My Genealogy Hound

Joseph Mellert, hotel proprietor and farmer of Knobel, Clay County, Ark., was born in Germany, in 1836, and is the fifth (with a twin brother) in a family of twelve, born to F. and Mary Mellert. Joseph was reared on a farm and attended school until fourteen years of age, when he began learning the cigar-maker’s trade, and in 1859 came to the United States and settled in St. Louis, where he worked at his trade for about ten years, six years of that time being engaged in business on his own account. In 1870 he moved to Illinois, remaining there for six years; then moved to Randolph County, of the same State, where he remained six years more. He then located in Cape Girardeau, Mo., and after working at his trade there for three years, went to Pilot Knob for about one year, and in 1881 came to Knobel, Ark., and opened his present hotel. He farms about twenty-five acres of land and keeps quite a number of cattle and hogs. In 1861 he married Miss Wilhelmina Branica, a native of St. Louis, and by her has two children: August and Louisa. Mr. Mellert is not very active in politics, but usually votes with the Democratic party. Although he has only resided in the county a short time, he has seen many improvements made, and has aided materially in advancing all enterprises for the good of his section.