fair in Chicago.^4,5 After their marriage, Carrie and George moved to New England, living in Maine and New Hampshire before settling down in a home at 640 Main Street Leominster, Massachusetts.⁴

     Bessie Maybel Melat was born in February 1878 in Rockland Township, Venango County, Pennsylvania.^3,4,1 She was the daughter of William Perry Melat and Caroline Morrison.^2,1 She married Robert Francis Bushnell, son of Francis Delmar Bushnell and Jennie Porterfield, on 19 October 1900 in Sandycreek Township, Venango County.⁵ She died on 15 November 1931 in Cleveland, Ohio, at age 53.^1,6 She was buried in Franklin Cemetery, Sugarcreek Borough, Venango County.⁷

     William Stanley Melat was born on 4 July 1872 in Rockland Township, Venango County, Pennsylvania.¹ He was the son of William Perry Melat and Caroline Morrison.¹ He died on 6 November 1878 in Rockland Township, Venango County, at age 6.¹

     Robert Melat was born on 23 March 1799.¹ He married Elizabeth Kifer, daughter of Frederick Kifer and Susanna Catherine Urey, on 26 January 1819 probably in Slippery Rock Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania.^2,1 He married Charlotte Collingwood circa 26 June 1845.^3,4 He died on 11 September 1887 in Rockland Township, Venango County, Pennsylvania, at age 88.⁵ He was buried in Melat Cemetery, Rockland Township.⁶

     The first known record of Robert Melat is the 1820 Federal Census for Slippery Rock Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania. Robert and his wife Elizabeth lived in Slippery Rock Township from the time of their marriage in 1819 to about 1832.^7,8,9 While Robert did not own any land in Butler County, he is included on the assessment list beginning in 1821. Robert would have been included for owning livestock such as horses, cows, or oxen. Other reasons for being included were to maintain a list of men eligible for the local militia and for an assessment based on occupation. These occupation assessments were often based on job skill with skill occupations being taxed as a higher rate than unskilled, an early for of income tax. Robert was listed as a laborer, which probably meant that he worked as an unskilled laborer. Most often, laborers who did not own their own property would live in small tenant homes on their employer's land. While there is no record of who Robert worked for, Robert may have worked for and lived on the land owned by his father-in-law, Frederick Kiefer. It is also possible that at least at one point that he worked for a John Ralston who lived in Slippery Rock Township at the time. Robert and Elizabeth would name their third son John Ralston Melat.⁹
     In about 1832 Robert Melat and his family moved to Venango County, Pennsylvania. For assessment years 1832 and 1833, the Melat family lived in Paint Township, which is now part of Clarion County. In 1834 and 1835, Robert is found on the assessment lists for Farmington Township, which is now also part of Clarion County. While the 1836 assessment list for Farmington Township is missing, Robert was not listed for 1837. Robert and his family are not found in any record until the 1840 census when they were living in Sandycreek Township, Venango County. Robert does not appear on the Sandycreek Township assessment lists, however, by 1842, he and his family had moved across the Allegheny River to Cranberry Township. They remained there until about 1845 when the family moved across East Sandy Creek into Rockland Township.^10,11
     There are a few clues as to how Robert supported his family and why they moved around so often. In one of the family records, probably written by Robert's grandson Homer Melat, it is recorded that Robert's son William was born at Lucerne Furnace, Butler County suggesting that Robert working in the iron industry. Further, in a deposition taken from James Hughes of Franklin in 1884 for Robert's pension application, Hughes stated that Robert worked for his father, also James Hughes, between 1841 and 1844 at Slab Furnace. Slab Furnace was an iron furnace on East Sandy Creek in Cranberry Township which was owned an operated by the senior Hughes between 1840 and 1854. And finally, the 1847 Rockland Township assessment list recorded Robert's occupation as collier or a person who makes charcoal. At that time, a collier was one of the occupations associated with the iron industry which thrived in western Pennsylvania during the first half of the 19th century.^12,13,14
     While it is not known if Robert worked as a collier the entire time he worked in the iron industry, it would certainly be consistent with the nomadic existence which Robert seemed to have lived until 1845. The stability of an iron furnace was dependent on a number of factors which made for a very transient lifestyle for those employed by it. Men and their families would move frequently from furnace to furnace as jobs were available and as long as ore was plentiful.
     The job of collier was a very difficult job; a job that took some degree of skill; and a job that required round-the-clock attention. Following is a description of the collier's job taken from The Iron Furnace Industry of Venango County, a research project completed by Gary R. Hutchison in 1967.

