Melville Wolfrom's grandfather Johann Lorenz Wolfrum immigrated to the United States from Aš in 1854, and was of Sudeten German descent.
Three of his brothers acquired a patent for a horse harness snap, and as a teen, Melville helped manufacture them out of the family home.
He graduated from Ohio's Bellevue High School in 1917 as salutatorian and began working for the National Carbon Company.
[1] In 1950, Wolfrom became the first member of OSU's Department of Chemistry faculty to be elected to membership within the National Academy of Sciences.
Frederick died in infancy, and was followed by Eva Magdalena, twins Anne Marie and Betty Jane, and Carl Thompson.