Merry, Esther P. (Willey) 1817 – 1908

MERRY, WILLEY, BLAKE

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 6/8/2019 at 15:11:32

Source: Twice-A-Week Plain Dealer Dec. 8, 1908, LP, C5

Geo. W. Merry came down from Minneapolis, Sunday evening, to make arrangements for the funeral on Mon{day} of his mother, Esther P. Merry, who died on Friday last at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Emma Blake, in Minneapolis. The remains were brought to Cresco Monday afternoon, accompanied by another son, Ed Merry, and his wife and Mrs. Geo. W. Merry, and were interred in Oak Lawn.

Source: Twice-A-Week Plain Dealer Dec. 18, 1908, LP, C5

MERRY.
Esther P. Merry, widow of the late Hiram Merry, was born at Plymouth, N. H., March 24, 1817. Her father John Willey was captain in the U. S. army during the war of 1812. He later moved to the Province of Quebec, Canada, near the Vermont line.
The deceased was married Jan. 28th, 1838 to Hiram Merry at Magog, Province of Quebec, Canada, where they resided eighteen years. To this union were born four children, George W., now of Milbank, S. D., Albert W., who died in 1864 in Montana, Emma J., (now Mrs. Harrison Blake) of 2646 Lyndale Ave., Minneapolis, and Edwin I., of 3104 Dupont Ave., S., Minneapolis.
In May, 1856, the entire family came to Paris township and pre-empted government land and here lived until 1885 when (Mr. Merry having died in March, 1878) Mrs. Merry left the old farm, now owned by George Merry, and went to live with her daughter in Minneapolis, and remained there until her death.
The death of Mrs. Merry removed still one more of the rapidly diminishing pioneers of Howard county, their home being the first to be built in its vicinity—the only one for some time between New Oregon and “Pettibone’s,” near Elma, and was sided up with boards hauled from McGregor, the nearest marketing place, and two of the children, George and Emma taught school in New Oregon when it was the only town in the county. The hospitality of this pioneer home was always extended to the traveler and the kindness and neighborliness of the family were known far and wide.
Mrs. Merry died at one p. m., on Friday, Dec. 4th, 1908, in the ninety-second year of her age, at the home of her daughter in Minneapolis. Funeral services were held at the Blake home Sunday afternoon. Dec. 6th, Rev. Stanley Roberts officiating, and the remains were brought to Cresco the day following for interment beside the remains of her husband in Oak Lawn cemetery. Rev. Hinman conducting a short service at the grave.
The deceased was u true follower of Christ since early in life. She was always a good neighbor, kind and sympathetic, and her whole ambition to the last was to work for the comfort of others. She was a model wife, mother and friend, and is deeply mourned by her children and acquaintances.

Oak Lawn Cemetery
 

Howard Obituaries maintained by Constance McDaniel Hall.
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