Dr. Edward Lyman Merriam

MERRIAM, VAN METER

Posted By: Jan Shoeman Peterson (email)
Date: 1/1/2010 at 16:14:48

Dr. Edward Lyman Merriam
1859-1924
taken from The History of Boone County 1914

Dr. Edward L. Merriam has been successfully engaged in practice as a veterinary surgeon of Ogden (Iowa) for more than two decades, and since 1902 has also devoted his attention to the real-estate business in association with William E. Van Meter. His birth occurred in Leavenworth County, Kansas, on the 22nd of March, 1859, his parents being Alva and Julia A. (Douglas) Merriam, the former born in Summit County, Ohio, on the 7th of August, 1825, and the latter in New Haven County, Connecticut, on the 2nd of October, 1827. Alva Merriam, a carpenter by trade, removed to Kossuth County, Iowa, in 1866 and there gave his attention to agricultural pursuits until 1873, when he abandoned his property because of the grasshoppers and went to Winneshiek county. There he followed farming until 1879 and during the remainder of his life he was engaged in agricultural pursuits in South Dakota, passing away near Tripp, Hutchinson County, that state, on the 18th of March, 1888. The demise of his wife occurred in Wisconsin in February, 1890.

Edward L. Merriam was reared and educated in Kossuth and Winneshiek counties of Iowa and when seventeen years of age went to Illinois, where he was employed as a farm hand for some time. Subsequently he spent a year in the employ of the Henney Buggy Company in Freeport, Illinois, and then removed to South Dakota, where he followed farming for a time. He afterward spent three years on the road as a traveling salesman and in 1888 went to Nebraska, where he carried on general agricultural pursuits for four years. On the 17th of February, 1892, he came to Ogden, Iowa, and throughout the intervening twenty-two years has been successfully engaged in practice as a veterinary surgeon, being accorded a large patronage. In 1902 he also embarked in the real estate business and has since successfully carried on his interests in this connection in partnership with William E. Van Meter.

On the 19th of January, 1880, Dr. Merriam was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary E. Van Meter, a daughter of Chrineyonce and Linda (Emmons) Van Meter, natives of New Jersey. The father, a miller by trade, removed to Illinois in an early day and throughout the remainder of his life devoted his attention to general agricultural pursuits in Lee and Whiteside counties. He passed away in 1898, but the mother still survives and now makes her home in Ogden, Iowa. Unto Dr. and Mrs. Merriam have been born twelve children, as follows: Stella M. who is the wife of George Sparks and resides in Boone County, this state; Emma G., the wife of Andrew Baker, of Boone, Iowa; Wilbur A., who follows farming near Mitchell, South Dakota; Edward J., a resident of Ogden, Iowa; Emery R., Melvin E., Ethel T., Ortiz W., Deltha L., Mildred E. and Isabelle G., all of whom are still under the parental roof; and one who died in infancy.

Dr. Merriam gives his political allegiance to the Republican Party and is now serving for the third term as Justice of the Peace, in which connection he has made a highly commendable record. He has likewise held the office of constable. His religious faith is that of the Free Methodist church and he exemplifies its teachings in his daily life. His life has been well spent and those who know him entertain for him warm regard by reason of the fact that he has made good use of his opportunities and has always been fair and honorable in his relations with his fellow men.