Wilson, Douglas L., ed; Davis, Rodney O., ed. 'Register of Informants' in 'Herndon's Informants: Letters, Interviews, and Statements About Abraham Lincoln' . Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1998. [format: book], [genre: history]. Permission: University of Illinois Press
Persistent link to this document: http://lincoln.lib.niu.edu/file.php?file=herndon737.html

At various times a druggist, banker, and railroad promoter in Springfield, Melvin also seems to have been involved in the 1873 controversy between WHH and Reverend James Reed over AL's religion. (United States Biographical Dictionary [Illinois]; Illinois State Journal. ISJ, February 12, 1898)