Thomas Mellon (1813-1908), son of Andrew and Rebecca Mellon, emigrated from Northern Ireland, with his parents in 1818, and settled in western Pennsylvania. He attended Western University at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and made his home there. He married Sarah Jane Negley (1817-1909) in 1843. They had eight children, 1844-1860. Descendants listed lived in Pennsylvania and elsewhere. The book recounts the story of the enormous Mellon properties--the Mellon Bank, Koppers, Alcoa, the Gulf Company.