Merriman Surname

Thomas Merriman was born circa 1510 in England, probably Oxfordshire. He died before July 22, 1559 in Witney, Oxfordshire, England.

Thomas was a weaver. His will was proven on May 22, 1552. His wife Joan survived him.

They had the following children:

1	Gregory Merriman
2	Joan Merriman was born circa 1532.
3	Alice Merriman was born circa 1534.
4	John Merriman was born circa 1536.
5	James Merriman was born circa 1538.
6	Marie Merriman was born circa 1540.

Gregory Merriman was born circa 1530 in Witney, Oxfordshire, England. He died in 1596 in Witney, Oxfordshire, England ²⁹.

Father: Thomas Merriman
Mother: Joan

Gregory was a weaver like his father. He lived in Witney.

They had the following children:

1	Elizabeth Merriman
2	George Merriman
3	Anna Merriman was born about January 23, 1560/61.
4	William Merriman was born circa 1564.
5	John Merriman was born circa 1567.
6	Henry Merriman was born about June 4, 1570.

George Merriman was born circa 1559 in Witney, Oxfordshire, England. He died in 1655 in London, Middlesex, England ²⁹.

Father: Gregory Merriman
Mother: Mary Ring

George moved away from the small town of Witney and he went to London. He was there married in about 1610, although the name of his wife is not known (one source says her name was Anna West). George was a cooper and was apparently in his 90's when he died.

They had the following children:

1	John Merriman was born circa 1611.
2	Nathaniel Merriman
3	Elizabeth Merriman was born circa 1615.
4	John Merriman was born circa 1617.

Nathaniel Merriman was born circa 1614 in London, Middlesex, England ³¹. He died on February 13, 1693/4 in Wallingford, New Haven Co., Connecticut ³¹.

Father: George Merriman
Mother: unknown

Nathaniel became a Puritan as a young man and quickly decided to emigrate to America. At the age of 19, he joined the Puritan party which boarded the ship “Whale” and arrived in Boston, Mass., on May 26, 1632. Nathaniel soon afterwards went to Connecticut, where he was a soldier in the Pequot War of 1637. Nathaniel was accepted as planter by the town of New Haven, Conn., in 1640, where he settled.

Nathaniel moved with his family to Wallingford, CT in 1670. He was chosen in 1675 as Captain of troops during King Philip’s War, an Indian war. Nathaniel was a planter and also a selectman, town clerk and deputy for Wallingford, Conn.

Joan's maiden name is often cited as Lines, although there is no proof of her pre-marriage identity.

1	Nathaniel Merriman was born circa 1647 in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut. He died on December 19, 1675 in Rhode Island 31.
2	John Merriman was born circa 1649 in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut. He died on September 26, 1651 in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut 31.
3	Hannah Merriman was born on May 16, 1651 in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut 31. She married first John Ives on November 12, 1668 in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut 31. She married second Joseph Benham on August 17, 1682 in Wallingford, New Haven Co., Connecticut 31.
4	Grace Merriman was born circa 1654 in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut.
5	Abigail Merriman was born on April 18, 1654 in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut 31. She married John Hitchcock on January 18, 1669/70 in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut 31.
6	Sarah Merriman was born circa 1655 in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut.
7	Elizabeth Merriman was born circa 1657 in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut. She died before 1669 in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut.
8	Mary Merriman was born on June 12, 1657 in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut 31. She married Thomas Curtis on June 9, 1674 in Wallingford, New Haven Co., Connecticut 31.
9	John Merriman was born on February 28, 1659/60 in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut 31. He died in 1741 in Wallingford, New Haven Co., Connecticut 31. He married first Hannah Lines on March 28, 1683 in Wallingford, New Haven Co., Connecticut 31. He married second Elizabeth Peck on November 20, 1690 in Wallingford, New Haven Co., Connecticut 31. He married third Hannah Dewey circa 1710. He married fourth Elizabeth Brown after 1720.
10	Samuel Merriman was born on September 29, 1662 in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut 31. He died on September 25, 1694 31. He married Anna Street.
11	Caleb Merriman
12	infant twins Merriman were born and died in 1667 in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut 31.
13	Elizabeth Merriman was born on September 14, 1669 in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut 31. She died on February 2, 1749/50 in Cheshire, New Haven Co., Connecticut 31. She married first Ebenezer Lewis on December 2, 1685 in Wallingford, New Haven Co., Connecticut 31. She married second William Frederick after 1685.

Caleb Merriman was born in May 1665 in New Haven, New Haven County, Connecticut ³¹. He died on July 19, 1703 in Wallingford, New Haven Co., Connecticut ^29,31.

Father: Nathaniel Merriman
Mother: Joan

He was baptized on June 25, 1665 in New Haven. Caleb had the military title of "Corporal" and probably served in King William's War. Could he have died as a result of Queen Anne's War?

Mary was the daughter of Eliasaph Preston and Mary Wilcoxson.

1	Moses Merriman was born on October 31, 1691 in Wallingford, New Haven Co., Connecticut 31. He died on February 4, 1743/4 in Wallingford, New Haven Co., Connecticut 31. He married Martha Beach on February 6, 1712/3 in Wallingford, New Haven Co., Connecticut 31.
2	Elizabeth Merriman was born on May 4, 1693 in Wallingford, New Haven Co., Connecticut 31. She died December 24, 1775 in Wallingford, New Haven Co., Connecticut 31. She married Henry Turhand on November 4, 1712 in Wallingford, New Haven Co., Connecticut 31. She married Joseph Royce after 1712.
3	Eliasaph Merriman
4	Hannah Merriman was born on September 10, 1697 in Wallingford, New Haven Co., Connecticut 31. She died on September 27, 1738 in Wallingford, New Haven Co., Connecticut 31. She married John Andrews on July 19, 1714 in Wallingford, New Haven Co., Connecticut 31.
5	Phebe Merriman was born on September 11, 1699 in Wallingford, New Haven Co., Connecticut 31. He died in December 1772 31. She married Waitstill Munson on December 10, 1719 in Wallingford, New Haven Co., Connecticut 31.
6	Lydia Merriman was born on September 8, 1701 in Wallingford, New Haven Co., Connecticut 31. She died in 1701-1702 in Wallingford, New Haven Co., Connecticut.
7	Lydia Merriman was born on November 12, 1702 in Wallingford, New Haven Co., Connecticut 31. She died on December 25, 1785 in Cheshire, New Haven Co., Connecticut 31. She married Ephraim Cook.

Eliasaph Merriman was born on May 20, 1695 in Wallingford, New Haven County, Connecticut ^29,30,31. He died on August 19, 1758 in Wallingford, New Haven Co., Connecticut ^29,30,31.

Father: Caleb Merriman
Mother: Mary Preston

Eliasaph died on August 19, 1758 in Wallingford, New Haven County, CT, just a few days after his youngest daughter was struck by lightning. His widow Abigail died in 1774. Eliasaph served in the military company in Wallingford, he was an ensign in 1735, a lieutenant in 1740 and captain in 1743.

Abigail was the daughter of Benjamin Hull and Elizabeth Andrews.

1	Eunice Merriman was born on October 7, 1720 in Wallingford, New Haven Co., Connecticut 30. She died on January 12, 1720/1 in Wallingford, New Haven Co., Connecticut 30.
2	Eunice Merriman was born on December 24, 1721 in Wallingford, New Haven Co., Connecticut 30. She married Samuel Doolittle on December 9, 1747 in Wallingford, New Haven Co., Connecticut 30. She married Ephraim Preston on March 25, 1754 in Wallingford, New Haven Co., Connecticut.
3	Sarah Merriman was born on November 18, 1723 in Wallingford, New Haven Co., Connecticut 30. She married Nathaniel Jones on June 8, 1743 in Wallingford, New Haven Co., Connecticut 30.
4	Caleb Merriman was born on September 3, 1725 in Wallingford, New Haven Co., Connecticut 30. He died on August 6, 1797 in Wallingford, New Haven Co., Connecticut. He married Margaret Robinson on May 12, 1747 in Wallingford, New Haven Co., Connecticut.
5	Titus Merriman was born on August 28, 1727 in Wallingford, New Haven Co., Connecticut 30. He died on December 24, 1808 in Meridan, Connecticut. He married Dinah Andrews on February 20, 1748/9 in Wallingford, New Haven Co., Connecticut.
6	Amasa Merriman was born on June 17, 1729 in Wallingford, New Haven Co., Connecticut 30. He died in 1794. He married Sarah Ives on September 26, 1750 in Wallingford, New Haven Co., Connecticut. He married second Tabitha Sexton on February 18, 1778.
7	Enoch Merriman was born on May 1, 1731 in Wallingford, New Haven Co., Connecticut 30. He died on June 14, 1731 in Wallingford, New Haven Co., Connecticut 30.
8	Elizabeth Merriman was born on July 27, 1732 in Wallingford, New Haven Co., Connecticut 30. She died after 1787. She married Reuben Preston on May 25, 1756 in Wallingford, New Haven Co., Connecticut 30.
9	Esther Merriman was born on December 2, 1734 in Wallingford, New Haven Co., Connecticut 30. She died on May 25, 1787 30. She married Ephraim Preston on April 5, 1762 in Wallingford, New Haven Co., Connecticut 30.
10	Eliasaph Merriman
11	Enoch Merriman was born on May 26, 1739 in Wallingford, New Haven Co., Connecticut 30. He died circa 1739 in Wallingford, New Haven Co., Connecticut.
12	Ebenezer Merriman was born on May 26, 1739 in Wallingford, New Haven Co., Connecticut 30. He died circa 1739 in Wallingford, New Haven Co., Connecticut.
13	Turhand Merriman was born on May 24, 1741 in Wallingford, New Haven Co., Connecticut 30. He died circa 1741 in Wallingford, New Haven Co., Connecticut.
14	Charles Merriman was born on September 2, 1744 in Wallingford, New Haven Co., Connecticut 30. He died circa 1744 in Wallingford, New Haven Co., Connecticut.
15	Abigail Merriman was born on June 17, 1749 in Wallingford, New Haven Co., Connecticut 30. She died on August 4, 1758 in Wallingford, New Haven Co., Connecticut 30.

