History of Fulton County, Illinois; together with
Sketches of its Cities, Villages and Townships, Educational, Religious,
Civil, Military, and Political History; Portraits of Prominent Persons
and Biographies of Representative Citizens. Chas. C. Chapman & Co.,
Peoria, Illinois, 1879, page 452, Astoria Township
Stephen Merrill, farmer and stock-raiser, sec. 19; P. O.,
Astoria. Time has wrought many wonderful changes in the great West, and
among those who have been instrumental in its development and prospered
with its growth is Mr. Merrill. He was born in York Co., Me., in 1798.
Attaining the age of 18 he stepped before the mast and spent many years
on the stormy waters of the Atlantic and won distinction in his
nautical profession. He rose from one position to another until he was
first mate. In 1831 he was married to Hannah F. Burnham, who died in
1832. The following year he determined to cast anchor in the then far
West and accordingly came to what is now Woodland tp. For many years he
worked hard at his new vocation to get a start in life. Lewistown,
Macomb and Rushville were the principal trading points. In 1835 he
married Miss Elizabeth Marshall. Six of their eight children are
living, - Hannah, William, Henry H., Angeline, Elizabeth A. and Lydia.
Mr. M. is now one of the most prominent farmers of the township and
displays a commendable generosity in all things worthy.
submitted by Carla Finley
