Conley C. Melton, Spanish American War Veteran

Conley C. Melton was born 3 May 1871, a son of Alexander Melton and Martha Deese.

He married Rebecca E. Williams in 1890.

Shortly after their married and Armed Conflict broke out between Spain and the United States, called the “Spanish American War (April 21- August 13, 1898).

“The Spanish-America War was a short-lived conflict. Due to unrest in Cuba, President McKinney sent the U.S.S. Maine to Cuba to protect American citizens. He delayed notifying Spain and that upset the Spanish Government.
On the night of February 15, 1898 there was an explosion on-board the U.S.S. Maine and it sank in the bay killing 266 soldiers.

This explosion was the catalyst that started the Spanish American War.

James served as a Private in Company M, 2nd Regiment S.C. Volunteer Infantry, Spanish American War.

The 2nd South Carolina Volunteer Infantry served as part of the occupation forces in Cuba.

The Infantry unit was mustered into service between May 14 and June 15, 1898.

The regiment departed Columbia, South Carolina on September 15, for Jacksonville, Florida's Camp Cuba Libre. On October 21, the regiment was transferred to Savannah, Georgia and was assigned to the Seventh Army Corp, becoming part of the Second Brigade of the First Division.1

The 2nd South Carolina served in Cuba until late March 1898.

Companies I, K, L and M returned on the transport YARMOUTH, arriving at Savannah on March 28.

Private Conley C. Melton was released from service/discharged on 26 Dec 1898.

The Unit was mustered out of service at Augusta, Georgia's Camp McKenzie on April 19, 1899.

During it’s activation the Unit losses were:

Disease = 19

Court-Martial = 3

Desertion = 51

After the War, Conley tried his hand at farming, as a Cattle dealer and as a Taxi driver. He died on 26 May 1931 from a cerebral hemorrhage. His occupation at that time was listed as a taxi driver. His wife, Rebecca died 2 years later on 20 May 1933. Conley and Rebecca are both buried at Old Saint David’s Episcopal Church Cemetery.

Conley C. Melton is my 1st Cousin twice removed. 

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1. https://www.spanamwar.com/2ndsouthcarolina

2. https://loc.gov/rr/hispanic/1898/intro.html

3. Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database and digital images, (http://www.findagrave.com : accessed  3 June 2020); Memorial page for Conly C. Melton; (3 May 1871–26 May 1931); Find a Grave memorial # 70382261, Citing Old Saint David's Episcopal Church Cemetery; Cheraw, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, USA.

4. Spanish American War Volunteers Index to Compiled Military Service Records, 1898, Record Group 15: Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs, 1773 - 2007, National Archives Identifier: 76193916 (St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.A.: Department of Veterans Affairs/Ancestrry.com,, 1940), , Private Conley Melton, Company "M";  2 South Carolina Infantry.

5. 1900 U. S. Census, Marlboro County, South Carolina, population schedule, Smithville, Marlboro, South Carolina, enumeration district (ED) 0099, Page: 10/286 (stamped); Line 16, Dwelling 184, Family 184, Household of  Cornel MELTON; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com : viewed 6 June 2020); citing National Archives Microfilm  T623_1536.

7. 1910 U. S. Census, Marlboro County, South Carolina, population schedule, Smithville, Marlboro, South Carolina, enumeration district (ED) 0090, Page: 16B/86(Stamped); Line 65, Dwelling 100, Family 106, Household of C. C. MELTON; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com : viewed 6 June 2020); citing National Archives Microfilm  T624_1468.

8. 1920 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Cheraw, Chesterfield, South Carolina, enumeration district (ED) 36, Page: 25A/86 (Stamped); Line 4, Dwelling 504, Family 508, Household of Colonel MELTON; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com : viewed 6 June 2020); citing National Archives Microfilm T625_1690.

9. 1930 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Cheraw, Chesterfield, South Carolina, enumeration district (ED) 0007, Page: 2B/198 (Stamped); Line 96, Dwelling 46, Family 47, Household of Conley MELTON; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com : viewed 6 June 2020); citing National Archives Microfilm T626_Roll: 2192.

10. Conley C. Melton obituary, The State, Columbia, Richland County, South Carolina, 1 June 1931, page 5, column 8.

11. Rebecca W Melton, death certificate #6528 (Death Date: 20 May 1933), Vital Records, Department of Health and Environmental Control, Columbia, Richland County, South Carolina.

12. Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database, "Record, Rebecca Williams Melton (February 1866–20 May 1933), Memorial # 70382040.