Merrill, Rev. Thomas d. 1899

MERRILL, HARRAH

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 5/8/2005 at 18:59:47

The Newton Record Thursday, July 6, 1899
Another Pioneer Passes Away

Merrill, Rev. Thomas

The sad news comes from Otis, Colorado, of the death of Rev. Thomas Merrill, which occurred on Sunday, June 25th. Father Merrill was the founder of Wittemburg College, about four miles north of this city, in 1855, the institution being in connection with a colony of Free Presbyterians, who settled her about that time. After the Civil War the college enterprise was abandoned. Mr. Merrill was a prominent abolitionist, as were all members of the Wittemburg colony, and that neighborhood was a noted station on the “underground railroad,” where fleeing slaves were helped on towards freedom.

Mr. Merrill and his aged companion, who survives him, have lived for some time on a farm near Otis, Colo., where his death occurred. He was the father-in-law of Rev. Chas. C. Harrah of this city. Mr. Merrill had passed his eighty-second birthday. He was a good man, his entire life being made up of good deeds for the best interests of his fellow men.

Memorial services will be held at Wittemburg Church next Sunday morning at 11 o’clock, and addresses will be made by Rev. C. C. Harrah, J. R. Crawford, J. P. Beatty and others.

Originally submitted on Sat Sep 28 20:25:41 2002