     "Charcoal was the critical fuel that turned the iron and limestone mixture into the molten state necessary to purify the iron and make it marketable. The charcoal was made near the furnace in excavations in the ground known as coaling pits. The charcoal was seldom transported a long distance. The coaling pits for the Jane and Valley Furnaces [in Venango County] were within a hundred yards of the furnaces. The bulky cord wood was always brought to the furnace to be transported into charcoal because the jolting transportation would have reduced the charcoal to useless powder.
     "The collier would place the cord wood on end in the circular coaling pits. In the center of the circle a pole was placed so that it protruded several feet above the cord wood. The cord wood was then covered with earth leaving only the center pole exposed. The collier would extract the center pole and light a fire in the cavity. The wood was then left to burn for a period of time know as the bake. The length of the bake depended on the type of wood used. The hardwoods took a longer period of time to be reduced to charcoal that did the softwoods. Coaling was very intricate process and the colliers who performed the task were usually responsible for any loss incurred due to an error in judgement. All night vigils were necessary during the bake to make certain the fire did not burn to fast and spoil the bake. Crude shelters were constructed to house the collier during these bakes. The shelter at Porterfield Furnace in Richland Township was approximately four feet wide, six feet long, and constructed of fieldstone.
     "It was the custom to pay many workers at the furnace on a production basis rather than a wage…. At the Jane Furnace, the colliers received $2.50 to $2.75 per hundred bushels after deducting the cost of the wood. They were required to buy the wood so that the iron master would not suffer a loss if the bake was spoiled.
     "This line of work would also explain why Robert was not taxed for any land during this time period. Often times, the workers were housed by the iron master. The iron master rented rooms to single men and houses to married men. Another adjunct to the furnace was the company store. The store had a monopoly on the market of the furnace community. In Cranberry Township, both of the existing stores were owned by the iron masters Edmund Evans and James Hughes."¹⁵

