George W. Merrill 1835-1905

MERRILL, JOCELYN, BLAIR, OWEN, RICHARDSON

Posted By: Beverly Gerdts (email)
Date: 5/5/2022 at 14:09:10

Columbus Gazette, Columbus Junction, Iowa
Thursday, November 16, 1905
page 1

George W. Merrill was born in New Hampshire, November 10, 1835 and passed away at his home in Cedar Rapids, November 10, 1905, his seventieth birthday. At two years of age he removed with his parents to Vermont which was his home until he was about seventeen years old, when the family removed to Iowa, locating at Columbus City. In 1857 Mr. Merrill went back to Vermont and in December 4, of that year was married to Miss Sarah Jocelyn and they came at once to Iowa. To them were born nine children, six of whom are living. One child died in infancy, a son, Carl, died in Old Mexico eleven years ago leaving a wife and one son, Willis; the only daughter in the family, Mrs. Carrie Blair, died at Wilmington, N. C., in 1902, leaving three children Merrill, Carobell and Jocelyn. The six living sons are Fred, Fort Worth, Texas; Ben, Marion, Iowa; George, Hoisington, Kansas; Earl, Logan, New Mexico; James, Scandia, Kansas; Robert, Fort Worth, Texas.

Merrill was for a number of years in business in Columbus City, Old Clifton and Columbus Junction. Here Mrs. Merrill died in 1888 and for several years his niece, Miss Nettie Merrill, now Mrs. Robert Owen, kept house for Mr. Merrill and cared for the younger boys. Then Mr. Merrill was married to Mrs. Richardson who survives him, and went to Cedar Rapids to live and that was his home until the end. For a number of years he had been a traveling salesman, selling goods for a school furniture house. His health began falling a few months since and about two months ago his physician pronounced his disease cancer of the stomach and he grew steadily worse until the end came.

He was a soldier during the civil war and a member of Todd post, G. A. R. at Columbus Junction. He was also a member of the A. O. U. W. The funeral was held at the Presbyterian church here Monday afternoon, conducted by Rev. J. R. Vance. Five of his sons, all except George who did not get the word in time were in attendance. The interment was at Columbus City, beside his first wife.