Eliasaph Merriman Jr. was born on November 9, 1736 in Wallingford, New Haven County, Connecticut ³¹. He died on May 1, 1815 in Wallingford, New Haven Co., Connecticut ³¹. He is buried in the Center Street Cemetery, Wallingford, New Haven Co., Connecticut.

Father: Eliasaph Merriman
Mother: Abigail Hull

Eliasaph apparently spent his entire life in Wallingford. He was a farmer. He wrote his will on April 28, 1803 and wrote a codicil to the will on October 3, 1812. He died on May 1 (or 15), 1815.

Jerusha was the daughter of Phillip Mattoon and Mary Humiston.

1	Amos Merriman
2	Abigail Merriman was born on July 6, 1764 in Wallingford, New Haven Co., Connecticut 30,31. She died on March 19, 1843 in Wallingford, New Haven Co., Connecticut 31. She is buried in the Center Street Cemetery, Wallingford, New Haven Co., Connecticut. She married Willoughby Williams circa 1782 in Connecticut. (He was born on November 5, 1758 in Wallingford, New Haven Co., Connecticut and died on December 30, 1837 in Wallingford, New Haven Co., Connecticut. He is buried in the Center Street Cemetery, Wallingford, New Haven Co., Connecticut) They had the following children: Sally Williams (1783-1848) md. John Street Philo Williams (c. 1786-1805) Lodema Williams (c. 1793-1875) md. Ira Munson Harry Williams (c. 1798-1860) md. Rebecca Todd Julius Williams (1801-1881) md. Betsy Todd Abigail Williams (1807-1885) md. John H. Johnson Lucinda Williams (c. 1814-1898) md. Jesse Tuttle
3	Eunice Merriman was born on May 11, 1766 in Wallingford, New Haven Co., Connecticut 30,31. She died in 1846 in Knox Co., Illinois. She married Timothy Culver circa 1797 in Wallingford, New Haven Co., Connecticut. (He was born on February 14, 1775 in Wells, Rutland Co., Vermont and died before October 5, 1824 in Carlisle, Lorain Co., Ohio.) They had the following children: Lodema Culver (1798-1882) md. Henry R. Ferris Fidelia Culver (1801-???) Aurelia Culver (1803-1887) md. Erastus Roice Amanda Culver (1806-???) md. John Higby Joshua Noble Culver (1808-1883) md. Caroline Chloe Tillotson Some sources indicate that Eunice was also married to a John Skarat. It seems that is actually referring to a different Eunice Merriman who married John SCARITT in 1792 and who died in 1835 in Connecticut.
4	Eliakim Merriman was born on July 2, 1769 in Wallingford, New Haven Co., Connecticut 30,31. He died on August 15, 1780 in Wallingford, New Haven Co., Connecticut 30,31. He is buried in the Center Street Cemetery, Wallingford, New Haven Co., Connecticut.
5	Polly Merriman was born on September 10, 1773 in Wallingford, New Haven Co., Connecticut 30,31. She died sometime between 1840-1850 in Randolph, Portage Co., Ohio. She was married to William Churchill circa 1794 in Wallingford, New Haven Co., Connecticut. (He was born circa 1766 in Litchfield, Litchfield Co., Connecticut and died sometime between 1840-1850 in Randolph, Portage Co., Ohio.) They had the following children: Stephen Major Churchill (1796-1879) md. Maria Beach Diademia Churchill (c. 1798-aft. 1830) md. 1st. David Birge md. 2nd. Gurdon Hilliard Polly Churchill (c. 1800-???) Julianna Churchill (c. 1802-c. 1836) md. James Algernon Derthick Charlotte M. Churchill (c. 1806-c. 1844) md. John McGowan Esther Churchill (c. 1808-c. 1840) md. Isaac Harget Philo W. Churchill (c. 1808-1860) md. Electa A. Merriman Emily Churchill (c. 1811-1860's) md. Truman Case Clarissa Case (c. 1813-1893) md. 1st. Silas Hibbard Case md. 2nd. Almon B. Carlton Lyman Churchill (c. 1814-1840's) md. Emily Adams
6	Reuben Merriman was born on September 9, 1775 in Wallingford, New Haven Co., Connecticut 30,31. He died on June 18, 1790 in Wallingford, New Haven Co., Connecticut 30,31. He is buried in the Center Street Cemetery, Wallingford, New Haven Co., Connecticut.
7	Asaph Merriman was born on July 1, 1778 in Wallingford, New Haven Co., Connecticut 30,31. He died on September 13, 1830 in Wallingford, New Haven Co., Connecticut 31. He married Eunice Andrews circa 1799 in Wallingford, New Haven Co., Connecticut. (She was born on January 14, 1779 in Wallingford, New Haven Co., Connecticut and died after 1820.) They had the following children: Margery Merriman (1800-1858) md. Enos Whitney Andrew Merriman (1802-1882) md. 1st Eliza Peck md. 2nd. Orpha Bishop Silas Merriman (1806-1813) Julia Merriman (1809-1870's) md. Everett Whitney Charles Merriman (1811-1881) md. 1st. Edith Bishop md. 2nd. Lucinda Wells Sarah Merriman (1812-1895) md. Cornwell Sage
8	Eliakim Merriman was born on October 7, 1780 in Wallingford, New Haven Co., Connecticut 30,31. He died on December 16, 1860 in Randolph, Portage Co., Ohio 38. He married Hannah Russell on June 16, 1806 in Randolph, Portage Co., Ohio. (She was born circa 1782 in Connecticut and died in 1866 in Randolph, Portage Co., Ohio.) They had the following children: Eliasaph Russell Merriman (1807-1879) md. Julianna Hall Hezekiah Otis Merriman (1808-aft. 1870) md. Phebe Hart Lydia Marietta Merriman (1810-1851) md. Jason Loomis Electa A. Merriman (1812-1853) md. Philo W. Churchill Lorna Merriman (1814-1847) md. Cyrus H. Streeter Perlina Merriman (1816-1819) Ogden Hamer Merriman (1817-???) md. Mary A. Doolittle Harlow Merriman (1820-1895) md. Nancy To see a transcription of Eliakim's family bible, click here.	Kim Kester at Kims175@aol.com is a researcher/descendant of this line.
9	Esther Merriman was born circa 1782 in Wallingford, New Haven Co., Connecticut. She died on September 14, 1834 in Randolph, Portage Co., Ohio. She is buried in the Old Sand Cemetery, Randolph, Portage Co., Ohio. She married Isaac Merriman on January 20, 1803 in Wallingford, New Haven Co., Connecticut 30,31. (He was born circa 1784 in Wallingford, New Haven Co., Connecticut and died on June 18, 1842 in Randolph, Portage Co., Ohio. He is buried in the Old Sand Cemetery, Randolph, Portage Co., Ohio.) They had the following children: Jerusha Merriman (1803-1872) md. Jonah Hine Delight Merriman (c. 1807-1881) md. Austin Collins Levi Merriman (1811-1884) md. Jane A. Humphrey Alvira D. Merriman (c. 1814-1860's) md. William P. Means Nancy Merriman (1817-1888) md. Robert Alexander Lavinia Merriman (1820-1843) md. Joseph C. Brainerd

Amos Merriman was born on December 1, 1762 in Wallingford, New Haven County, Connecticut ^29,30,31. He died before July 1, 1822 in Big Eagle Pct., Scott Co., Kentucky.

Father: Eliasaph Merriman
Mother: Jerusha Mattoon

Amos was born and raised in Wallingford, Connecticut; the oldest of nine children. He is said to have served in the American Revolution. He may have been the Amos Merriman who served in 1779 out of Cheshire, Connecticut. There was also an Amos Merriman who served in Massachusetts in 1780. Our Amos was married in the early or mid-1780s, but the location is unknown. Amos and his wife Abigail settled in Cheshire, Connecticut (not far From Wallingford) before 1786. In about 1795, they moved to the village of Stratfield in Fairfield town (near what is now Bridgeport), in Fairfield County, Connecticut. At about the same time, Amos is said to have joined the Baptist church (he was probably a Congregationalist before this).

In about 1810, Amos' son Reuben went on a trip to Kentucky and returned to Connecticut within a year or two to persuade his family to move there. In about 1812, Amos moved to Scott County, Kentucky with his wife and his entire family. They settled on Eagle Creek (also called "Big Eagle Creek") in northern Scott County, west of what is now Sadieville and at times within "Big Eagle Precinct". Amos owned an estate of over 1,000 acres, which included a grist mill and a saw mill. By the end of his life he had become a slave owner; and owned two slaves. Most family histories suggest that Amos died in 1827 or 1829; yet he actually died in 1822. He was listed on the 1821 tax list for Scott County and also sold land there in December 1821. He died before July 1, 1822 when his undated will was proven in court. In his will he described his wife Abigail and named his children as Reuben, Lyman, Laura, Polly Seely, Nabby Lyon, and Sally Berry.

Father: Willoughby Williams
Mother: Abigail Alling

Until very recently, Abigail's identity was not proven. Her marriage to Amos Merriman (c. 1783-1785) was not recorded in any town in New Haven County. The only clue was from one Merriman family history which indicate that her maiden name might have been Williams. The best guess is that she was Abigail Williams, daughter of Willoughby and Abigail Williams of Wallingford, Connecticut. However, various family histories claim that this Abigail Williams was married to John Ludington, and had one daughter Ama/Anna Ludington in 1783 (who later married Zopher Williams). Family history indicates that John and Abigail moved to Onondaga County, New York during the 1780s and died there soon after, leaving their child as an orphan.

When her father Willoughby Williams wrote his will in 1776, none of his children were named. However when his estate was distributed in March 1782, she was described as "Abigal yongest daughter", without indicating whether she was married or indicating where she lived. Years later in 1809, when Willoughby's widow Abigail Alling Williams died, her heirs were specifically named when they acknowledged the distribution of the estate among them: Willoughby Williams, Hermon Williams, Amos Merriman, Abigail Merriman, Isaac Shephard and Rebekah Shephard. Then in 1811, their agreement was ratified in court by Amos and Abigail Merriman in Fairfield County, Connecticut and by the other heirs in New Haven County, Connecticut.