     Robert Melat was living in Sandycreek Township, Venango County, in 1840.¹⁶
     Elizabeth died of tuberculosis in 1842, Robert was left was the care of eight children. They were living at Slab Furnace in Cranberry Township, Venango County. With no extended family in the area, the solution was found in Mrs. Charlotte Collingwood Waite. Charlotte, the daughter of Charles and Lydia (Moss) Collingwood, the widow of Ezra S. Waite, and the mother of two small children Lydia and Harrison, was in a similar situation as Robert.^3,4
     Following his marriage to Charlotte, Robert settled down in Rockland Township, Venango County. In 1846, Robert purchased 100 acre of land from a Mr. Daugherty. That land was probably located in western Rockland Township. Robert was still working as a collier. Interestingly enough, Robert's sons Robert and John were working as wood choppers, probably chopping wood for Robert. Robert later worked as a farmer on his land in Rockland.¹⁷
     But life in Rockland proved to be difficult for Robert and his family. Declining health and probably poor circumstances required Robert to forfeit the land on which he had been paying taxes. Apparently, Robert and his family continued to live on the land as tenants, probably paying rent to the new owners. Robert did a wide range of work from chopping wood and hewing logs for Henry R. Stroup to corn planting for William Smith. When asked how much he earned a day Robert replied "some days 50 cents, some days 40, and sometimes a dollar-just as work was a running in the neighborhood I'd have to take it." Robert was even paid with flour and meat for work done for James Hanby. Robert never owned any land again and his only possessions were his household effects that were valued at not more than $100 in 1862.¹⁸ He was listed as the head of a family on the 1850 Census of Rockland Township, Venango County. The household consisted of Robert, his wife, son Jackson, and step-son Harrison Wait. The census incorrectly records Robert's wife name as Elizabeth, the name of his first wife who died six year previously, rather than Charlotte.¹⁹ He was listed as the head of a family on the 1860 Census of Rockland Township, Venango County. The household consisted of Robert, his wife Charlotte, and sons Aaron, Charles, Joseph, and Jackson.²⁰
     As oil exploration came to Rockland Township, Robert worked as a laborer in the local oil fields, becoming the first of our family to work in the oil industry. According to his deposition, Robert "worked in the oil territory a good deal." Apparently drilling for oil on several of the neighborhood farms such as the Snyder farm had begun by 1870. The 1870 census notes that Robert "works on oil wells". Robert undoubtedly worked as a common laborer in the local oil fields.^21,22 He was listed as the head of a family on the 1870 Census of Rockland Township, Venango County. The household consisted of Robert, his wife Charlotte, and sons Charles and Aaron.²³
     Poor health began to take a toll on Robert in about 1861 when he developed erysipelas in one of his legs. Esysipelas is an acute infection of the skin caused by several types of streptococcus and is characterized by local inflammation and fever. The disease was so bad that one of his attending doctors, Dr. John B. Glenn, M.D., stated in a deposition that the erysipelas was "affecting nearly the whole of one of his legs, completely confining him to his bed at times for weeks, and at other times he would be better and could work a little. But his leg is never entirely well and I think never will be." Today, antibiotics would have been used to effectively treat the disease.²⁴
     The condition proved to be devastating for the Melat family, for what little work the aging Robert could find became increasingly difficult for him to do. According to Henry R. Stroup, who would hire Robert when he was able, most of the time Robert was able to only do half a days work because of his disability. According to another frequent employer, Daniel Y. Stroup, in 1865, Robert was paid about one third the wages paid other hands at the same work. Robert's daughter Susan Melat Brandon claimed that by 1868 Robert was completely disabled.
     Long before social security or government welfare, Robert became dependent on his family for assistance in making ends meet as the disease that plagued him progressed. As was common for the time, the infirmmed Robert turned for help in meeting the needs of the family to his son Jack who was old enough to work, single, and still living in his father's household. At the time, the household consisted of Robert's second wife Charlotte, and their two small boys Aaron and Charles. Jack worked odd jobs like his father, but apparently had also learned the skill of carpentry. Jack's wages would go toward the support of the household. In fact, according to William Smith, one of Jack's employers, Jack's wages went straight to Robert because Jack was "underage." According to another employer, William Turk, while working for James Hanby, Jack gave his wages to his father, but "received enough to buy his clothing and a little spending money."²⁵
     However, this support came to an abrupt end when Jack, who undoubted felt the call of his country along with his peers, and enlisted in the Grand Army of the Republic at Oil City on 1 November 1861. Jack was mustered into Company L, 4th Pennsylvania Cavalry. In the army less than a year, Jack contracted small pox and died in a Washington D.C. hospital on 3 August 1862. After the loss of Jack and the spread of the crippling erysipelas, Robert apparently was unable to totally support his family. According to Daniel Y. Stroup, Robert had "no other means of support except what help he received from others. Other statements indicate that Robert did not become totally dependent on his children until after his wife Charlotte died in October 1880. However, during the 1880s, Robert was able to apply for a government pension based his son Jack's military service.^26,27
     Following the death of his wife Charlotte, Robert went to live with his daughter Susan and her husband James Brandon, who lived at Salina, Cranberry Township. By 1884 Robert had gone to live with his daughter Mary Ann Mays at Mill Village, Erie County. Another daughter Elizabeth Cowick who also lived at Mill Village apparently cared for Robert as well. In December 1884, while living with Mary Ann at Mill Village, Robert learned of the death of his second born son from a telegram from his son William that simply read "Robert Melat Jr. is dead."^28,29
     Robert's remarriage created a split in the family that may not have found itself resolved during Robert's lifetime. According to a biography of Robert's daughter Mary Ann Melat Mays, written by Mary Ann's granddaughter, Mary Ann "deeply resented her new mother" who was allegedly mean to the children. The feeling apparently was shared by most of Robert's older children. Robert's daughter Susan discussed the situation in a deposition for Robert's pension application in 1884. In answering a question as to why her brothers Robert Jr., John, and William did not take care of their father in his old age, Susan replied, "I don't like to tell family secrets, but you are old enough to know that when a man married the second time, his first children don't like it and Bob, John and Bill did not speak to father for a long time and father was always kept away from them."^30,31
     In a letter dated 1948 from Cecil Mays Runnels to Hazel Mays Walden, granddaughters of Mary Ann Melat Mays, Cecil recalls that her dad Perry Mays remembers his grandfather Robert Melat coming to live with them "down at the mill on French Creek." He recalls that Robert "had a muzzle loader gun. He used to get it out and clean it about every day and would stroke the barrel and say 'I've killed many a deer with that gun.³²'"
     In the same letter Cecil remembers that Robert did eventually get a pension from the government through the Civil War service of his son Jack. According to what Cecil remembered Robert's daughter Susan Brandon got Robert to come and live with her at Salina "so she could have the pension." Regardless of the motive, Robert did return to Venango County and apparently did reconcile with his sons John and William. Robert spent his last days in Rockland Township, living with both John and William. According to a letter written in 1948 to Hazel Mays Walden from William's son Frank Melat, "Grandfather [Robert] Melat lived with my parents in their old home." A letter written in 1933 by Robert F. Melat, a grandson of John Melat, stated that Robert died in the arms of John's son Robert Jackson Melat. Indeed, Robert's obituary stated that he died in Rockland Township.^32,33,34,5

