Melancthon W. Janes attended common schools until fourteen years of age, when he entered Allegheny College at Meadville, PA, where he remained two years, completing the course in mathematics. Mr. Barker was president of the faculty. Mr. Spencer, father of the Spencierian System of Penmanship was one of the instructors at this college and a great many times sat by Mr. Janes’ desk giving instructions in penmanship. Mr. Jane’s penmanship he was asked to copy important documents throughout his life.

Mr. Janes remembered that board was two dollars a week and there were few “extras” on the bill of fare at the school, but plenty of “substantials!” After a term at Bryant & Stratton’s Merchantile College at Buffalo, NY, Mr. Janes accepted a position as bookkeeper for S. N. Scatcherd, an extensive lumber dealer in Buffalo. After one year with this firm, he returned to Erie, where he kept books for his father who was extensively engaged in the lumber and oil business.

Mr. Janes enlisted in the first regiment raised at Erie, during the Civil War under the three months call in 1861. He was appointed assistant Commissary for the camp, under Major Derickson of Meadville, PA. Before the ABattle of ZBull’s Run, the regiment was mustered out.

Mr. Janes then accompanied his father to his father’s oil interests at Tar City, Pennsylvania where he spent several years. He remained in his father’s employee for seven years and then decided to make his fortune in the West.

After looking through several states, he settled on farm and ranch land in eastern Wabaunsee County, where his parcels were situated both in the river bottom for grain production and in the uplands for good hay production and grazing. His farm of 1,400 acres includes two miles of Kansas River frontage. It is 15 miles west of Topeka on the Rock Island Railroad line. Mr. Janes is an extensive raiser of Hereford cattle and trotting horses, many of which have made more than creditable records on the race courses in different parts of the county.

While not a politician, Mr. James took a keen interest in matters affecting the interests of the people, especially at such times as the conditions were out of joint. He has always been regarded as one of Wabaunsee County’s leading citizens and is ever at the front of forwarding public enterprises.” From Matt Thomson’s “Wabaunsee County History,” published in 1902.

All of the photos were first published in Matt Thomson’s “Wabaunsee County History,” published in 1902

Photo 1 – Mr. Melancthon W. Janes about 1900
Photo 2 – The mansion house of Mr. M. W. Janes located 3.5 miles
east of Maple Hill on the Willard/Maple Hill Road. The
no longer stands.
Photo 3 – The barn on the farm of M. W. Janes. This barn still
stands and is used on the Miller Farm, 3.5 miles east
of Maple Hill on the Willard/Maple Hill Road.