Archive:History of Westminster, Heywood, Merriam 2

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Archives > Archive:Extracts > Archive:History of Westminster, Massachusetts > History of Westminster, Heywood, Merriam 2

Heywood, William Sweetzer, History of Westminster, Massashusetts (First named Narragansett No. 2), From the date of the original grant of the township to the present time, 1728-1893, with a Biographic-Genealogical Register of its Principal Families, (Vox Populi Press: S.W. Huse & Co., Lowell, Mass.: 1893); New England Historic Genealogical Society Call No. F/74/W72/H6.

MERRIAM
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[p. 772-775]

[85.] Merriam, Nathan7, bro. of the last, m. Nov., 1811, m. Ruth, dau. of John and Lucy (Hale) Keyes of Pn., and set. upon lot No. 53, the present Albert Howard farm, in which he had some hereditary interest. He subsequently left the place and res. in the village. A serious accident at a later date so impaired his physical and mental faculties that he was rendered incapable of self-support, but was most kindly and faithfully cared for during the following years of his life by his oldest s., as were also his w. and a dependent dau. He passed from his earthly labors and sufferings at Temp., Oct. 23, 1852, a. 64. His wid., Ruth, d. at Temp., Feb. 20, 1863, a. 76. Chn.:
105. Abner Holden8, b. May 11, 1812; m. Emily Wood; res.W., etc.
106. Elizabeth H.8, b. July 17, 1815; d. Aug. 20, 1837.
107. Abigail8, b. July 17, 1817; d. Nov. 26, 1879.
108. Nathan8, b. June 2, 1819; d. Aug. 25, 1837.
109. Joseph D.8, b. Aug. 18, 1821; m. Maria Allen, etc.; res.Fg.; 2 chn.; living.
110. Phebe K.8, b. Nov. 110, 1823; d. May 2, 1836.
[87.] Merriam, Asaph7, [footnote p. 772-773] bro. of the two last, was educated for the Chn. ministry, and ordained to his chosen work under the auspices of the Baptist denomination, ab. the year 1826. His first settlement was at West Royalston, and he subsequently held pastorates at New Ipswich, N.H., Canton, Athol, Bolton, where he was located many years, and elsewhere. He was a man of devout and earnest spirit, of deep and tender sympathies, a conscientious preacher, a faithful pastor, thoroughly consecrated to the Master's service as he understood it. He was highly esteemed by those for whom he labored and by his professional brethren, and his life was crowned with usefulness and honor. He was twice married: (1) to Anna W. Gibson, of Fg., April 18, 1815. She d. May 5, 1827; and he m. (2) Feb. 14, 1829, Lorena Davis. He had 10 chn., most of whom d. in childhood or early maturity, two only becoming heads of families.
Evelina8, b. Aug. 17, 1825, m. J. Chandler Partridge of Temp., had 3 chn., and d. July 29, 1869. For some years she was a teacher in the Academy; a lovely character.
Marietta A.E.8 was b. April 20, 1831, m. Charles White of Bolton, where she is still living.
[90.] Merriam, Reuben P.8, s. of Samuel7 and Elmira, m. May 7, 1856 Elizabeth, dau. of Nathanial Brooks of Stg. He disposed of the paternal estate, and of late years has res. in the Abraham Wood house on the old Common. He has had 4 chn.:
111. Jennie E.9, b. March 20, 1857; m. Frank A. (119) Merriam; res. W.; 3 chn.; d. Jan. 15, 1889.
112. Mary Lizzie9, b. May 17, 1860; m. Charles Kendall; res. Fg.; 3 chn.
113. Carrie R.9, b. Feb. 8, 1864; m. Wm. S. Winter; res.Winch.; 4 chn.
114. Eddie E.9, b. Jan. 16. 1971.
[96.] Merriam, Franklin8 [note p. 774], the oldest s. of Dea. Joel7 and Polly, was b. March 5, 1810. "At the age of 14 he indulged a hope in Christ and soon was baptized into the Princeton Baptist Chh." Six yrs. later a great revival in his religious feelings prompted him to devote his life to the work of the Christian ministry. With no pecuniary resources save what he could acquire by his own efforts, he worked his way through a preparatory course of study at W. Academy through Waterville, Me., Coll., graduating in 1837, and through Newton Theol. Sem., where he grad. in 1840, "with no bills unpaid."