     Elizabeth Kifer was born on 17 April 1801 probably in Slippery Rock Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania.³ She was the daughter of Frederick Kifer and Susanna Catherine Urey.² She married Robert Melat on 26 January 1819 probably in Slippery Rock Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania.^1,3
     Elizabeth died of tuberculosis in February 1842 in Slab Furnace, Cranberry Township, Venango County, Pennsylvania, at age 40.⁴ She was buried on 6 February 1842 in Brandon Cemetery, Cranberry Township, Venango County, Pennsylvania, According to an affadavit by John M. Allison for Robert Melat's pension application, Mr. Allison built the coffin for Elizabeth Melat. The date for her burial came from his own books. Helen Rembold showed me where Susan Melat Brandon told her where Elizabeth Melat was buried in an unmarked in Brandon Cemetery.^4,5

     Elizabeth and her husband Robert Melat lived in Slippery Rock Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, from the time of their marriage in 1819 to about 1832.^6,7,8

     Charlotte Collingwood was born on 7 April 1810 in Elmira, New York.¹ She was the daughter of Charles Collingwood and Lydia Moss.¹ She married Ezra S. Waite on 21 July 1832.¹ She married Robert Melat circa 26 June 1845.^2,3 She died circa October 1880 in Rockland Township, Venango County.⁴ She was buried in Melat Cemetery, Rockland Township, Venango County.⁵

     Enoch Melat was born on 14 May 1820 in Slippery Rock Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania.¹ He was the son of Robert Melat and Elizabeth Kifer.¹

     Robert Melat Jr. was born on 21 July 1823 in Slippery Rock Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania.¹ He was the son of Robert Melat and Elizabeth Kifer.¹ He married Julia Ann Morrison, daughter of George Morrison and Lucrietia Morrison.² He died circa December 1884 in Rockland Township, Venango County, Pennsylvania.^3,4 He was buried in Melat Cemetery, Rockland Township.⁵ He and Anna R. Melat were reinterred in Franklin Cemetery, Sugarcreek Borough, Venango County, Pennsylvania, in 1904.⁶

     Robert Melat Jr. was a farmer in Rockland Township most of his life; however, prior to his marriage Robert worked as a teamster and a wood chopper.^7,8,9,10 He purchased 52 8/10 acres in Rockland Township, Venango County, on 6 September 1852 from Samuel M. Lane and A. N. Meylert for $52.80.¹¹ He, and Julia Ann Morrison sold 1 acre and 141 perches in Rockland Township, Venango County, to John Ralston Melat on 9 June 1855. He sold 51 acres in Rockland Township, Venango County, on 31 January 1865 to A.C. Sutton.¹² He purchased 57 4/10 acres in Rockland Township, Venango County, on 31 July 1865 from James Brandon, guardian of the minor children of William Brandon, deceased.¹³ He sold 3 acres in Rockland Township, Venango County, on 4 September 1871 to Jacob Henderson for $300.¹⁴ He sold 2 acres in Rockland Township, Venango County, to James Brandon Jr. for $50.00 on 11 September 1871.¹⁵ He sold 1 acre in Rockland Township, Venango County, on 2 January 1872 to Patick Fehery for $75.¹⁶ He sold 57 8/10 acres in Rockland Township, Venango County, on 26 March 1878 to John B. Snyder for $600.¹⁷

     Elizabeth Melat was born on 26 February 1825 in Slippery Rock Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania.¹ She was the daughter of Robert Melat and Elizabeth Kifer.¹ She married Alexander McCarty.^2,3 She married William Roberts, son of Edward Roberts.^4,5,6 She married Stephen Cowick.⁷ She died on 17 December 1899 in LeBoeuf Township, Erie County, Pennsylvania, at age 74.⁸

     Following William's death in 1870, Elizabeth's remained on the Roberts farm in Rockland Township, Venango County, Pennsylvania, with her daughter Sarah, and her husband Harvey Bell.⁹ She moved from Rockland Township following her marriage to Stephen Cowick to LeBoeuf Township, Erie County.

