melinl
Transcribed from "An Illustrated History of The
Big Bend Country, embracing Lincoln, Douglas, Adams and Franklin counties,
State of Washington", published by Western Historical Publishing
Co., 1904.
LUKE MELIN is one of the best
known stockmen in Douglas county. He resides about nine miles north
of Coulee City, where he has about four hundred and eighty acres of good
farm land and two hundred head of fine graded cattle. Mr. Melin has
been very active in producing better grades of stock as Hereford and Durham
and has done much for the stock industry of Douglas county.
Luke Melin was born in the county of Roscommon,
Ireland, on March 8, 1840, being the son of Patrick and Bridget (Corrigan)
Melin, also natives of Roscommon County. The schools of his home place
afforded the training for young Melin and he remained there until 1862
in which year he sailed from Cork to Melbourne, Australia.
The vigor of his young manhood was well directed by abundant wisdom and
he soon gained a large holding in property but on account of ill health
was compelled to leave Australia. He arrived in San Francisco, in
July, 1868, and soon settled in Placer county, where he wrought in the
mines for two years. Next we find him in Virginia City, Nevada, following
mining in the Yellow Jacket properties. Seven years were consumed
there and his next venture was at Tombstone, Arizona, where he mined for
three years. After this, he went to Mexico and was engaged in the
Maria silver mines as foreman. For five years, he held that position
then returned to Virginia City and one year later made his way to the Grand
Coulee in the Big Bend country. He soon selected a portion of his
present estate as a pre-emption and began the stock business. He
bought his first cattle from Philip McEntee and has steadily followed this
industry with magnificent success since. The broad acres of his estate
are utilized for hay to feed his stock during the winter and Mr. Melin
is certainly one of the most prosperous men in Douglas county. He
has with him at the present time, a nephew, John M., who assists him in
the care of his large properties. This young man is a son of Mr.
Melin's oldest brother and is a native of Ireland. Mr. Melin was
raised in the doctrines of the Catholic church and is an adherent of the
same institution at the present time. He has hosts of friends throughout
the county and is considered one of its good citizens.
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