Melville O'Neal (abt. 1863 - 1936)

Born about 1863 in Louisiana, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Martha (Belvin) O'Neal — married 28 Sep 1887 in Alexandria, Rapides, Louisiana, United States

Died 6 Jan 1936 at about age 73 in Jackson, East Feliciana, Louisiana, United States

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Biography

Native of Louisiana

Melville was born about 1863. He was the son of William O'Neal and Marguerite Elizabeth Iler. Melville appears in the 1870 census in St. Landry Parish with his mother and a younger brother, Ira. ^[1]

Melvin O'Neal and Martha Belvin were married 28 September 1887 in Alexandria, Rapides Parish, Louisiana. ^[2]

In 1900 Melvin and Martha were living in Spring Hill, Rapides Parish, Louisiana. It appears that Martha's family is living in the previous two residences. Three pages farther are some of Melvins half siblings. Melvin and Martha have three sons John 10, Henry 6, and Benjamin 2 who was born August 1897. All the other birth information for the family is marked unk. Martha says she has had four children and three are living. ^[3]

On the 27 May 1901 Melvin received land in Rapides Parish, Louisiana from the Federal Government. It was a cash payment by Melvin. He received 82 and 36 hundredths acres. William McKinley was the President whose signature was on the Land Patent. This piece of property was next to Warren C. Belvin, relative of Melvin's wife Martha. It was not too far away from the Elliotts, Phillips and Eldreds who were half siblings of Melvin. The land record is shown in the images on the right of this profile.

The 1920 and the 1930 censuses show Melvin living in Jackson, East Feliciana Parish at the Psychiatric hospital. In 1920 he is listed as 58 years old. ^{[4] [5]}

He passed away 6 January 1936 in Jackson, East Feliciana Parish, Louisiana. He was a long time patient (called Inmate in those days) of the Louisiana State Mental Hospital. ^[6]

Sources

1. ↑ "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M87V-52B : 12 June 2019), Melville Oniel in entry for Margaret Oniel, 1870.
2. ↑ "Louisiana Marriages, 1816-1906", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F4CB-L4D : 14 January 2020), Melvin O Neal, 1887.
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MSRM-M5K : accessed 11 October 2020), Melvin Oniel, Ward 4 Spring Hill, Rapides, Louisiana, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 129, sheet 18B, family 329, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,240,578.
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MVQL-76X : accessed 11 October 2020), M O'Neal, Jackson, East Feliciana, Louisiana, United States; citing ED 46, sheet 15A, line 31, family 1302, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 611; FHL microfilm 1,820,611.
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XMYQ-CD6 : accessed 11 October 2020), Melvin O'Neal, Police Jury Ward 3, East Feliciana, Louisiana, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 6, sheet 23B, line 62, family , NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 790; FHL microfilm 2,340,525.
6. ↑ "Louisiana Deaths, 1850-1875, 1894-1960," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FS1D-G9M : 2 April 2020), Melvin Oneal, 06 Jan 1936; citing Jackson, East Feliciana, Louisiana, certificate number 578, State Archives, Baton Rouge; FHL microfilm 2,203,527.