Although Abigail Williams (daughter of Willoughby and Abigail) was definitely married to Amos Merriman, it is possible that she was also married to John Ludington. According to family history, John Ludington's daughter Ama/Anna was born in 1783. Subsequent history from Ama's descendants indicates that Ama was orphaned as a small child and was raised by paternal relatives in New York state. Although her father was probably dead, it is entirely possible that her mother was still alive. Parental rights were not on the side of the mother during this time period. It may have been viewed as more stable living in the home of pre-existing family in the male-line, rather than with a young widow. If Abigail Williams Ludington was in fact widowed in about 1783, it would fit with the timeline because she married Amos Merriman in about 1785. In support of this, I do also have one autosomal DNA match with a descendant of Ama Ludington Johnson.

* She was born on October 3rd, in some year during the 1760s. Her birth month and date are recorded, but the last digit of the year is missing from the record. The year 1760 is used because in the distribution of her father's estate in 1782, she was described between her brothers Willoughby Jr. and Herman (who were born in 1758 and 1761 or 1762). It is possible though that she was born in 1761 or 1762 and was twin to Hermon. His birth was recorded on October 8, some year during the 1760s (the last digit is also missing). If she was a twin, that would make sense because two of her children also had twins.

** Abigail's death date and place of death is unknown. Family history indicates that she moved to Sangamon County, Illinois with most of her children in 1829. After her youngest daughter Laura married in December 1829, she moved with her daughter and new son-in-law Francis Arenz to nearby Beardstown, Illinois and is said to have died there ¹⁵. She does appear to have been living with her son-in-law Francis in the 1830 census. If she remained in Beardstown, then she had probably died before 1840, when she does not appear to be enumerated in the household of her son-in-law Francis Arenz. However because her daughter Laura died in about 1830 and left no children, it's possible that Abigail moved to live with one of her other children. If so, then she possibly moved to Lexington, Kentucky to live with her daughter Polly Seeley. There was a woman of Abigail's age group included in the Seeley household in the 1840 census in Lexington. If that was her, then she probably died during the 1840s; either in Lexington, Kentucky, where the family lived until about 1842; or in nearby rural Woodford County, Kentucky, where they lived after about 1842.

1	Polly Merriman was born on September 9, 1786 in Cheshire, New Haven Co., Connecticut 28. She died on January 2, 1866 47 in Woodford Co., Kentucky. She is buried in the Mount Vernon Baptist Church Cemetery, Versailles, Woodford Co., Kentucky. She married Hinman Seeley before 1810, probably in Connecticut. He was born circa 1786 in Pennsylvania and died on October 25, 1828 in Lexington, Fayette Co., Kentucky. They had the following children: Harvey M. Seeley (c. 1810-1833) Lyman Williams Seeley (1815-1884) md. Sarah Shipp Benjamin Winslow Dudley Seeley (1824-1895) md. Dollie Amelia Hager Polly and her husband were apparently living in Shawangunk, Ulster Co., New York in 1810. They then moved out west to Kentucky with her family in about 1812. Between 1812 and 1815, they lived in Scott County, Kentucky. Then from 1815 until about 1842, they lived in the city of Lexington, Fayette County, Kentucky. Then in about 1842, they moved to nearby Woodford County, Kentucky, where they lived on Beals Run in the northern part of the county. Polly probably died there; she had survived all of her siblings.
2	Lyman Merriman was born in April 1789 in Cheshire, New Haven Co., Connecticut 28. He died on May 18, 1789 in Cheshire, New Haven Co., Connecticut 28. He is buried in the Cheshire Street Cemetery, Cheshire, New Haven Co., Connecticut.
3	Reuben Merriman
4	Lyman Merriman was born on August 21, 1792 in Cheshire, New Haven Co., Connecticut 28. He died in March 1865 in Williams Twp., Sangamon Co., Illinois 15. He is buried in the Fancy Creek Cemetery, Fancy Creek Twp., Sangamon Co., Illinois. He married Sarah "Sally" R. Howard in about 1817 in Scott Co., Kentucky. (She was born circa 1795 in Scott Co., Kentucky and died on September 20, 1869 in Williams Twp., Sangamon Co., Illinois 15. She is buried in the Fancy Creek Cemetery, Fancy Creek Twp., Sangamon Co., Illinois.) They had the following children: Madison Maurice Merriman (1818-1905) md. Elizabeth Parker Fletcher Sarah Jane Merriman (1819-1903) md. William Yocum Alvira T. Merriman (1828-1851) md. Francis M. Young Cordelia L. Merriman (1828-1901) md. Benjamin F. Fletcher Mary Ann Merriman (c. 1833-1867) md. Hiram Jackson Young	Sharon Ellis at sharonellis@yahoo.com is a researcher/descendant of this line.
5	Abigail "Nabby" Merriman was born on May 20, 1795 in Cheshire, New Haven Co., Connecticut 28. She died on September 19, 1858 in Georgetown, Scott Co., Kentucky 48. She married Nathaniel Lyon circa 1810-1812 in Connecticut. He was born in Connecticut and died in 1823 in Georgetown, Scott Co., Kentucky 49. They had the following children: Anson M. Lyon (c. 1813-1885) md. 1st Mary Fenwick md. 2nd Frances Letitia Branham William Lyon (c. 1817-aft. 1840) Cordelia Lyon (c. 1820-aft. 1830) Francis Amos Lyon (1822-1900) md. Teresa Victoria Barlow It had previously been assumed that she died young, but recently discovered evidence proves that she survived to adulthood. She was probably married in Connecticut between 1810 and 1812 and moved to Scott County, Kentucky with her family in about 1812. When most of her family moved on to Illinois in 1829, Abigail and her family remained in Kentucky. She spent most of her adulthood living in the city of Georgetown in Scott County. She was probably buried in the Georgetown Cemetery in Georgetown, Kentucky; but no tombstone survives.
6	Sarah "Sally" Merriman was born sometime between 1795 and 1800 in Stratfield, Fairfield Co., Connecticut. She died circa 1838 in Scott Co., Kentucky. She married Silas M. Berry circa 1819 in Scott Co., Kentucky. He was born in July 1794 in Virginia and died on March 23, 1889 in Mahomet, Champaign Co., Illinois. He is buried in the Riverside Cemetery, Mahomet, Champaign Co., Illinois. They had the following children: William Amos Berry (c. 1820-1870's) George Carter Berry (1823-1912) md. Mary Elizabeth Lindsay Mary Ellen Berry (c. 1830-aft. 1847) md. John W. Lee It was previously assumed that she died young, but recent evidence proves that she survived to adulthood.
7	unknown female Merriman was born circa 1801 in Stratfield, Fairfield Co., Connecticut. She died sometime between 1810 and 1822. There was an additional female of her age group in the 1810 census, and she might have been another unidentified daughter. If so, she had died before 1822 when she was not named in her father's will.
8	Laura Merriman was born circa 1803 in Stratfield, Fairfield Co., Connecticut. She died circa 1830 in Beardstown, Morgan (now Cass) Co., Illinois. She married Francis Arenz on December 1, 1829 in Sangamon Co., Illinois 18. (He was born on October 31, 1800 in Blackenburg, Germany 37 and died on April 2, 1856 in Cass Co., Illinois 36,37. He is buried in the Arenzville Cemetery, Cass Co., Illinois.) They had no children. She died "within a year after she was married" but was apparently still alive at the time of the 1830 census enumeration (circa June-August 1830). Francis remarried in 1832 and raised a large family of children. Laura inherited 100 acres of land in Scott County, Kentucky when her father died in 1822. After her death, her land was inherited by her siblings, who each had a one-fifth interest.

Reuben Merriman was born on September 6, 1790 in Cheshire, New Haven County, Connecticut ^15,28. He died on February 28, 1842 in Williams Twp., Sangamon Co., Illinois ¹⁵. He is buried in the Fancy Creek Cemetery, Fancy Creek Twp., Sangamon Co., Illinois.

Father: Amos Merriman
Mother: Abigail Williams

In about 1795, when he was about 4 years old, Reuben moved with his family to Stratfield, Connecticut. Reuben was raised as a Baptist and also trained in the vocation of a cooper and miller like his father. As a young adult he decided to go west. In about 1810, he traveled to Kentucky and decided that he wanted to settle there permanently. He returned to Connecticut where he married Betsy Bennett in 1812. Soon after, Reuben, his wife, parents, and siblings, left Connecticut and moved to Scott County, Kentucky. They settled off of Big Eagle Creek in that county and began to engage in milling and coopering.

In 1829, Reuben and most of his family left Kentucky. They settled in Williams Township in Sangamon County, Illinois in the fall of 1829. They were members the Bethel Baptist Church. During the winter of 1841-1842, Reuben and his wife were both afflicted with winter fever (pneumonia) and died within a day of each other in February 1842.

At the time of his death, Reuben owned over 800 acres of land in various parts of Williams Township. In June 1842, seven months after his death, his three oldest children; Lucinda, Lavinia, and George, jointly sued their younger brothers, John, William, Robert and Francis (all minors). The case was represented by Abraham Lincoln (future U.S. President). The case was an aim by the children to achieve an equitable division of Reuben's estate. As a result of the case, Reuben's land was ordered sold and his minor children were put under legal guardianship. The only part of the land that apparently stayed in the family were 320 acres that were purchased by his son George.

They had the following children:

1	Lucinda Merriman was born on February 12, 1813 in Big Eagle Pct., Scott Co., Kentucky 14. She died on March 7, 1890 in Manzanita Pct. (now Central Point), Jackson Co., Oregon 14. She is buried in the Jacksonville Cemetery, Jacksonville, Jackson Co., Oregon. She married Isaac Constant on February 14, 1833 in Sangamon Co., Illinois 18. (He was born on April 5, 1809 in Clark Co., Kentucky 14 and died on January 31, 1890 in Manzanita Pct. (now Central Point), Jackson Co., Oregon 14 He is buried in the Jacksonville Cemetery, Jacksonville, Jackson Co., Oregon.) They had the following children: Lavinia Jane Constant (1834-1931) md. Jesse Robinson William Thomas Constant (1836-1868) md. Jessie Bledsoe Elizabeth Merriman Constant (1839-1900) md. William Thacker Leever Julia Ann Constant (1841-1936) md. William Addison Owen Josephine Constant (1843-1846) Margery Edmondson Constant (1848-1931) md. Constantine Magruder Henry Francis Constant (1846-1846) Eliza Alice Constant (1851-1866) Lucinda's husband went on a wagon train expedition by himself to Oregon in the late 1840's. He returned home to Illinois in 1850, and he and Lucinda soon decided to move the entire family to Oregon. In 1852, Lucinda and her family traversed the Oregon Trail and settled in Jackson County, Oregon in the fall of 1852. They claimed a large farm several miles northeast of Jacksonville, Oregon. The town of Central Point eventually sprang up around there home, and their original Donation Land Claim comprises most of the original town.	Kevin Biersdorff at biersdorff@hotmail.com is a researcher/descendant of this line.
2	Lavinia Jane Merriman was born on April 2, 1817 in Big Eagle Pct., Scott Co., Kentucky 15. She died on September 22, 1901 in Williams Twp., Sangamon Co., Illinois. She is buried in the Stewart Cemetery, Williams Twp., Sangamon Co., Illinois. She married William T. Jones on April 12, 1840 in Sangamon Co., Illinois 18. (He was born on May 8, 1817 in Bourbon Co., Kentucky 15 and died on April 13, 1879 in Sangamon Co., Illinois. He is buried in the Stewart Cemetery, Williams Twp., Sangamon Co., Illinois.) They had the following children: Henrietta B. Jones (1841-1900) md. Thomas M. Helm George B. Jones (1843-1888) md. Frances Watson Ellis Lavinia and her family lived in the northwest corner of Williams Township, close to the farm of her brother John and also bordering land that her parents had at one time owned.
3	George Bennett Merriman was born on September 8, 1818 in Big Eagle Pct., Scott Co., Kentucky 15. He died on February 13, 1881 in Sangamon Co., Illinois 40. He is buried in the Oak Ridge Cemetery, Springfield, Sangamon Co., Illinois. He married Maria Louise Dawson on January 7, 1844 in Sangamon Co., Illinois 18. (She was born on July 22, 1822 in Bracken Co., Kentucky 15 and died on July 8, 1908 in Williams Twp., Sangamon Co., Illinois 39. She is buried in the Oak Ridge Cemetery, Springfield, Sangamon Co., Illinois.) They had the following children: John Williams Merriman (1844-1919) md. Maria Jane Britton Reuben Amos Merriman (1848-1923) md. 1st. Martha J. Johnson md. 2nd. Matilda W. Bader Charles Henry Merriman (1850-1853) Belbert Merriman (1852-1922) md. William Stewart Hunter Lucy Jane Merriman (1854-1939) md. Abner Canfield Hunter Bertha Ellen Merriman (1859-1950) md. 1st. James Henry Crouch md. 2nd. John T. Berry George A. Merriman (1861-1929) md. 1st. Mary E. Thompson md. 2nd. Effie McKinsey George and his family lived off of Wolf Creek in the southeast part of Williams Township, between Williamsville and Barclay. George owned 665 acres in Williams Township in 1874 (another source also states that at one time he owned 1,100 acres). Their house and place of residence was on the north side of Wolf Creek Road where it intersects with Kodiak Road (current aerial photographs reveal a building site on this exact location). In 1914, George's heirs (George and Lucy) still owned 220 acres of this land. The land probably stayed in the family until shortly after the death of his son George Jr. in 1929. (Note: of the above 665 acres, 240 were purchased by his father Reuben Merriman in 1835. This may have been the site where Reuben and Betsy Merriman's home was.)
4	John Sherman Merriman was born on November 29, 1821 in Big Eagle Pct., Scott Co., Kentucky 15. He died on May 24, 1885 in Fancy Creek Twp., Sangamon Co., Illinois. He is buried in the Stewart Cemetery, Williams Twp., Sangamon Co., Illinois. He married Mary J. Dawson on November 7, 1848 in Sangamon Co., Illinois 18. (She was born on December 27, 1831 in Sangamon Co., Illinois 15 and died on August 15, 1900 in Fancy Creek Twp., Sangamon Co., Illinois. She is buried in the Stewart Cemetery, Williams Twp., Sangamon Co., Illinois.) They had the following children: Mary Florence Merriman (1849-1874) Ann Eliza Merriman (1851-1876) Martha V. Merriman (1854-1878) Charles B. Merriman (1856-1892) md. Emma Taylor Lelia L. Merriman (1858-1881) Clay Sherman Merriman (1861-1950) md. Mattie Jessie Barnes Cora E. Merriman (1863-1879) Abraham Lincoln Merriman (1865-1885) Noah W. Merriman (1867-1878) infant Merriman (c. 1869-c. 1869) John and his family lived on a farm three miles west of Williamsville in the northeast corner of Fancy Creek Township. They owned 160 acres there in 1874. According to current and contemporary maps, their farmhouse was at the exact location called "Van Wood." Current aerial photographs reveal a building site at the location, on the north side of Dinius Road, perhaps a half-mile east of Constant Road.
5	William Harrison Merriman
6	Thomas Dudley Merriman was born and died circa 1827 in Big Eagle Pct., Scott Co., Kentucky. No known source indicates anything about Thomas besides his name. We have no idea when he was born or died. I only assume that he was born and died sometime between 1825 and 1830 because one family chart lists his name between his brothers William and the twins (Robert and Francis).
7	Robert Franklin Merriman was born on September 5, 1830 in Williams Twp., Sangamon Co., Illinois 15. He died on February 27, 1906 in Williamsville, Sangamon Co., Illinois 40. He is buried in the Oak Ridge Cemetery, Springfield, Sangamon Co., Illinois. He married Elizabeth Thompson on September 18, 1862 in Williams Twp., Sangamon Co., Illinois 18. She was born on January 28, 1840 in Wayne Co., Ohio 15 and died on February 25, 1880 in Williams Twp., Sangamon Co., Illinois 40. She is buried in the Oak Ridge Cemetery, Springfield, Sangamon Co., Illinois.) They had one child: William Franklin Merriman (1863-1934) md. Caroline Rebecca Matthews Robert owned 240 acres in Williams Township in 1874 (next to the farms of brothers George and Francis, along Wolf Creek). In 1894, he still owned 160 acres of the above farm, but it had all been sold by 1914. His house/residence was along the north side of Wolf Creek Road about halfway between intersecting streets (Kodiak Road and Prairie School Road). Current aerial photographs reveal a building site at the exact location. Robert apparently moved to the village of Williamsville shortly before his death.
8	Francis Arenz Merriman was born on September 5, 1830 in Williams Twp., Sangamon Co., Illinois 15. He died on December 8, 1910 in Detroit, Wayne Co., Michigan. He married first Emma Bishop on October 7, 1858 in McLean Co., Illinois 18. (She was born on December 12, 1838 in Clark Co., Ohio 15 and died on May 9, 1866 in Williams Twp., Sangamon Co., Illinois 15.) They had the following children: Edward "Eddy" Francis Merriman (1859-1930) md. Caroline Brown Mary L. Merriman (1862-1937) md. Charles English West Myrtilla Merriman (c. 1864-c. 1864) Byron Merriman (1866-1877) Rose Merriman (1866-c. 1866) He married second Chloe Sparklin on November 25, 1868 in Sangamon Co., Illinois 18. (She was born in July 1838 in Indiana 7 and died on February 12, 1901 in Goshen, Elkhart Co., Indiana 35. They had no children. Francis lived on a farm next to his brothers George and Robert. In 1879, he sold his land and moved to Elkhart County, Indiana (the home county of his second wife Chloe). After the death of Chloe in 1901, he moved to Detroit, Michigan to live with daughter Mary, where he died.

10th Generation: William Harrison Merriman was born on March 4, 1825 at Big Eagle Pct., Scott County, Kentucky 14,15,25. He died on September 16, 1877 in Manzanita Pct. (now Medford), Jackson County, Oregon 14,16,25. He is buried in the Jacksonville Cemetery, Jacksonville, Jackson Co., Oregon. Father: Reuben Merriman Mother: Betsy Bennett In 1829, when he was just four years old, William moved with his family to Sangamon County, Illinois. William was raised as a farmer and blacksmith. After the sudden death of his parents in 1842, 16-year old William was put under the legal guardianship of his uncle Lyman Merriman. In July of 1842, William apparently joined with his oldest brother George in purchasing part of the land from their parents' estate. William probably spent the rest of his unmarried youth living with his brother George in the central portion of Williams Township, off Wolf Creek. In 1847, 22-year old William married Mary Lewis and they began to raise a family. The young couple moved to the nearby city of Springfield where they were living in 1850. In Springfield, William worked as a carpenter. In 1850, William's brother-in-law Isaac Constant returned to Illinois from an expedition to Oregon and began inspiring his relatives and neighbors to move to out west. In the spring of 1852, William and his family (his wife, two children, sister Lucinda, and her family) left Illinois aboard a wagon train bound for the Oregon Territory. During the trip on the Oregon Trail, both William's wife Mary and his infant son Joseph died and were buried by the trail's side. (A detailed recollection of this 7-month journey as told by William's niece Lavinia Constant Robinson can be found online here.) The wagon train arrived in southern Oregon in September of 1852. William's sister Lucinda and her family stayed in Jackson County, Oregon, but William decided to go north to Douglas County, Oregon. William left his daughter Auletta in the care of his sister Lucinda Constant. In Douglas County, William began courting a young widow named Artinecia Chapman, whom he probably knew while living in Illinois. They were married in 1853. After this, they settled a Donation Land Claim of 320 acres near her parents near what is now the city of Riddle, Douglas County, Oregon. During the 1850s, tensions between the white settlers and the Indians in the area culminated into a war. During times of peace, William's family and the Riddles were friendly towards the Indians. William was called "Shindonah" (which means "long nose") by the local Indians. After the end of the Rogue River Indian War in 1856, William and his wife decided to move away. In 1856 42,43,44 or 1857 4,45, they moved to Manzanita Precinct, in Jackson County, Oregon. They purchased land there from Jesse Robinson, husband of William's niece Lavinia Constant. In Manzanita Precinct, they had a ranch of 120 acres. William spent the rest of his life on the Merriman ranch in Jackson County, Oregon (today, the land is along Merriman Road and partially within the city limits of both Medford and Central Point, Oregon). On the family ranch, William also had a blacksmith business and helped to raise a family of seventeen children. He has also been described as a cabinet maker and joiner. William was a member of the Baptist denomination and in politics, was affiliated with the Republican party. One source indicates that William was "one of the most estimable citizens of the communities he lived in." William served as clerk of Manzanita District in Jackson County, at an unknown point and up until 1871. It seems that William was also briefly a justice of the peace, and married people in the early 1860s. As late as July 1877, William was active in business. He soon became ill with consumption (tuberculosis) and lingered for over a month until his death. He wrote his will on August 29, 1877, in which he devised his entire estate to his wife Artinecia and after her death to their son Isaac (specifically leaving out his other two sons and his nine daughters). William died at his home at 8:00 pm on September 16, 1877. The funeral took place on September 18, 1877, which included a procession of 27 buggies and wagons the 7-mile distance from his home to the Jacksonville Cemetery. William married first Mary Ann Lewis on September 30, 1847 in Sangamon Co., Illinois 18. She was born on April 19, 1824 in New Jersey 32. She died in April 1852 on the Oregon Trail, probably in Kansas. Mary was the daughter of Joseph Kinnan Lewis and Letitia Sutton. She was reported as being very sick when the wagon train left Springfield, Illinois in the "early days of April" in 1852. She is said to have died at the first stop after leaving Independence, Missouri, which would have been somewhere in Kansas. They had to send back to Independence for a casket to bury her in.

1

Auletta "Lettie" Lavinia Merriman was born on August 4, 1848 in Springfield, Sangamon Co., Illinois 19,25. She died on August 7, 1936 in Medford, Jackson Co., Oregon 19. She is buried in the Jacksonville Cemetery, Jacksonville, Jackson Co., Oregon. She married first John Edwin Buzan on August 25, 1867 in Manzanita Pct. (now Medford), Jackson Co., Oregon 3. (He was born on June 15, 1837 in France 14 and died on June 18, 1870 in Manzanita Pct., Jackson Co., Oregon 14. He is buried in the Jacksonville Cemetery, Jacksonville, Jackson Co., Oregon.) They had the following children: Margery Catherine Buzan (1868-1940) md. 1st. Charles Henry Hoagland md. 2nd. Nathan Wheeler Otterbein Addie Kitty Buzan (1869-1961) md. 1st. Charles Gibson Rippey md. 2nd. Ezra Morton Wilson She married second John Emanuel Harvey on June 17, 1873 in Manzanita Pct. (now Medford), Jackson Co., Oregon 3. (He was born in December 1831 in Lincolnshire, England 7 and died on August 29, 1903 in Gold Hill, Jackson Co., Oregon 14. He is buried in the Jacksonville Cemetery, Jacksonville, Jackson Co., Oregon.) They had the following children: John Albert Harvey (1875-1967) md. Edith Gregory William Harrison Harvey (1877-1919) md. Margaret Ann Miller Auletta crossed the Oregon Trail with her family in 1852, during which her mother and brother died and were buried by the side of the trail. After they arrived in southern Oregon, she lived from 1852 to 1853 with her aunt Lucinda Merriman Constant in Jackson County, Oregon. Then, after her father remarried in 1853, she moved to Douglas County, Oregon to live with him and her new stepmother. In 1856 or 1857, they returned to Jackson County, where they lived on a farm between what is now Central Point and Medford. There, Auletta was married in 1867. She and her first husband lived on a farm near what became the Medford airport, but sadly he died three years later. Later, she and her second husband lived on a different farm in the vicinity of Medford. Later, by 1884, they moved to Central Point. By 1900, they had moved to Gold Hill, Oregon, where John Harvey died in 1903. Then, in about 1904, Auletta moved by herself to Ashland, Oregon. There she remained until November 1935, when bad health compelled her to move in with her daughter Addie Wilson in Medford.

2

Joseph Wright Merriman was born probably in late 1851 or early 1852, in Springfield, Sangamon Co., Illinois. He died circa August 1852 at Goose Lake in California. The date of Joseph's birth is not known. All we know is that he was born after October 1850 (enumeration of the 1850 census) and before March 1852 (when his family left on the Oregon Trail). By the fall of 1852 he was still young enough to be nursing and was still referred to as an infant. After his mother's untimely death in April of 1852, he was kept alive by being fed cow's milk. Unfortunately, when the train camped at Goose Lake in northern California in the fall of 1852, the cow providing the milk apparently ate some wild parsnips (poisonous), which caused Joseph to go into convulsions for several hours, and then die. He was probably buried near Goose Lake.

1	Lucinda Jane Merriman was born on May 22, 1854 in Canyonville Pct. (now Riddle), Douglas Co., Oregon 25. She died on June 9, 1919 in Seattle, King Co., Washington 20. She is buried in the Mountain View Cemetery, Big Timber, Sweet Grass Co., Montana. She married Thomas Theodore Prather on February 22, 1872 in Manzanita Pct. (now Medford), Jackson Co., Oregon 3. (He was born on December 21, 1843 in Franklin Twp., Clermont Co., Ohio and died on January 16, 1904 in Big Timber, Sweet Grass Co., Montana. He is buried in the Mountain View Cemetery, Big Timber, Sweet Grass Co., Montana.) They had the following children: Kathleen Prather (1873-1905) md. Alfred Joseph Bryant William Thomas Prather (1876-1910) md. Edna Cowles Baker Lucinda's husband Thomas served in the Civil War out of Oregon. He was a cattle driver and farmer. Sometime between 1872 and 1880 the family moved to Grant (now Harney) County, Oregon. In 1882, they moved again to a farm near Big Timber, Montana, where they remained. Then in 1910, she moved a short distance away to the city of Big Timber. She died while seeking hospital treatment in Seattle, Washington.
2	George Francis Merriman
3	Laura Alice Merriman was born on July 8, 1857 in Manzanita Pct. (now Medford), Jackson Co., Oregon 5,25. She died on November 24, 1938 in Washington, District of Columbia 5. She is buried in the Eastwood I.O.O.F. Cemetery, Medford, Jackson Co., Oregon. She married Jay Bradley on November 23, 1876 in Manzanita Pct. (now Medford), Jackson Co., Oregon 3. (He was born on January 11, 1852 in Blakesburgh, Wapello Co., Iowa and died on October 25, 1893 in Medford, Jackson Co., Oregon. He is buried in the Eastwood I.O.O.F. Cemetery, Medford, Jackson Co.,Oregon.) They had the following children: Lawson Godfrey Bradley (1879-1943) md. Hermoine Grace DeGood, ex-wife of Alvin Arthur Herbert and Walter Christy Marie Merriman Bradley (1881-1973) md. Basil Maxwell Manly Otto Franc Bradley (1887-1973) md. Theodora Chase Prior to her marriage, Laura worked as a school teacher. In 1875 she was elected as treasurer of the Teacher's Institute of Jackson County, Oregon. In 1876, she and Jay Bradley were married. Jay was a cattle rancher and farmer. After the marriage they first lived at Eagle Point in Jackson County, Oregon. In 1879 or 1880, they moved to Grant (now Harney) County, Oregon. In 1881, they moved to Wyoming. They lived in Wyoming for about 10 years, but traveled back to Jackson County, Oregon several times during that period. In late 1890 or early 1891, they returned to Jackson County, Oregon permanently, where they settled on a farm north of Medford, next to the farm of Laura's sister Marie Bennett. After the death of her husband in 1893, Laura continued living in the vicinty of Medford, Oregon. Sometime between 1895 and 1897, Laura moved with her children to Eugene, Oregon. Then in 1903 they moved to Portland, Oregon, where Laura was matron of the Hill Military Academy. In 1909 she moved to Boise, Idaho. Then in about 1913, Laura moved to Washington, DC, where she spent the remainder of her life living with her daughter. In Washington, DC, Laura was the founder of the Women's City Club and a charter member of the District of Columbia League of Women Voters.
4	Marie "Maria" Elizabeth Merriman was born on December 9, 1858 in Manzanita Pct. (now Medford), Jackson Co., Oregon 21,25. She died on July 5, 1943 in Medford, Jackson Co., Oregon 21. She is buried in the Eastwood I.O.O.F. Cemetery, Medford, Jackson Co., Oregon. She married Samuel Louis Bennett on November 23, 1881 in Manzanita Pct. (now Medford), Jackson Co., Oregon 3. (He was born on August 12, 1846 in Bowlingreen, Pike Co., Missouri and died on April 18, 1924 in Medford, Jackson Co., Oregon 11. He is buried in the Eastwood I.O.O.F. Cemetery, Medford, Jackson Co., Oregon.) They had the following children: Laura Merriman Bennett (1883-1963) md. Frank Floyd Loder Artinecia Marie Bennett (1885-1974) md. Hollie Frank Swingle Samuel Louis Bennett (1886-1938) md. Mary Rosa Scoggin After her public school education, Marie (Maria) attended school at the Ashland Academy/College in Ashland, Oregon. She afterwards worked as a teacher until her marriage. In 1880, she was teaching the school at Sam's Valley, Oregon. After their marriage in 1881, Samuel and Marie moved briefly to the state of California, where they were living in 1883. In 1884, they returned to Jackson County, Oregon and purchased a farm in what is now the city of Medford. They farmed there until 1908, when they retired and moved to the city of Medford and purchased a house at 531 S Riverside Avenue. Maria remained there until 1932, when she moved to Trail, Oregon to live with her daughter Marie Swingle. She died at the Sacred Heart Hospital in Medford.
5	Ann "Anna" Adelaide Merriman was born on March 28, 1860 in Manzanita Pct. (now Medford), Jackson Co., Oregon 22,25. She died on May 16, 1935 in Medford, Jackson Co., Oregon 22. She is buried in the Siskiyou Memorial Park, Medford, Jackson Co., Oregon. She married Joseph Cicero Clark on November 23, 1881 in Manzanita Pct. (now Medford), Jackson Co., Oregon 3. (He was born on September 28, 1858 in Spencer Twp., Ralls Co., Missouri 23 and died after 1902.) They had the following children: John Harrison Clark (1882-1962) md. Edenia Ruby Crilley unknown Clark (born and died before 1900) Claud Emerson Clark (1887-1920) md. Adrienne Martin Artie Bell Clark (1892-1953) md. William Milton Strain Adalia Catherine Clark (1895-after 1913) md. John Carl Wagner Josephine Clark (1897-1986) md. Frank Kenneth Jerome Elizabeth (Beth) Clark (1903-1962) md. Herschel Mansfield Prewitt Joseph and Anna were living somewhere in Oregon in 1882 and then in Lincoln County, Washington in 1887 and 1889. In 1891, they moved back to Oregon and settled in rural Curry County, Oregon by 1897. Sometime between 1900 and 1910, Anna and Joseph were divorced. In 1908, she was living with her children in Myrtle Point, Oregon. She then moved to Medford, Oregon, where she was living in 1910 and 1920. She then went to go live with her daughter Artie near Langlois in Curry County, Oregon, where she was living in 1930. She returned to Medford to visit her daughter Josephine when she died in 1935.
6	Isaac "Ike" Albert Merriman was born on September 11, 1861 in Manzanita Pct. (now Medford), Jackson Co., Oregon 24,25. He died on December 18, 1922 in Medford, Jackson Co., Oregon 24. He is buried in the Jacksonville Cemetery, Jacksonville, Jackson Co., Oregon. He married Emma Leora Bellinger on April 27, 1887 in Jacksonville, Jackson Co., Oregon 3. (She was born on May 10, 1868 in Jacksonville Pct., Jackson Co., Oregon 9 and died on June 15, 1950 in Lakeport, Lake Co., California 9. She is buried in the Jacksonville Cemetery, Jacksonville, Jackson Co., Oregon.) They had the following children: William "Harry" Harrison Merriman (1888-1936) md. Alma Leon Martin Merritt Bellinger Merriman (1894-1949) md. Cora Blanche Harvey Lester Albert Merriman (1902-1976) md. Helen Arlene Dittemore Chester Herbert Merriman (1902-1974) md. Beatrice Eloise Lewis In 1885, Isaac moved by himself to Montana, but only remained for 9 months before returning to Jackson County, Oregon by the end of the year. At that time, he probably took full possession of the Merriman family farm (as it was about the same time that his mother moved to Medford). He was married in 1887 and he apparently resided for the remainder of his life on the family farm. His widow Emma afterwards moved to the city of Medford. In about 1942, she moved to Ashland, Oregon. She died in Lakeport, California from injuries resulting from a car accident there.
7	Charles "Charlie" Harrison Merriman was born on March 29, 1863 in Manzanita Pct. (now Medford), Jackson Co., Oregon 25. He died on September 19, 1865 in Manzanita Pct. (now Medford), Jackson Co., Oregon 14,25. He is buried in the Jacksonville Cemetery, Jacksonville, Jackson Co., Oregon. He died from blood poisoning.
8	Mary "Mollie" Bell Merriman was born on August 4, 1864 in Manzanita Pct. (now Medford), Jackson Co., Oregon 33. She died on July 23, 1926 in Portland, Multnomah Co., Oregon 33. She is buried in the River View Cemetery, Portland, Multnomah Co., Oregon. She married Joseph Gatch Houston on April 6, 1891 in Portland, Multnomah Co., Oregon 34. (He was born on November 13, 1861 in New Richmond, Clermont Co., Ohio 32 and died on November 24, 1930 in Portland, Multnomah Co., Oregon 11. He is buried in the River View Cemetery, Portland, Multnomah Co., Oregon.) They had the following children: Alice Joyce Houston (1895-1911) Holland Herman Houston (1896-1972) md. Frances Alderson Wayne Edward Geary Houston (1898-1974) md. Marian Stewart Mollie became a school teacher like several of her older sisters. In 1887, she was teaching school in Medford. Then in 1888, she was attending the state normal school in Monmouth, Oregon. In 1889, she was again teaching in Medford and later that year she moved to Dallas, Oregon, to teach school. Sometime between 1889 and 1891, she moved to Portland, Oregon, where she began teaching school and where she met her husband. They were married in 1891 in Portland. They resided in Portland for the remainder of their lives. Mollie suffered from a serious heart condition (mitral regurgitation) for most of her adulthood, and which eventually killed her. She also apparently had very bad eyesight.
9	Walter Thomas Merriman was born on February 26, 1866 in Manzanita Pct. (now Medford), Jackson Co., Oregon 14,25. He died on May 15, 1866 in Manzanita Pct. (now Medford), Jackson Co., Oregon 14,25. He is buried in the Jacksonville Cemetery, Jacksonville, Jackson Co., Oregon. He died from an abscess of the brain.
10	Isabel "Belle" Merriman was born on June 28, 1867 in Manzanita Pct. (now Medford), Jackson Co., Oregon 25. She died on December 19, 1953 in Portland, Multnomah Co., Oregon 11. She is buried in the Riverside Cemetery, Albany, Linn Co., Oregon. She married Charles K. Fronk on December 30, 1885 in Manzanita Pct. (now Medford), Jackson Co., Oregon 3. (He was born on June 24, 1857 in Yuba City, Yuba Co., California 32 and died on December 15, 1918 32. He is buried in the Riverside Cemetery, Albany, Linn Co., Oregon.) They had the following children: Earl Merriman Fronk (1886-1958) md. Ruby Stella Baker John Kenneth Fronk (1888-1932) md. 1st Alta Irene Weisz md. 2nd Elizabeth De Shon/Radoff/Busha md. 3rd Salma Evelyn Nelson Fay Fronk (1892-1892) Charles Kennard Fronk (1908-1979) md. 1st Edna Adeline Hartney (divorced) md. 2nd Beulah Elizabeth Parmley (divorced) md. 3rd Lillian May Coultas (divorced) md. 4th Lois Lee Kerksieck, ex-wife of Eugene Grinnell and William R. Speaker (divorced) md. 5th Mary Lou Glover, ex-wife of Joseph Mahitka md. 6th Alice Catherine Glover, widow of Nils Bernard Hoplin and sister of Mary Lou Glover (divorced) At some point in her youth, Isabel attended school in Ashland, Oregon (most likely the Ashland Academy/College where her sister Marie attended). Isabel and Charles were married at her mother's house in Medford in 1885. After the marriage, Isabel and Charles lived in Medford. In late 1891, they moved to Albany, Oregon; where they lived for many years. In 1909, they moved to Portland, Oregon and lived there for several years. In the mid-1910s, they apparently moved away. In 1915 and 1916, they were in Spokane, Washington. Isabel and Charles may have separated at about this point. In 1917, Charles was apparently living by himself in Portland, Oregon; where he died in 1918. In 1917, Isabel was living in Spokane, Washington and also apparently in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She returned to Portland, Oregon and was living there as late as 1921. Sometime during the 1920s, Isabel moved to southern California with most of her family. She lived in Los Angeles, California in a house purchased for her by her son John Kenneth, apparently with stolen money. When he was arrested and sentenced for fraud in 1926, she and the rest of the family apparently returned to Portland, Oregon. In 1932 and 1933, Isabel was living in Seattle, Washington (where some of her sisters) lived. She returned to Portland by 1936, and remained there until her death.	Chris Meinicke at meinicke@us.ibm.com is a researcher/descendant of this line.
11	Prudence Merriman was born on November 22, 1868 in Manzanita Pct. (now Medford), Jackson Co., Oregon 14,25. She died on December 30, 1870 in Manzanita Pct. (now Medford), Jackson Co., Oregon 14,25. She is buried in the Jacksonville Cemetery, Jacksonville, Jackson Co., Oregon. Prudence died from "congestion of the stomach."
12	Effie "Bessie" Merriman was born on March 25, 1870 in Manzanita Pct. (now Medford), Jackson Co., Oregon 25. She died on February 7, 1960 in Seattle, King Co., Washington 26. She is buried in the Acacia Memorial Park, Seattle, King Co., Washington. She married first John H. Bellinger on September 28, 1887 in Manzanita Pct. (now Medford), Jackson Co., Oregon 3. (He was born on February 4, 1866 in Jackson Co., Oregon 14 and died on December 14, 1918 in Jackson Co., Oregon 14. He is buried in the Jacksonville Cemetery, Jacksonville, Jackson Co., Oregon.) They divorced sometime between 1894-1899. They had no children. She married second Joseph Crosby Hill on October 18, 1899 in Seattle, King Co., Washington 46. (He was born on October 16, 1866 in Smithfield, Cache Co., Utah 23 and died on February 28, 1945 in Seattle, King Co., Washington 26. He is buried in the Acacia Memorial Park, Seattle, King Co., Washington.) They had no children. As an adult, Effie often used the name "Bessie" or "Bess." Why she came to use this name is unknown, and a guess is that it may have been an alias she used during the time period that she was divorcing her first husband and marrying her second. Effie and her first husband lived together in Medford until 1897. In February 1897, Effie moved by herself to Portland, Oregon in order to take classes in dressmaking so that she could return to Medford and open up a dressmaking shop. It is unknown if she ever returned to Medford or if she ever lived with her husband again; the move to Portland may have coincided with a separation and subsequent divorce. No divorce has been located in Jackson County, so perhaps they were divorced in a court in Portland. Sometime between 1897 and 1898, Effie moved to Georgetown, in King County, Washington. There in an 1899 directory, she was listed as a dressmaker. She may have moved there to pursue a man named Joseph Hill, who was a former resident of Medford and had moved to Georgetown in about 1897. He had also recently lost his wife and had three young children. Effie and Joseph were married in 1899. After her second marriage, Effie worked at various times as a dressmaker. They lived together at their home along Bateman Street (later Bailey Street) in Georgetown until Joseph's death in 1945. They had several houses built on their property and lived first at 928 Bailey Street and then at 1004 Bailey Street. All of their houses along Bailey Street have since been torn down and the location is covered by an onramp to Interstate-5. Effie remained by herself in her Georgetown house until about 1956, when she moved to a nursing home (The Masonic Home) in Zenith (now part of Des Moines), Washington. She died there four years later in 1960.
13	Marjorie Josephine Merriman was born on June 4, 1871 in Manzanita Pct. (now Medford), Jackson Co., Oregon 25,27. She died on January 6, 1940 in Seattle, King Co., Washington 26. She is buried in the Acacia Memorial Park, Seattle, King Co., Washington. She married John Beek on December 21, 1892 in Medford, Jackson Co., Oregon 3. (He was born on May 16, 1866 in Cowlitz Co., Washington 27 and died on January 24, 1953 in Seattle, King Co., Washington 26,27. He is buried in the Acacia Memorial Park, Seattle, King Co., Washington.) They had the following children: Helen Merriman Beek (1904-1975) md. 1st. George Lester Langtry (divorced) md. 2nd William Lacy Glazier John Beek (1906-1992) md. 1st Birdie Edith Lam md. 2nd Lena Loyce Hardaway She always went by her middle name, and was usually called Josie. After finishing her public school education in the late 1880s, Josie did what at least four of her older sisters did and decided to become a teacher. In October of 1890, she was teaching school at Flounce Rock in rural Jackson County, Oregon. She probably continued teaching until her marriage. She married John Beek in December 1892 at her brother George's house in Medford, Oregon. Bewteen 1892 and 1898, Josie and John lived together in Medford where John owned and operated a hardware store with his father. Then between 1898 and 1901, they moved very frequently while John was looking for different work. During those three years they lived in: Ashland, Oregon; Albany, Oregon; Portland, Oregon; Billings, Montana; Red Lodge, Montana; Big Timber, Montana; and Spokane, Washington. They then lived in Ballard, Washington (now a part of Seattle) from 1901 to 1903. In October 1903, they moved to Georgetown, Washington (now a part of Seattle), where they remained for 12 years. They rented in Georgetown until 1907, when they purchased some land along Beaumont Avenue (now at 6038 19th Avenue S in Seattle), where they had a house built in 1908. John served as City Clerk for Georgetown from 1904 until Georgetown was annexed by Seattle in 1910. Afterwards, he worked as an accountant for the Seattle City Comptroller's office. In 1915, Josie and her family moved to the University District area of north Seattle at 4314 10th Avenue NE (later 4314 Roosevelt Way NE). This has has since been torn down and is now covered by an office building. Sometime between 1938 and 1940, they moved again, to 2276 E 60th Street in the Ravenna neighborhood of north Seattle, where Josie lived until her death.
14	William "Will" Harrison Merriman was born on July 7, 1872 in Manzanita Pct. (now Medford), Jackson Co., Oregon 9,25. He died on May 28, 1942 in Berkeley, Alameda Co., California 9. He married first Rose Minerva Luy on July 29, 1894 in Jacksonville, Jackson Co., Oregon 3. (She was born in November 1875 in Jacksonville, Jackson Co., Oregon 7 and died on January 20, 1932 in Alameda Co., California 9.) They had one child: Edith Belle Merriman (1896-1935) md. William Irving Morgan He married second Mary "Minnie" Elizabeth Plunkett, widow of William Willis Finch, on September 11, 1934 in Seattle, King Co., Washington. (She was born on November 11, 1870 in Stratford, Ontario, Canada and died on October 12, 1962 in Alameda Co., California.) They had no children. William worked as an agent for the Southern Pacific Railroad company, which required him to move frequently. In 1888, he was in Roseburg, Oregon. In 1890, he was in Ashland, Oregon. In 1892, he was in Albany, Oregon. In 1896, he was in Gervais, Oregon. In 1898, he moved to Junction City, Oregon. In 1899, he moved to McMinnville, Oregon. In 1902, he was in Salem, Oregon. Sometime between 1902 and 1904, he moved to Portland, Oregon. Then in about 1914, he moved to Oakland, California, where he remained.
15	Winnifred "Winnie" Merriman was born on November 30, 1874 in Manzanita Pct. (now Medford), Jackson Co., Oregon 14,25. She died on January 14, 1875 in Manzanita Pct. (now Medford), Jackson Co., Oregon 14,25. She is buried in the Jacksonville Cemetery, Jacksonville, Jackson Co., Oregon. She died from strangulation of the bowels.

11th Generation: George Francis Merriman was born on September 16, 1855 in the Cow Creek Valley, Douglas County, Oregon 4,5,6,25. He died on November 6, 1915 in Medford, Jackson Co., Oregon 4,5,6. He is buried in the Eastwood I.O.O.F. Cemetery, Medford, Jackson Co., Oregon. Father: William Harrison Merriman Mother: Artinecia Riddle George spent the first part of his life on his parents' farm near what is now the city of Riddle, in Douglas County, Oregon. As a baby, he probably lived with his family in a military camp during the Rogue River Indian War, when his mother served as interpreter for the army during the winter of 1855-1856. In 1856 42,43,44 or 1857 4,45, the family moved south to Jackson County, Oregon. George spent the remainder of his childhood and most of his adolescence at the family farm, which was located in a rural region called Manzanita Precinct, a few miles northeast of Jacksonville. (Today the land is partially within the city limits of both Medford and Central Point, and is along Merriman Road). At an early age, it was decided that George would become a blacksmith, like his father and grandfather before him. When George was 15 (in about 1870), he began his apprenticeship in his father's blacksmith shop on the ranch in Manzanita Precinct. His apprenticeship lasted for three years (until about 1873). Afterwards he remained on the family farm for one year. In 1874, when George was 18 or 19, he moved to Canyon City, in eastern Oregon, where he worked as a blacksmith for two years. He returned to Jackson County in 1876 and opened up his own blacksmith shop in the newly formed town of Central Point. It was during this time period that George developed a relationship with a young woman named Mary Murray, who lived on a farm near his parents. They were soon engaged and were married at her parents' house on Bear Creek on November 8, 1877. It is unclear where exactly George and Mary lived between 1877 and 1880. They were somewhere in the vicinity of Central Point, and may have lived either with her parents or his. For unknown reasons, George closed his shop in Central Point in 1878. In that same year, he started working for the Oregon & California Stage Company, where he is said to have been the official horseshoer of the government between Redding, California and Roseburg, Oregon. During this time, he looked throughout southern Oregon for a place to move with his wife and child. In early 1880, George and his family moved to the small city of Oakland, in Douglas County, Oregon, where he once again opened a blacksmith business. In 1880, George was elected as a trustee for the city of Oakland. They did not remain in Oakland long and decided to move away. This may have had something to do with the fact that two of their children (William and Creed) died in Oakland while they lived there. It was also at about the same time that the city of Medford was formed along the railroad in Jackson County, not far from where George and Mary had been raised. George moved with his family to Medford in 1884. George purchased a blacksmith shop at the corner of Riverside Avenue and Main Street in Medford in 1884. For many years he operated the Medford business with partners: first Redfield, then Purdin, then Legate, then Elliott, then eventually becoming sole owner. In the business they operated as blacksmiths, horseshoers, machinists and wagon makers. After moving to Medford, George and his family apparently rented a house. Then, in 1891, they purchased their house at 520 S Central Avenue, where George and Mary remained until their deaths. In 1895, George indicated that he was planning to move with his family to Salem, Oregon, but it is unknown if he ever moved there. A later record indicates that for two and a half years after moving to Medford, he lived elsewhere. Whether he had gone to Salem or not, he was back in Medford by 1898. While George was a successful businessman, he also turned his interest to politics. He was an avid Republican and was for many years a member of the Medford City Council. In 1892, he ran for Jackson County Sheriff, but was defeated by a small majority. In 1895, George was almost appointed as the warden of the State Penitentiary in Salem. In 1900, George was appointed as Postmaster for the city of Medford, and held that position until 1904. George was a member of many civic and fraternal organizations including the Masons, the Knights of Pythias, the Elks, the Independant Order of Odd Fellows, Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Woodmen of the World, and the Native Sons of Oregon. George remained active in civic and business affairs for the remainder of his life. He died suddenly in 1915 after his stomach burst while attending to business in downtown Medford. George married Mary Elizabeth Murray on November 8, 1877 in Manzanita Pct. (now Medford), Jackson Co., Oregon 3.

