The student role for the Okemos Union School in 1888 listed Clyde B. Melcher. Clyde was the son of John W. (1839-1902) and Sylvia L. (Barnes) (1842-1890) Melcher. He was born 27 June 1876, Meridian, Michigan, and was the 2^nd child and only son of John and Sylvia. A sister Effie was 10 years older.

On 13 April 1890 lightening struck the Okemos home of John Melcher and the structure completely “burned to the ground.” Only a month later Clyde's mother Sylvia succumbed suddenly to heart disease at age 49. Clyde was only 11 years old.

Melcher, John, father of Clyde, house fire, Lansing State Journal, 14 April 1890

Melcher, Sylvia (Barnes), obit, mother of Clyde, Lansing State Journal 22 May 1890

Little is known about Clyde's education but his father was a member of the Okemos school board in the 1880's. Clyde did, somewhere in the later 1890's, become a Ingham County deputy sheriff. Several news articles of that period record his name as either an investigator on a case or a responder to a call for assistance.

Melcher, John, father of Clyde, elected to Okemos School board, The Lansing Weekly Republican, 22 July 1885

Melcher, Clyde, Ingham Co. deputy sheriff, Lansing State Journal. 11 Feb 1899

Melcher, Clyde, deputy sheriff, Lansing State Journal, 13 Feb 1900

The year 1901 was a tragic year for the entire Melcher family. John W. had an extended illness. His daughter Effie, a wife and mother young children, was his care-giver. At the same time Clyde was having health issues. Sister Effie was seemingly helping with Clyde also. On 10 August of 1901 John W. Melcher passed away. On 24 October, about 9 pm, Clyde, age 25 years, 3 months and 27 days, succumbed to tuberculosis at his home in Meridian Township. Effie, a month later, succumbed to exhaustion and typhoid fever, 25 November 1901. Clyde had never married but Effie left behind a husband and 3 small children. Clyde was interred beside his father and mother in Riverside Cemetery, Okemos. Effie, and eventually her husband, was interred in Glendale Cemetery, Okemos.

Melcher, John W. (father of Clyde B. Melcher) obit, part 1, The State Republican, Saturday, August 17, 1901

Melcher, John W. (father of Clyde B. Melcher) obit, part 2, The State Republican, Saturday, August 17, 1901

Melcher, Clyde B. (never married) obit, The Lansing Journal, Friday, October 25, 1901

Melcher, Clyde B. (never married) Michigan Certificate of Death 1901

Melcher, John, obit The Lansing Journal, 29 Nov 1901

Mullet, Effie Michigan Certificate of Death 1901