Obit: Darling, Melvin Solon (1866 - 1937)

Contact: Crystal Wendt

Surnames: Darling, Beaulieu, Dreese, Bahr, Neumann, Stever, Ure, Sherman, Gaarden

----Sources: Neillsville Press (Neillsville, Clark County, Wis.) 23 Sept. 1937

Darling, Melvin Solon (24 Sept. 1866 - 9 Sept. 1937)

Melvin Solon Darling, son of Mr. and Mrs. Solon Darling, was born Sept. 24, 1866, at West Bend, Wis., and died Sept. 9, 1937, at his home in St. Paul, Minn.

In early life Mr. Darling lived in Neillsville, Wis. At the age of 15 he began working at Gallagher’s mill in this city where he was employed for several years, later obtaining employment with the Neillsville Electric Co. and with Chicago, St. Paul, Minneaplis & Omaha R. R. Co.

In 1890 he was married to Miss Ida Beaulieu. Two children were born to this union, John B., who teaches in the state of Idaho, and Mrs. Vera Dreese. Mr. and Mrs. Darling were later divorced.

He came to Spring Valley in 1892 where his father, with the late Ferd Bahr and others, was operating a large wood-working mill and factory- the Spoke, Stave and Heading factory.

He married Miss Annie Gaarden of Spring Valley, Oct. 24, 1900. To them were born two children, Lydia (Mrs. Alfred Neumann of Faribault, Minn.) and Henry, who is connected with the Gulf Coast Agricultural Experiment Station at Fairhope, Alabama.

In 1926 the family left Spring Valley, moving to St. Paul, which has since been their home. He has not been well for years and about seven years ago was stricken with paralysis. His death was not unexpected, although for a short time previous he had seemed better.

Funeral was held Saturday from the Congregational Church in Spring Valley, the Rev. Fred Stever, of St. Paul, officiating. Burial was made in the Spring Lake Cemetery.

Besides his wife and children, Mr. Darling leaves one grandchild, one sister (Mrs. George Ure of Neillsville) and one aunt, Mrs. Wm. Sherman of Hudson.

Mr. Darling was very well liked by all who knew him as an upright man of high ideals, an active worker for his community and a good friends and neighbor. After being connected with the mill business here he built and operated a feed-grinding and wood-working mill, then sold that and put in the first welding shop in this section, finally going to the city to establish a wider market for his skill.