Ansel C. Melvin was often referred to in documents as Ancil C. Melvin. He was born on 27 June 1784, the son of Jonathan Melvin (1752-1841) and Beulah Leland (1762-1828). He was one of 13 children:

Mercy Melvin (1780-1782)
Caleb Melvin (1782-1838)
Polly Melvin (1786-1815)
John Melvin (1788-1790)
Elizabeth Melvin (1791-1817)
Sylvia Melvin (1792 - )
John Melvin (1795-1863)
Marcy Melvin (1798-1815)
Alanson Melvin (1802-1832)
Joel H. Melvin (1802-1832)
Orva Melvin (1805-1860)
Lucy Melvin (1808-1840)

Ansel is believed to have been married for the 1st time around 1807 in Cheshire, Berkshire County, Massachusetts, to Sally Tolar Leland (1783-1881). By 1820 Ansel and Sally and six of their children were living in Galen, Seneca, New York. Their children were:

Ansel Divine Melvin (1807-1873)
Samuel Melvin (1808- )
John L. Melvin (1810- )
Moses M. Melvin (1813- )
Jonathan Melvin (1815- )
Fanny L. Melvin (1817- )
Napoleon B. Melvin (1819- )
Seth Melvin (1822- )
Joseph Ancil Melvin (1827-1891)
Marion Helen Melvin (1833-1857)

Ansel was married for the 2nd time to Sarah Bigelow-Goodrich (1787- ), a widow, on 20 June 1843 in Henry County, Illinois. There is no evidence as to what happened to his first wife as yet.

His 3rd and final marriage was to Elizabeth Gordon (1823- ) on 24 April 1854, in Mercer County, Illinois. Born to them were two children:

Lucy Melvin (Abt. 1856- )
George Melvin (1859- )

What little evidence is available points to Ansel dying in 1858 and being buried in Western Cemetery, Swedona, Mercer County, Illinois, before his last child, George, was born in 1859.

NOTE: This continues to be a work in progress, with much research yet required to determine and confirm dates of birth, death, and marriages.