A biosketch reports [1]:
Jacob Mellinger. Among the early settlers of Lancaster county, whose descendants still hear the old name with honor, respected by their fellow-citizens, were the ancestors of the Mellinger family, who with courage and enterprise did much to develop the natural resources of this part of the great State of Pennsylvania.
To go no farther back into ancestral history than the father of Jacob Mellinger, we reach across a long space of years, as John Mellinger was born on Oct. 19, 1790, and lived until Sept. 12, 1855. His wife was born in Manor township, May 2, 1799, and died in Strasburg township, March 16, 1871. These parents reared a family of nine children: Christian, born Oct. 20, 1816, who lived in Leacock township at the time of his death; John B., born Sept. 19, 1818, in Strasburg township, who died there Nov. 19, 1845, a farmer; Benjamin, born Oct. 12, 1820, who lived on the old homestead with his brother Jacob, and died there Nov. 16, 1883; Elizabeth, born May 12, 1823, who married Abram Denlinger, of Millersville, and died at the age of seventy-five; Jacob; Abraham, 'born July 6, 1829, who died Nov. 16, 1833; Ann, born June 30, 1833, who died about 1897, the wife of John E. Hershey, of Paradise township; Mary, born June 26, 1836, married to Bishop Isaac Eby, of Kinzers, Lancaster county; and Susanna, born Feb. 5, 1839, who died unmarried.
Both John Mellinger and his wife were leading members of the Old Mennonite Church, where they were respected and beloved for their many traits of true Christian character. When John Mellinger began farming operations for himself, he located in Strasburg township, purchased a farm of 102 acres, situated some two miles north of Strasburg and there he spent his days and reared his large family in peace and comfort. A lover of law and order, he instilled such principles into his children, and through life he was one of the best of citizens, ever respecting the rights of others, and leaving behind him a large circle of warm friends.
Jacob Mellinger was born June 27, 1826, on the farm where he still lives, a son of John and Annie (Hertzler) Mellinger, and was reared on this farm and was sent to the public schools. Not until his thirtieth year did he decide to set up a domestic hearth, being united in marriage Jan. 15, 1856, to Elizabeth Hershey, a daughter of Rev. Jacob Hershey, of Paradise township, who was born March 8, 1831. Seven children have been born of this union: Margarett, born Oct. 22, 1856, the widow of Isaac Lefever, of Paradise township; John H., born Dec. 7, 1858, who married Barbara Denlinger, and has seven children, Benjamin, John, Jacob, Enos, Jesse, Annie and Martin; Ezra H., born Feb. 3, 1861, who conducts a dairy and milk depot, in connection with his father’s farm, married to Mary K. Andrew, with two children, Annie and Clarence; Anna, born July 4, 1864, married to Ezra L. Buckwalter, who is now a farmer of Marion county, Mo.; Jacob H., born Nov. 27, 1866, a farmer, residing at the old home; Mary E., who was born April 10, 1870, and died Dec. 3, of the same year; and Frances, born Sept. 25, 1871, who married Isaac H. Rohrer, a farmer of Paradise township.
Since 1889, Mr. Mellinger has lived retired from active life, leaving stronger and younger hands to carry on the duties of the farm. Having reared his family in the tenets of the Old Mennonite faith, it gives him great comfort to find them adhering to it as they reach maturity. His son Jacob is associated with the Welsh Industrial Mission as secretary and assistant superintendent, and he purposes eventually to give himself entirely to this work.
[1] John F. Meginness et al, Biographical Annals of Lancaster County Pennsylvania (Beers: 1903), 564, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks].