Merrill, Henry bio

Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County, Illinois: containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county: together with portraits and biographies of all the presidents of the United States, and governors of the state; Biographical Pub. Co., Chicago, IL; 1890; page 755-756; Transcribed by Margaret Rose Whitehurst
Henry Merrill. Prominent among the pioneer citizens of Fulton County is this gentleman, who, although now past fourscore years of age, is remarkably well preserved and active. He has been inseparably associated with the business and political history of Farmington Township, and now in the evening of his life, rests from his more arduous duties, with the consciousness of a life well spent. His frontier existence was cheered by the presence and aid of his wife a most estimable lady, and one whose worth is appreciated throughout the community. Mr. Merrill is a native of Oneida County, N. Y., and was born February 10, 1810.
The parents of our subject, Asa and Penelope (Dalaby) Merrill, were natives of Simsbury, Conn., and were married in 1805. Of their union were born seven children, whose record is as follows: James D. practiced law sixty-three years, and died in East Troy, Wis. He was at one time Postmaster of Milwaukee. Alonzo was a farmer and merchant, and died when sixty years old. Henry, our subject, is next in order of birth. Sarah M., the widow of Amos Hewitt, who was a resident of Marshall, Mich., is now seventy-eight years old. Hamilton Wilcox graduated from Wet Point, and served in the Florida Ware and in the Mexican War under Gen. Scott. He is usually known as Maj. Merrill and resides in New York City. Nelson is a famous attorney-at-law in New York City, and his reputation has extended far beyond the limits of the city. Alzina married Henry Hewitt, a lawyer, and died when twenty-six years old.
After the death of his first wife the father was married a second time to Celina Prindle, who bore him five children, and for his third wife he was joined in marriage with Charlotte Wiggins. The mother of our subject was an own sister of Maj. Dalaby, who had charge of the arsenal in Detroit, holding his position under Gen. Hull. It will thus be seen that he is descended from worthy and patriotic ancestry, while the high reputation gained by his forefathers is well sustained by our subject and his relatives. Our subject was brought to Genesee County, N. Y., in childhood, and grew to man’s estate upon a farm. He was rocked in a hollow basswood log cradle, and in his father’s house there was not a solitary nail, it being covered with elm bark. The schools were very common and educational advantages poor indeed, but our subject attended school in the first schoolhouse built in Byron Township, where in company with the other boys he received only a limited education.
Mr. Merrill married Miss Almyra Jenison in 1831; but she died on year after marriage, leaving one child, Almyra, who now resides in Eagle, Mich. He was married the second time November 29, 1832, to Miss Delilah Rose, daughter of Ephraim and Rachel Rose. Her parents were natives of Saratoga and Westchester Counties, N. Y. and came west in 1835, settling in Farmington Township. They had eleven children: viz., Alphena R., Martin, Luther, Hiram, Solomon, Minerva, Hannah, Lucinda, who died when one and one-half years old; Delilah, Pruella, and Eunice. Mrs. Merrill was born in Amsterdam, Montgomery County, N. Y., June 4, 1810.
Our subject and his wife were the parents of six children, viz: Clara M., Euphemia R., Sarah Alzina, James, Asa H., and Nelson D. Clara M. married Riley Harwood, became the mother of vive children and after his death married Emery Edwards, a resident of Wyoming, Ill. Euphemia lives in Middle Grove, and is the widow of George H. Wright; they had three children. Sarah A. married H. H. Leonard and they live in Rantoul, Ill., and have five children. James died in infancy, Asa H., who lives in Omaha, Neb., is connected with the Union Stockyards and married Almyra Jones; they have six children. Nelson D. married Anna Leaverton and they have two children. Their home is in Creston, Iowa.
Besides their own children Mr. and Mrs. Merrill took into their home and gave loving care to a little girl named Nettie Simms, who married Frank Parish and after his death was united in the holy bonds of wedlock with James Broherd. Our subject and his wife had two children, when they left New York September 15, 1838. They took with them a team of horses and wagon, which they put on board a steamer. When they came to Toledo they saw the first train of cars they had ever beheld. Thence they drove on the Chicago turnpike to Chicago and from there to Fulton County. Here he bought one hundred and eighty acres of land in Fairview Township, cultivating and embellishing it with substantial buildings. On this pleasant homestead he lived forty-four years, until he retired from active life and removed to Farmington in 1882.
Mr. Merrill commenced life under great disadvantages, but by means of undaunted energy and great courage has reached a high position both in social and mercantile circles. Though eight years of age he is still active and healthy, indeed a most remarkably strong man, both physically and mentally. This fact may in a great measure be attributed to his strict morality, since at no time in his life has he indulged I n either intoxicating drinks or the use of tobacco. His children and grand-children are very handsome and the entire family is now in exceedingly prosperous circumstances. Mrs. Merrill is entitled to a vast amount of praise, not only for her charming manners and excellent judgment, but also for her good management of home and children. It would be a difficult matter to find a happier or more highly esteemed couple than Mr. and Mrs. Merrill. They are both members of the Baptist Church and take great interest in religious matters. He has served as School Director for several years, and was Postmaster of Middle Grove for thirteen years, and is an active member of the Republican party.