     John Ralston Melat was born on 21 April 1827 in Slippery Rock Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania.¹ He was the son of Robert Melat and Elizabeth Kifer.¹ He married Sarah Ann Kramer, daughter of George Kramer and Elizabeth Hoy, on 24 March 1850.² He died on 2 February 1899 in Rockland Township, Venango County, Pennsylvania, at age 71.^3,4 He was buried in Melat Cemetery, Rockland Township.³

     John Ralston Melat worked as a day laborer most of his life in Rockland Township. The 1850 Rockland Township assessment list records his occupation as wood chopper, probably for the local iron industry. The 1870 census shows that he was working as a coal dealer.^5,6 He was listed as the head of a family on the 1850 Census of Rockland Township, Venango County. The household consisted of John and his wife Sarah. The record indicates that they had been married within the census year.⁷ He purchased 53 and a half acres in Rockland Township, Venango County, on 1 June 1855 from Elikie Chadwick and his wife Isabel.⁸ Robert Melat Jr., and Julia Ann Morrison sold 1 acre and 141 perches in Rockland Township, Venango County, to John Ralston Melat on 9 June 1855. He was listed as the head of a family on the 1860 Census of Rockland Township, Venango County. The household consisted of John, his wife Sarah, and children Robert, John A., and Laura.⁹ He and Sarah sold 18 acres in Rockland Township, Venango County, on 14 December 1864 to Jacob Siebert.¹⁰ He sold 1 acres and 141 perches in Rockland Township, Venango County, on 19 January 1865 to Jacob Siebert.¹¹ He was listed as the head of a family on the 1870 Census of Rockland Township, Venango County. The household consisted of John, his wife Sarah, and children Robert, John, Sarah, George, Mary, Laura, and Harrison.¹² He bought 4 acres in Rockland Township from William Perry Melat for $150 on 12 August 1870.¹³ He was listed as the head of a family on the 1880 Census of Rockland Township, Venango County. The household consisted of John, his wife Sarah, and children Jackson [Robert], George, Mary, Clara, Harry, and Ella.¹⁴

     Mary Ann Melat was born on 24 February 1832 in Farmington Township, Venango (now Clarion) County, Pennsylvania.¹ She was the daughter of Robert Melat and Elizabeth Kifer.¹ She married John Woods Mays on 7 October 1850.² She died on 23 December 1926 in Mill Village, LeBoeuf Township, Erie County, Pennsylvania, at age 94.³ She was buried in Mill Village Cemetery, Mill Village, LeBoeuf Township, Erie County.³

     Mary Ann Melat and John Woods Mays lived in LeBoeuf Township, Erie County, Pennsylvania.

     Susanna Melat was born on 21 May 1834 in Venango County, Pennsylvania.^1,2 She was the daughter of Robert Melat and Elizabeth Kifer.¹ She married James Brandon Jr., son of James Brandon and Nancy Hill, in 1858.³ She died on 2 March 1919 in Oil City, Venango County, at age 84.⁴ She was buried in unmarked in Brandon Cemetery, Cranberry Township, Venango County.^4,5

     Susan Brandon and James lived at Brandon's Ferry, Rockland Township, Venango County, for several years after their marriage where James worked as a farmer.^6,7
     Susan Brandon and James moved to a farm at Salina, Cranberry Township, Venango County, in the mid 1870s. Susan continued to live at Salina (now known as the village of Cranberry) following her husband's death.^8,9,10,11
     Susan had six children; however only 2 survived to adulthood and only her son James was living in 1900.^9,10
     Lifelong Cranberry resident Helen Rembold remembered visiting Brandon Cemetery with Aunt Susan Brandon as a young girl. Miss Rembold showed me where Susan and her husband James were buried. Susan's mother Elizabeth is also buried in the same location. [DKM, 1982]⁵

     Sara Melat was born on 21 May 1836.¹ She was the daughter of Robert Melat and Elizabeth Kifer.¹ Sara died of scarlet fever at age three.²

     Jackson H. Melat was born on 21 March 1839 probably in Sandycreek Township, Venango County, Pennsylvania.¹ He was the son of Robert Melat and Elizabeth Kifer.¹ He died on 1 August 1862 in Kalormama General Hospital, Washington, D.C., of smallpox at age 23.²

