Matthew Maler Mealer

The son of William Maler Mealer (or Mealor) and Sarah Welch, Matthew Maler Mealer was born during 1829 in Banks County, Georgia.

On Oct. 28, 1854, Matthew Maler Mealer married Arletta “Letty” Smith (age 25) in Franklin County, Georgia.1)

They had the following children:

  1. Rebecca J. Mealor (About 1856 - 1881)
  2. James W. Mealor
  3. Sarah Martha Mealor (November 18, 1863 - Dec. 23, 1930)
  4. Freeman Mealor (About 1866 - )
  5. Jackson Mealor
  6. Robert Mealor
  7. Elisabeth Mealor (1871 - )
  8. William C. “Bill” Mealor (November 1, 1868 - September 24, 1928). He married Artimisia “Artimissy” Corinthian Poe in 1897.

At the time of the 1860 U.S., Census, Matthew Maler Mealer was living next door to his mother and younger siblings (his father had died by this time).

[1860 U.S. Census. Mathew Mealer's family begins on line 32. His mother and siblings begin on line 37.]

1860 United States Federal Census


State: Georgia
County: Banks
Free Inhabitants in: Militia District 9
Post Office: Nails Creek
Date: Sept. 7, 1860

Name Age Gender Occupation Birthplace
Mathew Mealor 30 M Farmer Georgia
Letty Mealor 22 F Housekeeper Georgia
Rebecca J. Mealor 4 F Georgia
James W. Mealor 2 M Georgia
Sarah M. Mealor 7 mo. F Georgia
Sarah Mealor 60 F Housekeeper North Carolina
Thomas Mealor 28 M Farmer Georgia
Nansy Mealor 22 F Seamstrep Georgia
Benton B. Mealor 20 M Farmer Hand Georgia

Note 1: Matthew Maler Mealer's mother and younger siblings continue after his family (living next door). Note 2: A “Seamstrep” is the same as a “Seamstress”.

Source: U.S. Census. Year: 1860; Census Place: Militia District 9, Banks, Georgia; Roll: M653_111; Page: 323; Image: 323; Family History Library Film: 803111

[Georgia, Returns of Qualified Voters and Reconstruction Oath Books, 1867-1869. Signed by Mathew Mealer on Aug. 13, 1867 in Habersham County, Georgia.]

[1870 U.S. Census. Mathew Mealer's family begins on line 22.]

1870 United States Federal Census


State: Georgia
County: Banks
Inhabitants in: Columbia District No. 371
Post Office: Nails Creek
Date: June 13, 1870

Name Age Gender Occupation Birthplace
Mathew Mealer 30 M Farm Laborer Tennessee
Letty Mealer 40 F House keeper Georgia
Rebecca Mealer 15 F Georgia
Sarah Mealer 11 F Georgia
Freeman Mealer 8 M Georgia
Jackson Mealer 6 M Georgia
Robert Mealer 4 M Georgia
Nancy Mealer 10 F Georgia
Alsy Mealer 1/12 F Georgia

Note 1: There is an obvious 12 year discrepancy in the age for Letty Mealer in the 1860 vs. 1870 U.S. Census. Note 2: If Sarah Mealor's age was accurately reported in the 1860 U.S. Census, she should have been 10 years old in 1870 (not 11 years old). Note 3: In the 1860 & 1880 U.S. Census, Matthew Mealor reported his birthplace as Georgia. Reporting “Tennessee” appears to be an error.

Source: U.S. Census. Year: 1870; Census Place: Columbia, Banks, Georgia; Roll: M593_134; Page: 318B; Image: 645; Family History Library Film: 545633

[Mathew Mealer's family begins on line 44.]

1880 United States Federal Census

State: Georgia
County: Habersham
Inhabitants in: Currahee (402) District
Date: June 17, 1880

Name Relation Gender Age Occupation Birthplace Birthplace of Father Birthplace of Mother
Matthew Mealor Head M 63 Farming Georgia Georgia Georgia
Lettie Mealor Wife F 50 Keeping House Georgia Georgia Georgia
Sarah Mealor Daughter F 16 At Home Georgia Georgia Georgia
Freeman Mealor Son M 14 Farm Laborer Georgia Georgia Georgia
Jackson Mealor Son M 12 Farm Laborer Georgia Georgia Georgia
Robert Mealor Son M 11 Farm Laborer Georgia Georgia Georgia
Elisabeth Mealor Daughter F 9 Georgia Georgia Georgia
William C. Mealor Son M 5 Georgia Georgia Georgia

Note 1: The age for Letty Mealer in the 1860 & 1870 U.S. Census continues in the 1880 U.S. Census, but is much closer to the age reported in 1860. Note 2: If Sarah Mealor's age was accurately reported in the 1860 U.S. Census, she should have been 20 years old in 1880 (not 16 years old).

Source: “United States Census” Year: 1880; Census Place: Currahee, Habersham, Georgia; Roll: 150; Family History Film: 1254150; Page: 690B; Enumeration District: 131; Image: 0325

Most of the original 1890 U.S. Federal Census records were destroyed or badly damaged by a fire in the Commerce Department in 1921. Records enumerating only 6,160 individuals—less than one percent of the schedules—survived. Those for the Mealor family were destroyed.

Matthew Maler Mealer had died during 1898. By June, 1900, Lettie Mealor was living with her son, William Mealler, and his family.

[1900 U.S. Census. William Mealler's family is the last listing, beginning on line 47.]

1900 United States Federal Census

State: Georgia
County: Banks
Township or Other Division of County: No. 284 Washington District
Date: June 13, 1900

Name Relation Gender Date of Birth Age Birthplace Birthplace of Father Birthplace of Mother Occupation
William Mealler Head M 1874 25 Georgia Georgia Georgia Farmer
Artimissa Mealler Wife F 1874 19 Georgia Georgia Georgia
Nettie Mealler Daughter F Aug. 1899 9/12 Georgia Georgia Georgia
Lettie Mealler Mother F 1815 84 Georgia Georgia Georgia

Source: “United States Census” Year: 1900; Census Place: Washington, Banks, Georgia; Roll: 179; Page: 9A; Enumeration District: 0005; FHL microfilm: 1240179

1)
http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&db=GAmarriages_ga&h=131468&tid=&pid=&usePUB=true&rhSource=8054