Sylvester Melvin

Supercentenarian data for the USA

• Full name: Sylvester Melvin
• Lifespan: (29.11.1851 – 12.03.1962)
• Age: 110 years, 103 days
• Birthplace: Rubicon Township, Greene County, Illinois, USA
• Last residence: Greenfield, Greene County, Illinois, USA
• Application date: 15.03.2012
• Validation date: 04.09.2014
• Validation source: Gabriel Ainsworth/Robert Young

Biography

Sylvester Melvin was born in a farm in Rubicon Township, Greene County, Illinois, USA on 29 November 1851 to parents Thomas and Elizabeth Melvin. He graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University. In 1880, he married Addie Strickland. The couple had four children in total. One of them, Leon, died in 1920. In 1900, he started working as a secretary of the Greene County Mutual Fire Insurance Company. At the age of 107, he was still working for the same company. He also had a cattle firm called ”Sylvester Melvin and Sons”.

As a centenarian, he was capable of raking leaves in his garden. He could remember the American Civil War that began in 1861. His wife Addie died on 13 August 1954 at the age of 96. On his 109th birthday in 1960, the mayor declared it the ”Sylvester Melvin Day”. Businesses were closed for half an hour to his honour. He lived with one of his daughers. His secret to longevity was ”just keep from dying”.

On 9 October 1960, following the death of 111-year-old Robert Early, he became the oldest living man in the United States.

On 9 December 1960, following the death of 109-year-old Willem Kostering of the Netherlands, he became the oldest living man in the world.

On the occasion of his 110th birthday in 1961, he was hospitalized for a minor intestinal disorder.

Sylvester Melvin died in Greenfield, Greene County, Illinois, USA on 12 March 1962 at the age of 110 years, 103 days. Following his death, then 110-year-old Joseph Saint-Amour of Canada, became the world’s oldest living man.

Sylvester Melvin (aged 106) on 11 July 1958.

Longevity recognition

• WORLD’S OLDEST LIVING MAN (09.12.1960 – 12.03.1962)
• Oldest living man in the United States (09.10.1960 – 12.03.1962)

Validation

His age was meticulously examined and verified by Gabriel Ainsworth and Robert Young, and validated by the validated by the Gerontology Research Group (GRG) on 4 September 2014.