1	William "Willie" Harrison Merriman was born on October 24, 1878 in Central Point, Jackson Co., Oregon 50. He died sometime between 1881 and 1883 in Oakland, Douglas Co., Oregon. He probably died shortly after April 23, 1881, when a newspaper article indicated that he was "lying at the point of death", of unknown causes.
2	Thomas "Tom" Theodore Merriman was born on May 2, 1880 in Oakland, Douglas Co., Oregon 8. He died on May 24, 1933 in Medford, Jackson Co., Oregon 8. He is buried in the Siskiyou Memorial Park, Medford, Oregon. He married Nellie Inez Whitmore on November 19, 1899 in Medford, Jackson Co., Oregon 3. (She was born on February 28, 1878 in Iowa 9 and died on November 21, 1967 in Napa, Napa Co., California 9. She is buried in the Siskiyou Memorial Park, Medford, Jackson Co., Oregon.) They had two children: Myrtle Merritt Merriman (1901-1973) md. Irene Evelyn Jones Thomas Francis Merriman (1909-1967) md. Barbetta Beal Thomas was a blacksmith like his father and eventually took over the family business. After their marriage in 1899, Thomas and Nellie first lived in Medford, Oregon. In about 1902, they moved to Boise, Idaho, and then moved to Pocatello, Idaho, where they were living in 1909. In 1910, they were living in Central Point, Oregon and moved permanently to Medford, Oregon before 1918.	Frank Merriman at merrimanf@psns.navy.mil is a descendant/researcher of this line.
3	Mary "May" Lurene Merriman was born on October 21, 1881 in Oakland, Douglas Co., Oregon 9. She died on September 7, 1959 in San Francisco, San Francisco Co., California 9. She is buried in the Holy Cross Cemetery, San Francisco, California. She married Robert "Bob" Walter Telfer on December 15, 1904 in Medford, Jackson Co., Oregon 3. (He was born on March 7, 1881 in Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii 9 and died on June 12, 1949 in San Francisco, San Francisco Co., California 9.) They had no children. Prior to her marriage, May worked as a clerk for the Medford Post Office. After their marriage they first lived with her parents in Medford. They were still living in Medford as late as 1912. During the mid-1910's, they lived briefly in Eugene, Oregon. Then in about 1918, they moved to San Francisco, California, where they remained. In Medford, Robert worked as a Recorder for the city. He later worked as a construction company manager in San Francisco.
4	Creed Merriman was born circa 1883 in Oakland, Douglas Co., Oregon. He died circa 1883-1884 in Oakland, Douglas Co., Oregon.
5	George Wilford Merriman was born on January 7, 1887 in Medford, Jackson Co., Oregon 9. He died on January 27, 1972 in Orange, Orange Co., California 9. He is buried in the Fairhaven Memorial Park, Santa Ana, Orange Co., California. He married Florence Nelson on February 14, 1909 in Pocatello, Bannock Co., Idaho 10. (She was born on March 1, 1890 in Idaho 9 and died on August 28, 1979 in Orange, Orange Co., California 9. She is buried in the Fairhaven Memorial Park, Santa Ana, Orange Co., California.) They had no children. George became a blacksmith like his father and his older brother. After finishing his apprenticeship, he moved to Oroville, California in 1907 to be blacksmith. He did not remain there long and next went to Pocatello, Idaho, where his older brother was living. There, he met Florence Nelson and they were married in 1909 (family gossip was that Florence was a prostitute). After the marriage, they moved to Medford, Oregon, where they were living in 1910 and 1916. In 1918, they were living in Chiloquin, Oregon and in 1920 they were living in Buhl, Idaho. Sometime between 1920 and 1923, they moved to Orange, California, where they both remained for the duration of their lives.
6	Blanche Merriman was born on February 18, 1889 in Medford, Jackson Co., Oregon 9. She died on July 1, 1965 in San Francisco, San Francisco Co., California 9. She is buried in the Golden Gate National Cemetery, San Bruno, California. She married first to Claude "Shorty" R. Miles on March 12, 1908 in Yreka, Siskiyou Co., California. (He was born on July 23, 1887 in Fort Klamath, Klamath Co., Oregon and died on October 22, 1968 in Medford, Jackson Co., Oregon. He is buried in the Siskiyou Memorial Park, Medford, Oregon.) They divorced on August 21, 1924. They had no children. Blanche married second to Edgar Dixon Gurney in about 1946. (He was born on June 6, 1898 in Chicago, Cook Co., Illinois and died on June 14, 1978 in Josephine Co., Oregon 11. He is buried in the Golden Gate National Cemetery, San Bruno, California.) They had no children. After their marriage in 1908, Blanche and Claude lived in Medford, although he was apparently away on business frequently. In 1920, Blanche was working as a clerk in a jewelry store. Sometime between 1924 and 1929, Blanche moved permanently to San Francisco, California. There, she worked as a nurse [dental hygienist?] in a dentist's office. She and her second husband had apparently courted/dated for many years, and had to wait to marry until his first wife had died or they were divorced.
7	Frank Merriman was born on January 12, 1891 in Medford, Jackson Co., Oregon 41. He died sometime between 1891 and 1900 (probably in 1891) in Medford, Jackson Co., Oregon. He is buried in the Eastwood I.O.O.F. Cemetery, Medford, Jackson Co., Oregon.
8	Mollie L. Merriman was born on March 25, 1892 in Medford, Jackson Co., Oregon 12. She died on December 3, 1934 in San Francisco, San Francisco Co., California 9,12. She married Clarence "Con" Harry Cady on April 6, 1910 in Medford, Jackson Co., Oregon 3. They divorced on December 31, 1913. They had no children. Mollie apparently suffered from multiple sclerosis (MS) and it was said that it was the reason her husband divorced her. After her divorce, she reverted to her maiden name and never remarried. In Medford, she worked for many years as a saleslady at Mann's Department Store. Sometime between 1927 and 1929, she moved to San Francisco, California, to live with her sister, and remained there until her death./
9	Vera Vivian Merriman
10	Sharon Chapman Merriman was born on January 29, 1902 in Medford, Jackson Co., Oregon 5. He died on July 4, 1935 in Red Lodge, Carbon Co., Montana 5. He is buried in the Eastwood I.O.O.F. Cemetery, Medford, Jackson Co., Oregon. He married Marietta Edwards on August 3, 1924 in Berkeley, Alameda Co., California 13. (She was born on December 16, 1900 in California 2 and died on May 12, 1999 in Sonora, Tuolumne Co., California 2.) They had one child: Living md. Robert Everett Smith Sharon was born and raised in Medford, Oregon. He attended Medford High School, where he graduated in 1919. After this, he moved to California where he attended the University of California, Berkeley. He graduated with his Bachelor's degree in 1922 and with his law degree (juris doctor) in 1925. Later in 1925, Sharon moved to Red Lodge, Montana where his uncle John Chapman was living. There, Sharon practiced law and also worked for his uncle's large business, J. W. Chapman, Inc. From 1930-1932, Sharon also served as a elected representative in the Montana State Legislature.

Vera Vivian Merriman was born on September 30, 1896 in Medford, Jackson County, Oregon ^1,2. She died on June 23, 1974 in Portland, Multnomah Co., Oregon ¹. She is buried in the Lincoln Memorial Park, Portland, Multnomah Co., Oregon.

Father: George Francis Merriman
Mother: Mary Elizabeth Murray

Vera spent her childhood and adolescence at her parents' house at 520 South Central Avenue in Medford, Oregon. It is unknown if Vera and her family ever attended church or belonged to any specific Christian denomination. In adulthood, Vera and most of her siblings became Catholics. Vera attended Medford High School, where she graduated in 1915. After graduating from high school, her parents sent her to a college or teaching school in Chicago, Illinois. It is not known which college this was, but it was apparently a short program (perhaps over the summer of 1915) after which she received her teaching certificate and returned to Medford.

Vera was immediately hired at Medford High School where she taught typewriting and shorthand. She worked at the high school from 1915 to 1917, when she was hired as a stenographer for A.E. Reames (a Medford lawyer and later U.S. Senator). It was also at about this time that Vera moved out of her mother's house and began living with her sister Blanche, who also lived in Medford. Sometime during the mid-1910s, Vera began a relationship with Ben Plymale. They wrote letters to each other during his service in World War I, and probably became engaged either before or after he returned from service. They were married in Medford in 1920.

After their marriage, they both continued working outside the home. By 1924, they had purchased a house at 59 North Orange Street in Medford. Vera continued working until probably 1925, when she became pregnant with her first child. Sadly only six weeks after the birth of her daughter Mary Jo, her husband died after complications in surgery. Vera was in a difficult situation and needed a way to support her family. Because her father had at one time been the Postmaster of Medford, she was able to get a job working for the Medford Post Office. She was fortunate because the Stock Market Crash of 1929 (and the start of the Great Depression) was only months away. Vera never remarried.

Vera continued with steady employment at the Post Office, with several promotions. Eventually, she became an administrative assistant at the Northwest Division Headquarters of the U.S. Post Office in Portland. Because of her job, she was compelled to move away from Medford. In 1941, she and her children moved to Portland, Oregon. Vera spent the remainder of her life in Portland. In old age, she enjoyed traveling by herself. During the 1950s and 1960s, she was documented as traveling on separate trips to Panama, Hawaii, Australia and Fiji. She died from heart failure while sitting in her rocking chair at home.

For information on their children, see his page.

Sources:

1. Obituary of Vera Plymale, The Oregonian, June 28, 1974
2. Social Security Death Index
3. Marriage records of Jackson Co., Oregon
4. Obituary of George F. Merriman, Medford Mail Tribune, November 8, 1915
5. Tombstone Inscriptions, Eastwood I.O.O.F. Cemetery, Medford, Oregon
6. Death Certificate of George F. Merriman, 1915, Jackson Co., Oregon
7. Assorted US Federal Census records
8. Death certificate of Thomas T. Merriman, 1933, Jackson Co., Oregon
9. California Death Index
10. Western States Marriage Index, http://abish.ricks.edu/fhc/gbsearch.asp
11. Oregon State Death Index
12. Obituary of Mollie L. Merriman, Medford Mail Tribune, December 4, 1934
13. Obituary of Sharon C. Merriman, The Picket-Journal, July 11, 1935
14. Tombstone Inscriptions, Jacksonville Cemetery, Jacksonville, Oregon
15. Powers, John C. Early Settlers of Sangamon County, Illinois. Edwin Wilson & Co., IL, 1876.
16. Death Notice of William H. Merriman, Jacksonville Democratic Times, September 21, 1877
17. Douglas Co., Oregon marriage records
18. Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, 1763-1900, Illinois State Archives
19. Death Certificate of Auletta Harvey, 1936, Jackson Co., Oregon
20. Tombstone Inscriptions, Mountain View Cemetery, Big Timber, Montana
21. Death Certificate of Marie Bennett, 1943, Jackson Co., Oregon
22. Death Certificate of Anna Clark, 1935, Jackson Co., Oregon
23. International Genealogical Index
24. Death Certificate of Isaac A. Merriman, 1922, Jackson Co., Oregon
25. Merriman Family Birth and Death Records, by Marie Merriman Bradley Manly
26. Washington State Death Index
27. Tombstone Inscription, Acacia Memorial Park, Seattle, Washington
28. Vital records of Cheshire, Connecticut
29. Merriman, W.W. The Descendants of Amos Merriman, Genealogical Chart. 1937, Chicago, IL.
30. Jacobus, Donald L. Reunion of Descendants of Nathaniel Merriman at Wallingford, Connecticut. New Haven, CT, 1914.
31. Jacobus, Donald L. Families of Ancient New Haven. 1922-1932.
32. Online gedcom family files
33. Death certificate of Mollie Houston, 1926, Multnomah Co., Oregon
34. Marriage records of Multnomah Co., Oregon
35. Indiana Deaths, 1882-1920. (Ancestry.com)
36. Cemetery index, Arenzville Cemetery, Cass Co., IL
37. Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Kane County. 1904, Munsell Pub. Co., Chicago
38. Family bible of Eliakim Merriman
39. Illinois Death Index, Pre-1916. Illinois State Archives, http://www.sos.state.il.us/GenealogyMWeb/deathsrch.html.
40. Tombstone inscriptions and cemetery index, Oak Ridge Cemetery, Springfield, IL. Find a Grave.
41. Birth notice, Ashland Tidings, Jan. 16, 1891
42. Walling, A.G. History of Southern Oregon: comprising Jackson, Josephine, Douglas, Curry and Coos Counties. Portland, OR, 1884.
43. The Centennial History of Oregon, Volume III, Clark Publishing Co., 1912.
44. Newspaper Article, Medford Mail, Jul. 14, 1893, Pg. 1
45. Obituary of Mrs. Merriman, Medford Tribune, Jan. 12, 1917, Pg. 6
46. News article, Medford Mail Tribune, Nov. 3, 1899, Pg. 6
47. Tombstone inscriptions, Mount Vernon Baptist Church Cemetery, Versailles, Kentucky.
48. Scott County, Kentucky Death Register, 1852-1862.
49. Perrin, William H. History of Bourbon, Scott, Harrison, and Nicholas Counties, Kentucky. 1882, Chicago.
50. Birth notice, Ashland [OR] Tidings, Nov. 1, 1878, Pg. 3

Places in the Unites States named after the Merriman family:

• Merriman Road, Medford, Jackson Co., OR