Charles Melin, one of the well-known and successful residents of Ida township, Douglas County, was born in Michigan, the son of Andrew and Albertina (Engstrom) Melin, who were born in Sweden and there received their education in the common public schools, grew to manhood and womanhood and were married. They later came to the United States and after their arival [sp] in this country located in Michigan, where Andrew Melin was engaged in the copper mines for some years. He then came to Minnesota and homesteaded eighty acres of land in Carlos township, which he sold some years later and then moved to Leaf Valley township, where he purchaser [sp] one hundred and sixty acres of land in section 35, which he developed and improved and there he made his home until his death in 1908, at the age of seventy-four years. His widow died in 1910, at the age of sixty-six years. They were the parents of six children, Charles, Albert, Victor, Hannah, Axel and Sophia. Mr. and Mrs. Melin were active members of the Swedish Lutheran church, took much interest in church work and were prominent in the social life of the community.

Charles Melin received his education in the public schools of Douglas county and grew to manhood on the home farm. As a lad and young man he assisted his father with the development and improvement of the old homestead. He was united in marriage to Hilma Noren, daughter of Eric and Sarah Noren, of Douglas county, natives of Sweden, and to this union the following children have been born: Arthur, Walter, Axel, Oscar, Reuben, Arvid, Inez, Herbert, and Kermit.

Charles Melin is today the owner of eighty acres of excellent land in section 5 of Ida township, which he has developed and improved until he has one of the best farms in the township. In addition to his farm work, Mr. Melin is the carrier on a rural route out of Garfield and has held the position for a number of years, having given splendid service, satisfactory both to the government and to the patrons of the route.