     Jackson H. Melat served in Company L., 4th Pennsylvania Cavalry in the Union Army during the Civil War.²

     Aaron Melat was born on 31 August 1849 in Rockland Township, Venango County, Pennsylvania.^1,2 He was the son of Robert Melat and Charlotte Collingwood.¹ He married Hattie Alma Cox, daughter of Nicholas Cox and Rebecca (?), on 23 July 1887 in Morgan County, Illinois.³ He died on 31 May 1919 in Mannington, Marion County, West Virginia, at age 69.²

     Aaron Melat appears on the in 1871 and 1872 in Rockland Township tax rolls. He was listed as a laborer.⁴ According to various family traditions, Aaron "went west."⁵ He and Hattie Alma Cox lived in Mannington, Marion County, West Virginia, where Aaron worked as a driller in the oil fields and Hattie worked as an office keeper for the town.^6,7

     Charles Alford Melat was born on 26 May 1851 in Rockland Township, Venango County, Pennsylvania.¹ He was the son of Robert Melat and Charlotte Collingwood.¹ He married Martha Amelia Cary, daughter of Eri Cary and Elizabeth Jane Harlan, on 20 March 1880 in Brandon's Ferry, Rockland Township, Venango County.² He died on 22 July 1930 in Franklin, Venango County, at age 79.³ He was buried in Franklin Cemetery, Sugarcreek Borough.³

     Charles Alford Melat worked in the oil fields all of his life. He worked in the fields of northwestern Pennsylvania for most of his career except for a few years when he tried his luck in the fields of Louisiana and Texas.⁴ He and Martha moved to 218 Liberty Street, Franklin, Venango County, in 1891.⁴ Charles and Martha were members of the First Evangelical Church in Franklin.⁴

     Joseph M. Melat was born on 5 April 1855 in Rockland Township, Venango County, Pennsylvania.¹ He was the son of Robert Melat and Charlotte Collingwood.¹ He died on 22 July 1863 in Rockland Township, Venango County, Pennsylvania, at age 8.¹ He was buried in Melat Cemetery, Rockland Township, Venango County, Pennsylvania.²

     Zephaniah Morrison was born on 23 November 1814 in Conewango Township, Warren County, Pennsylvania.^1,2 He was the son of James Morrison Jr. and Abigail Meddock.² He married Amanda Northrop, daughter of Joseph Northrop and Cynthia Blakeslee.² Following Amanda's death in 1843, Zephaniah Morrison married Hannah Marie Northrop, daughter of Jesse Northrop and Amelia Russell.^3,2 He died on 27 February 1875 in Hamilton Township, McKean County, Pennsylvania, at age 60.^1,2 He was buried in Kinzua Cemetery, Kinzua, Kinzua Township, Warren County, Pennsylvania.¹

     Zephaniah Morrison and his family lived in Dunkle, Hamilton Township, McKean County, Pennsylvania.^4,5,6,7,8 He was a well known lumberman and mill operator in northwestern Pennsylvania. He converted large tracts of timber into manufactured lumber having mills on Kinzue Creek and other streams in Warren and McKean Counties.² He was a Democrat in politics.² He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.²

     Amanda Northrop was born on 11 May 1819 in Farmington Township, Warren County, Pennsylvania.^4,1 She was the daughter of Joseph Northrop and Cynthia Blakeslee.^2,3 She married Zephaniah Morrison, son of James Morrison Jr. and Abigail Meddock.¹ She died on 24 August 1843 in McKean County, Pennsylvania, at age 24.^4,1 She was buried in Kinzua Cemetery, Kinzua, Kinzua Township, Warren County.⁵

     Cynthia Elizabeth Morrison was born on 6 September 1840 in Hamilton Township, McKean County, Pennsylvania.¹ She was the daughter of Zephaniah Morrison and Amanda Northrop.¹ She married Lebbeus Marion Strong, son of Sylvester Strong and Margaret English, on 18 September 1858.² She died in 1931.³ She and Lebbeus Marion Strong were buried in Kinzua Cemetery, Kinzua, Kinzua Township, Warren County.⁴

