- DAVID MERRILL is a leading farmer of Beloit Township, residing
on section 10. Probably no
- man in Rock County has done more for its development and
upbuilding than our subject, who has been a resident since 1841,
but of this we will speak hereafter. In Shelburne, Franklin Co.,
Mass., he was born Dec. 9, 1812. His parents, Capt. Thaddeus
and Achsah (SEVERANCE) MERRILL, were of English descent. His
maternal great grandfather came to American during the early
Colonial times and the story of his life is one of thrilling
interest. He was a brave, fearless man, and twice served his
country as a soldier. He enlisted in the French and Indian War
and was twice captured by the red men and sent to Canada. He
also aided the Colonies in their struggle for independence, and
lived to a ripe old age, and died in his ninety-third year. At
one time having been taken prisoner by the Indians, he came,
with his captors to a stream. They felled a large tree, laid
it across the water and then sent their prisoner over to hold
the other end of the log to keep it from rolling. When the old
chief started to cross the water, without the slightest fear
of consequence, Mr. SEVERANCE rolled the log, thereby causing
the Indian to fall into the water. On reaching the bank the chief
drew his tomahawk to kill the old gentleman, but the other Indians,
who were greatly amused by the performance, interfered and thus
saved his life. He made his escape from the Indians by providing
the chief with liquor until he became intoxicated, and then forcing
him to make his mark which he used when passing the Indian guards,
and in that way reached his home. He at length laid down his
life after a long and useful career.
- The parents of our subject, Thaddeus MERRILL and his wife
had a family of thirteen children, all
- of whom reached mature years with the exception of one. Joel,
Ira, Strong and Lloyd are now all deceased; Levi is living in
Shelburne Falls, Mass.; David was the seventh in order of birth;
one died in infancy; Thaddeus, Jr., makes his home in Abingdon,
Ill.; Martin died in 1887; Solomon is located in Key, N.H.; Nathaniel
is a prominent citizen of Milwaukee, Wis.; Tirzah, widow of Cyrus
PELTON, is living in Cuylerville, N.Y.; and Hannah is deceased.
The parents both died in Shelburne, Mass., the father at the
age of seventy-six years, and the mother at the advanced age
of ninety. He was a member of the Unitarian Church, which she
held fellowship in the Congregational Church.
- The early education of our subject was pursued in the common
schools and academy of Shelburne,
- Mass., and in 1835, he took a preparatory course with the
intention of entering college. However, in the spring of 1836,
he was induced to change his mind and accompany a party of travelers
to the West. On reaching Ann Arbor, Mich., he left his friends
and in that community secured a position as teacher in the public
schools, while in the evenings he trained a singing class. In
the month of November, 1837, he first came to Wisconsin, remaining
in Milwaukee until the spring of 1838, when he returned to Ann
Arbor, Mich., where he made his home until the spring of 1841,
during which time he was principally engaged in teaching. During
that spring he went to Whitewater, Wis., where during the summer
he worked upon a farm. The following winter he was engaged in
teaching singing schools along the Rock River from Rockford,
Ill., to Whitewater, Wis., and in that manner formed an extensive
acquaintance. On the 19th day of March, 1842, he married Agnes
FONDA, this being one of the first public weddings in the county,
and was celebrated in the Congregational Church of Beloit. The
lady was a native of Fulton County, N.Y., and a daughter of John
FONDA. The young couple made their home in Whitewater until Nov.
17, 1842, when they started for Beloit. The sleighing was fine,
and reaching Fletcher's about 1 o'clock they started to cross
Rock Prairie, where for the distance of nine miles there was
not a single house. After having proceeded on their journey for
about a mile a blizzard struck them, and so blinding was the
storm that night came on when they had only gone about four and
a half miles. Unloading the goods, Mr. MERRILL hitched one horse
to the cutter while a gentleman mounted the other and he and
his wife followed as best they could. At about 10 o'clock that
night they struck a rail fence which they followed until it led
them to Mr. VAN TASSEL's nine miles up Turtle Creek. The next
morning he returned for the sled and goods and they then proceeded
on their journey to Beloit.
- In that city Mr. MERRILL again engaged in teaching singing
and also manufactured mittens and
- gloves. For several years following he engaged in speculating,
and erected some thirty or forty buildings including business
block and dwellings. Until 1851, he resided in Beloit, when he
removed to his first purchase of land on section 11, Beloit Township.
This comprised 160 acres in a wild and uncultivated condition,
from which he developed a beautiful home, now the residence of
his daughter, Ellen, widow of Winfield SCOTT. Altogether Mr.
MERRILL has purchased 1,331 acres of land all of which he has
since disposed of, with the exception of 230 acres. His life
has been one of untiring industry and in the development of Rock
County he has born no inconsiderable part. He has broken at least
1,400 acres of land and has laid the foundation for many of the
finest farms. He has built twenty-two and a half miles of fence
and has been constantly employed in the work of improvement in
one way or another. The railroad is also indebted to him. For
the Northwestern Railroad Company he furnished eight miles of
ties, and for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul road he supplied
seven miles of ties. In 1860, his yield of farm produce was very
great. He raised 6,000 bushels of wheat, 1,600 bushels of rye,
1,000 bushels of oats, 2,500 bushels of corn and fifty tons of
hay.
- Until December, 1863, Mr. and Mrs. MERRILL resided upon the
farm, but at that time they
- removed to the city of Beloit for the purpose of educating
their children, six in number. They had one other child who died
in infancy. Ellen, the oldest of the family became the wife of
Winfield SCOTT, a farmer who in 1876, was killed by a locomotive
on the Chicago & Northwestern while in the act of saving
the life of his child. Mrs. SCOTT died April 1, 1889. Stewart
is a photographer of San Francisco, Cal.; John is a real estate
agent of San Bernardino, Cal.; Charles is a Presbyterian minister
located at North Ontario, Cal., and has recently visited Palestine
and Egypt; Mary wedded Paul P. FERDNER, of Washington; Virginia
became the wife of Rev. Theodore HUNT, a Congregational minister
of Riverside, Cal. On the 1st day of November, 1878, the mother
of these children was called to her final rest. She was devoted
to her family and was a sincere member of the Presbyterian Church,
who gave much attention to the religious training of her children,
whom she lived to see useful and honored members of society.
Mr. MERRILL was again married June 16, 1881, when he wedded Mrs.
Harriet WHEAT, widow of Robert L. WHEAT, a respected citizen
of Rock County, who died in 1875. Mr. MERRILL is a native of
Orange County, N.Y., a lady of great refinement and pleasing
manners, and by her former marriage became the mother of five
children, namely: Jennie S., died in 1876; Homer R., who is engaged
in farming in Beloit Township; Hattie A., wife of John F. BENDER,
a grocer of Oconomowoc, Wis.; Mary A. is the wife of Willis WOODWARD,
of Rockford, Ill.; and one died in childhood. Jennie S. was a
young lady of much ability, a graduate of the Boston Normal School,
and a teacher in the public schools of Beloit. Mrs. MERRILL has
been a member of the Baptist Church for many years, while Mr.
MERRILL belongs to the Presbyterian. In politics, he is an active
member of the Republican party, and has filled various public
offices. This worthy couple have the highest respect of all who
know them.
-
- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, pp. 976-978.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
|