The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-11-26
FAMOUS DRUMMER DIES IN BIRMINGHAM Col. J.C. Melee Passes Away
 at the Age of 68 kNOWNALL OVER THE SOUTH Was Feet Inches Tall and Weighed Over 200 Pounds--A Familiar Fig
 ure Around the Florence
 Hotel, Where He Stopped.
KNOWN ALL OVER THE SOUTH

Col. J. c. Melee died at the Hilman hospital yesterday morning at 2:SO o'clock after an illness of nearly a week with la grippe complicated with rheumatism.
 The remains will be shipped to Phila- delphia today to his sister who Is the only living relative the colonel had, and the interment will take place in that city.
 With the death of Colonel Melee passes one of the most interesting and best known characters in Alabama and in the whole south He had the reputation of being the oldest travelling man on the road and of knowing more merchants per- sonally than any other commercial trav- eler in the country.
 He sold thread for many years in all parts of the country and was always well come at every store he visited. He was a man of decided opinions which was one of his most admired traits, and while many disagreed with the colonel on va rious subjects every one admired him for the firmness with which he exercised his sentiments
 Rode in Stage Coaches. | For many years Colonel Melee travelled in the west before the country was well
 
 miles in the old stage coaches which were the only means of travel during his early career as commercial traveller. He was a man of fine physique, being 1 six fet two inches tall and weighing more than 200 pounds. He came to Birm- | ingham in December, 1SS7 and since that time has made this his permanent home For several months he has not travelled much on account of his rheumatism and he has always been a familiar figure about the Florence hotel, which was always his headquarters while in the city. Although not actively at work for his house for some time, his salary has gone on just the same as a recognition of his | valuable services in the past Col. Melee had accumulated consider able property which 1t is understood has all been willed to his sister. He is said l to have lost nearly St5000 by the failure of bank in Montgomery several years l ago, but he has considerable real estate in Birmingham and two or three other cities in Alabama an,. was the holder of a number of valuable first mortgages.
 Born In Philadelphia.
 Col Melee was born in Pennsylvania in 1885, and grew up in Philadelphia and New York. His father was a shifty. en- terprising Scotchman and a manufacturer in New York He made the first carpet | ever made In the United States, which was exhibited at the Franklin institute Philadelphia. He was also a strict Pres l byterian.
 At the beginning of the war Colonel Melee drilled the state troops of Mis- slouri at St. Louis under General Wal lack Also drilled troops at New Orleans and was offered eolonelcy in both union and confederate armies, which he de- clired His first visit to the south was in September 1853 at New Orleans, while he handled his fathers goods.
 It Is said that when he once got hold of territory no one had the courage to invade it, seeing failure ahead. He was finely educated and well read on the cur rent events of the day. He was edu- oated InGer old Dr. Crawford of Phila- delphia.
 He was Knight of Pythias and on the hotel committee and the railroad commit tee of the Travellers Protective associa- | tion