Julia Adams Merriott, 1835-1911

MERRIOTT, ADAMS

Posted By: Emmet County IAGenWeb Coordinator (email)
Date: 2/25/2009 at 21:31:50

Grandma Merriott is Dead.

This was the startling news sent over the wires Sunday morning. While we all realized that Grandma was nearly through with life's journey, yet we did not think the end was so near, and the news came with a terrible shock, not only to the family, but the large circle of acquaintances.

Grandpa and Grandma Merriott have lived in Center township nearly twenty years and their lives have been a benediction to us all.

She always had a very tender place in her heart for the young people, and the younger members of the Woodman lodge were selected to carry Grandma to her last home.

We all, old and young, went to her for comfort and no matter how severe her own suffering might be, she always met us with the same old mother look in her patience face, and we whose mothers have gone home, felt consoled and comforted, sure of her sympathy.

Grandma was very fond of flowers and one of her chief delights was to run out and give us a little bouquet of her flowers when we were passing by. So it was a great disappointment to us all, when owing to the lateness of the train, only a few of the many orders for flowers could be filled.

The funeral was held at the M. E. church in Gruver, and the large attendance of old neighbors and friends was a silent tribute to her memory. The sermon was preached by her pastor, Rev. Findley, from the text "For here we have no continuing city," Hebrews 18-14. In describing the beautiful rounded-out life of seventy-five years, the pastor made use of this beautiful simile, "She has a mansion in the skies, composed of seventy-five stories, each story has twelve rooms and the walls of these rooms are decorated with the beautiful deeds of Grandma's life."

It is hard to realize that no more we will see the kindly smile, and the feeble wave of the thin hand, but in passing the little home in Gruver, the tear will start, and the step will be a little slower as the dear fragrance of her life lingers with us.

Julia Lavina Adams was born in Ohio, April 20, 1835, died in Gruver, Iowa, January 28, 1911, aged 76 years, 9 months and 8 days. When a child she moved to Illinois with her parents. Here she was married to Joel Lewis Merriott, October 15, 1852.

To this union were born six children, two of whom died in infancy. George Merriott of Superior, Iowa, Charles E. Merriott of Chickasaw county, Iowa, James H. Merriott of Gruver, Mrs. Ida Pickell of Dolliver and the aged father are left to mourn her loss.

Mr. and Mrs. Marriott, after their marriage, moved to Wisconsin. From there they moved to Fredericksburg, Iowa, where they kept a hotel one year, and then moved onto a farm. Twenty years ago they moved to Emmet county and settled at Swan Lake. While here their home was destroyed once by fire and again fell victim to a cyclone. These waves of misfortune were overcome by persistent effort and the assistance from neighbors and friends. It was when living here that they celebrated their golden wedding anniversary, eight years ago last October at the M. E. church in Gruver. Some years later they moved into Gruver, where they have since made their home, except during the winters spent among their children.

Mrs. Merriott was converted and joined the M. E. church at thirteen years of age. Her constant adherence to this step so early taken leaves no room for any thought that she ever regretted having taken it. She was always glad to own her Savior and loved the ways of the Lord. While her days of suffering have been many, her life was filled with sunshine. She was a good faithful mother and a devoted loving wife through all her days. "Would you call her back from Heaven to this earth so dark with crime? Would you call your dear one hither From that bright and happy clime? No you could not though you miss her, She so safe with Jesus dwells, In the mansions he has made her, Where the angel music swells."

Contributed by: Ruth Hackett. Source: Estherville weekly newspaper, Feb. 8, 1911.