Charles Chauncey Mellor. 



499 



in all his leisure moments to botanical pursuits. These were for 

 him among the happiest days of his life. His business had pros- 

 pered ; he was able to pursue congenial studies with freedom, his 

 associates being able to carry on affairs in such a way as not to 

 compel him to give unremitting attention to details. Under his 

 guiding hand his place became a garden of beauty. Being a man 

 of public spirit, he entered heartily into the plans of his neigh- 

 bors, and when the little suburban settlement became a borough he 

 took an active part in affairs, being elected a member of the first 

 borough council, remaining continuously in service from 1890 

 until 1906, when he resigned. He discharged the duties of the 

 position with unusual fidelity and patience, winning the respect 

 and esteem of his townsmen, among whom he was recognized as a 

 leader in all those things which tend to the advancement of the 

 community. He gave especial attention to the work of laying out, 

 paving, and sewering the streets, securing a municipal supply of 

 light and gas, and more particularly in building up the school-sys- 

 tem of the borough. A church having been organized, he and his 

 estimable wife as a labor of love took charge of the musical ser- 

 vices, he presiding with his well known skill at the organ, and his 

 wife taking charge of, and singing in the choir. Later he built for 

 himself in an umbrageous spot on Maple Avenue a beautiful home, 

 where he continued to reside until his death. 



For some years there had been earnest discussion of the plan for 

 erecting a great library in the city of Pittsburgh to supply the neces- 

 sary funds for which Mr. Andrew Carnegie had pledged himself. 

 Among other things proposed by Mr. Carnegie was to make pro- 

 vision for the accommodation in the new building of the various 

 scattered scientific societies which had sprung up, among them the 

 Botanical Society and the Microscopical Society. Mr. Carnegie 

 had intimated to the writer of this sketch that it would be practi- 

 cally impossible to treat with a number of societies, and had sug- 

 gested the organization of a society which should include these 

 various organizations. Representatives of the various societies 

 were accordingly called together for conference and it was resolved 

 to combine them and organize the " Academy of Science and Art 

 of Pittsburgh," of which the various existing organizations should 

 be sections. The plan met with approval. The various societies 



