[or-roots] MM Melvin and the O & C RR

[Leslie Chapman]

Glenn;

Sorry to hear the society funding difficulty. Maybe some of the technology companies in the area could cough up some money to preserve history before they completley erase it?

My MM Melvin problem however doesn't involve actual RR personel; he was involved in some fashion in the founding of the O & C of land fraud fame. Family legend has it his move to Washington was at least in part to evade prosecution. Of course you know how much luck I've had with "family legeneds" which is probably one of the reasons I have given this issue any consideration at all. It was ironic though when my professional society PLSO made available a pdf of that book and in browsing it I noticed M. M. Melvin listed as one of the "persons of interest" in the scheme. There were no details on him however.

The nearest relative I know of in my family that was a railroader is on my dad's side, I can't find it now but I know either my ggrand's cousin or the cousin's son was a railroad man which made them a pain to find in the Census since they were in a different place every time.

Les

-----Original Message-----
From: glenkc7mbm at comcast.net
Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2009 7:19 AM

The Spokane, Portland, And Seattle Railroad Historical Society I belive had some information on the O & C, regretably there part of the Clark County Historical Society museum was closed, because of remodeling and does not have the funds to reopen, and all their records Etc. are in storage.
The SP&S Historical Society does have a couple of books out, do not rememeber off hand if there was anything in them for the O&C.
The Oregon Historical Society I know has some things on the O&C, you may also be able to get information on a particular individual that worked on the railroad from the Railroad Retirement Board which is located in Chicago.
Glen Jones, Portland 38year, veteran of the BNSF RR and its forerunners.