     Cynthia Elizabeth Morrison and Lebbeus Marion Strong lived in Hamilton Township, McKean County, Pennsylvania, where Lebbeus was involved in the timber business. In 1880, his occupation was recorded as bark peeler.^5,6 She had nine children, six of whom were living in 1900.⁷ She and Lebbeus Marion Strong were living in Kinzua Township, Warren County, Pennsylvania, in 1910 with Lebbeus' brother Edward Strong.⁸ She was living in Farmington Township, Warren County, Pennsylvania, with her son Layton in 1920. Her occupation was recorded as nurse.⁹ She was living in Jamestown, Chautauqua County, New York, in 1930 with her daughter Maude Patterson.¹⁰

     Amanda Morrison was born on 28 December 1842 in Hamilton Township, McKean County, Pennsylvania.¹ She was the daughter of Zephaniah Morrison and Amanda Northrop.¹ She married (?) Williams.¹

     Hannah Marie Northrop was born on 11 November 1823.^1,2 She was the daughter of Jesse Northrop and Amelia Russell.² Following Amanda's death in 1843, Hannah Marie Northrop married Zephaniah Morrison, son of James Morrison Jr. and Abigail Meddock.^1,2 She died on 24 October 1907 in Hamilton Township, McKean County, Pennsylvania, at age 83.^1,2

     Hannah Marie Northrop was known as Maria.³ Maria continued to live in Hamilton Township, McKean County, following Zephaniah's death in 1875.⁴

     Abigail Morrison was born on 17 June 1846 in Hamilton Township, McKean County, Pennsylvania.^1,2 She was the daughter of Zephaniah Morrison and Hannah Marie Northrop.^1,2 She married Michael J. McAnallen, son of Jacob McAnallen and Catherine Hanlen, circa 1865.³ She died on 11 May 1927 in Forestville, Marion Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, at age 80.^4,2 She and Michael J. McAnallen were buried in St. Alphonsus Roman Catholic Cemetery, Forestville, Marion Township, Butler County.⁵

     Virginia Louise Morrison was born on 21 February 1850 in Hamilton Township, McKean County, Pennsylvania.^1,3 She was the daughter of Zephaniah Morrison and Hannah Marie Northrop.^1,2 She married Samuel P. Bray on 18 June 1872 in West Kane, McKean County, Pennsylvania.^4,1 She died on 26 December 1883 in McKean County, Pennsylvania, at age 33.³ She was buried in Willow Dale Cemetery, Bradford Township, McKean County, Pennsylvania.³

     Franklin P. Morrison was born on 15 November 1852 in Hamilton Township, McKean County, Pennsylvania.^3,1,2 He was the son of Zephaniah Morrison and Hannah Marie Northrop.^1,2 He married Ella Sabrina English on 1 April 1880.^4,5 He died on 25 July 1931 in Warren, Warren County, at age 78.^6,7 He and Ella Sabrina English were buried in Oakland Cemetery, Warren, Warren County.⁸

     Franklin P. Morrison was known as Frank Morrison. Frank attended the public schools and early became associated with his father in the lumber business. He operated a saw mill on Kinzua Creek, shipping his products in rafts down the Allegheny River to city markets on the Ohio River. Frank became a large operator in Warren and McKean Counties, transacting a volume of business, surprising in its size. After many years spent in lumbering, he located in Warren and in 1902 incorporated the Warren Panel and Veneer Company, one of the largest and most prosperous industries of that city. He was also involved in other interests of importance both in Warren and other localities, notably with the Superior and Mutual Oil Refineries. He was a director of the First National Bank, also of the Conewango Trust Company, both of Warren. Frank and Ella were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Frank was also a member of the Masonic order, and in politics was a Democrat. Frank served on the Warren borough council and school board.^5,9

     Florine Patsey Morrison was born on 17 March 1859 in Dunkle, Hamilton Township, McKean County, Pennsylvania.^5,2,6,3 She was the daughter of Zephaniah Morrison and Hannah Marie Northrop.^1,4,3 She married Frederick Northrop, son of Lyman Northrop and Harriet Sharp, on 17 April 1887. Florine was Frederick's second wife.⁷ She died on 4 March 1922 in Cayuga Avenue, Warren, Warren County, Pennsylvania, at age 62.⁵ She was buried in Pine Grove Cemetery, Russell, Pine Grove Townsip, Warren County.⁶

     Florine Patsey Morrison was known as Flora.⁸ She and Frederick Northrop lived in Farmington Township, Warren County, Pennsylvania, where Fred was a farmer.^8,9 She and Frederick Northrop were living in Warren, Warren County, Pennsylvania, in 1920.¹⁰