In Oct. of the last-named year he was ordained and settled at E. Winthrop, Me., on a salary of $400, remaining there till 1847, when he rem. to Searsmont in the same State. He has since had pastorates at Exeter, New Boston, E. Jaffrey, Hanover, Danbury, Bow, and E. Weare, N. H., besides serving 3 yrs. as Agent of the Am. and For. Bible Society, and 2 yrs. as Agent for the Am. Bap. Miss. Union. He has held the office of Trustee of the N. H. Bap. Convention, and of Trustee of Colby Univ. for 25 yrs., to which institution he gave a scholarship in 1860. When in Hanover he was appointed a member of the Examining Committee of Dartmouth College.

His is the record of a long, active, useful, exemplary, honorable life, - a life consecrated to God and devoted to the service of mankind. To his faith he has added virtue and zeal in every good word and work. "He has never spent a cent for tobacco, intoxicating liquors, tea, or coffee for personal use," and has proved faithful in every post of duty to which he has been called and in all the relations of life. He is still living, bowed somewhat beneath the infirmities of age, but sharing the respect and honor of all who know him, as well as the love and gratitude of those whom h has helped to a more Christian life, and awaiting in serene trust the summons that shall call him to the higher labors and more lasting rewards of the world unseen and immortal.

Mr. Merriam m. in Sept., 1845, Eunice C. Ward of China, Me., who bore him 4 chn., one of whom d. in infancy. Of the 3 living, E. Franklin and George grad. at Colby Univ. and also at Newton Theol. Sem., and are engaged in the work of the Ministry, - the former in Boston and the other in Kansas. The third, Hattie W., is m. and res. at E. Weare, N. H., and with her the father is spending the last days of his earthly pilgrimage.
Hon. Joel Merriam
[99.] Merriam, Joel8, s. of Dea. Joel7 and Polly, m. Elmina, dau. of Benjamin and Achsah (Boutelle) Perkins (pub. Feb. 15), 1840. He was a painter by trade, and was in business for some years with Joseph Drury, Jr., now of Gr. He res. at sev. places ab. the village, but finally purchased and occupied the Whitman house, where his s., Frank A., now resides. He was an earnest, public-spirited citizen, active in town and chh. affairs and in various causes of reform and philanthropy. He was early in life a Liberty Party man, doing with his might what seemed to him best for the overthrow of the system of Am. Slavery. He labored earnestly for the Temperance reformation and the suppression of the traffic in intoxicating liquors. The tn. honored him with numerous tokens of regard and confidence. He served for sev. yrs. each, as Selectman and Assessor, and two terms in succession was he chosen to the upper house of the Gen. Ct. He d. May 7, 1873, a. 56. His wid. d. Nov. 30, 1885, a. 67. Chn.:
115. Evelina9, b. Oct. 2, 1843; m. W. C. Foskett; res. W.; 4 chn.; living.
116. Sarah M.9, b. Sept. 16, 1848; d. Sept. 14, 1849.
117. Emma E.9, b. Aug. 1, 1850; m. Frank M. (1) Urban; res.W.; 2 chn.
118. Joel H.9, b. July 3, 1852; m. Anna P. Merrifield [Mansfield in below record]; res. W., etc.; chn.; living.
119. Frank A.9, b. Sept. 5, 1855; m. Jennie E. (111) Merriam, etc.; res. W.; chn.; living.
120. Sarah E.9, b. Sept. 8, 1857; m. Fred B. (31) Bolton.
121. Cora E.9, b. March 27, 1803; res.W. unm.
Artemus Merriam
[100.] Merriam, Artemas8, bro. of the last, has been for many yers, and is still, one of the most successful, public-spirited, and generous business men of the town. (See Chap. XVI, p. 317 [contains a history and photograph of Artemas Merriam's chair manufacturing company, est. 1848]. He is interested in whatever concerns the common well-being, is ready to "lend a hand" in every good word and work, and shares the respect and confidence of his fellow-townsfolk to an unusual extent. He has filled the office of Selectman at different dates, and was elected to represent his district in the Leg. of 1878. He m. June 8, 1841, Salome (66), dau. of Asa and Dolly (Whitney) Holden, and they have had the following chn.:
122. Stillman F.9, b. May 30, 1843; d. July 7, 1843.
123. Laura9, b. July 24, 1844; d. Oct. 15, 1844.
124. Mary Ella9, b. Feb. 28, 1846; m. Adin F. (23) Baker; res. W.
125. Ida Eliza9, b. Nov. 21, 1856; m. S. D. (4) Simonds; res. W.
126. Willie9, b. Aug. 9, 1859; d. Aug. 13, 1859.
127. Nellie9, b. Aug. 31, 1861; d. Sept. 4, 1861.
[105.] Merriam, Abner Holden8, s. of Nathan7 and Ruth, fitted for College at W. Academy and grad. at Amherst in the class of 1840. He soon after took charge of the institution in which he pursued his preparatory studies, then in a moribund condition, imparted new life to it, and made it one of the most prosperous schools of its kind in the Commonwealth. He was in that position about 7 yrs., when he left for Winchendon where he occupied a similar post of service. After a few more years spent in teaching, some portion of which time his fam. lived at Leom., he located on a small farm in Temp., and where he still resides, much respected for his honesty of purpose, kindly spirit, and Christian life. He has been for many yrs. a Deacon of the Trinitarian Chh. in the town of his adoption. He m. April 14, 1842, Emily, dau. of Dea. Abel and Betsey (Fairbanks) Wood of Leom., - the two being still spared to each ::{| border="0" cellpadding="0" width="75%"

| valign="top" | 128. | valign="top" | Charles H.9, b. W., Aug. 16, 1845; m. Clara L. McKinley; res. Gr.; 4 chn. |- | valign="top" | 129. | valign="top" | Emily M.9, b. Leom., Aug. 27, 1847; m. Lewis W. Bryant; res. Temp.; 4 chn. |- | valign="top" | 130. | valign="top" | Olive E.9, b. Leom., April 17, 1849; m. Moses Leland; res. Gr.; 3 chn. |- | valign="top" | 131. | valign="top" | Susan A.9, b. Leom., Aug. 10, 1850; d. Aug. 10, 1852. |- | valign="top" | 132. | valign="top" | Mary A.9, b. Temp., Oct. 1, 1857; d. May 7, 1860. |}

[118.] Merriam, Joeh Harvey.9, s. of Joel8 and Elmina, res. in town some years after reaching maturity, being in trade with his younger bro. at the well-known Whitman store. He however sold out ab. 1800 and rem. to Denver, Col. He m. (1) Ella M., dau. John and Eliza (Kendall) Persons of Windsor, Vt., Oct. 9, 1873. She d. without issue, and he m. (2) Anna. P. Mansfield [Merrifield in above record], of So. Chelmsford. Chn.:

113. Ethel10, b. Feb. 16, 1880 114. Harold G.10, b. Sept. 26, 1883.
[119.] Merriam, Frank A.9, bro. of the last, with whom he was associated in trade awhile, as just stated, is now carrying on a prosperous business by himself, enjoying a reasonable proportion of public patronage and the regard of the general community. He is an active member of the Baptist Chh., in which he has held the office of Deacon since 1886. He also has been twice m. (1) Jennie E. (111), dau. of Reuben P. and Elizabeth (Brooks) Merriam, Oct. 26, 1876. She bore him 3 chn. and d. Jan. 15, 1888, a. 30. He m. (2) Ida E. (2), dau. of Charles and Martha A. Simonds, April 29, 1891. His chn. by 1st w. are:
135. Frank E.10, b. May 6, 1878.
136. George A.10, b. Aug. 21, 1882.
137. Robert J.10, b. Aug. 29, 1885.

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