Merrill, D. E. F.

MERRILL, WOOD, BAILEY, BURNHAM, WAITE

Posted By: Roseanna Zehner
Date: 7/24/2006 at 07:12:39

MERRILL, D.E.F.

D.E.F. Merrill, who has made a good name for himself and won a competency by hard work and persistent economy in Lyon County, was born in Clayton County, Iowa, September 8, 1852.

In 1855 his parents removed to Waterloo, where a year and a half later his father began farming. It was on the farm that the subject of this article spent the next few years of his life, assisting his father and attending the district school.

When he was fourteen years of age he ceased his attendance at school, and devoted his entire time to his father's farm until after his marriage, which occurred April 16, 1874. Miss Mary C. Wood becoming his wife. She was a daughter of Enoch and Mildred (Bailey) Wood. For the ensuing five years Mr. Merrill was engaged in farming for himself near Waterloo.

In 1879 he removed to a location in Sioux County, near the present site of the village of Ireton. This was prior to the railroad and there was no town at the time. Here Mr. Merrill engaged in farming, but In October 1881, sold out and sought a home in Lyon County. He had already bought the west half of the southwest quarter of section 36, township 100, range 46, and on this place he settled, and is found at the present time.

In political matters he is a Democrat, and has been trustee of the school board for eight years. He is a man who commands the respect of all who know him, not only for his industrious habits, but also for his upright life and kindly spirit.

Roswell Merrill, the father of D.E.F., was born in Massachusetts, and came of an English ancestry. He died in Waterloo. His wife, Harriet Burnham, the mother of D.E.F., was born in Vermont, and died near Waterloo, Iowa in September 1901. She was of Scotch descent.

Mr. and Mrs. D.E.F. Merrill are the parents of the following family: Earl A., a school teacher for about ten years in Lyon County, was married October 29, 1901, to Edyth Waite, and the two are settled on a farm; he graduated from the Rock Rapids high schools; Earnest W., a graduate of the Rock Rapids high schools, and a school teacher of more than local reputation, is now at home; Guy B.; Raleigh; Alice L.; Nellie, who was born July 25, 1880, died January 25, 1881.

Source: Compendium of History Reminiscence and Biography of Lyon County, Iowa. Published under the Auspices of the Pioneer Association of Lyon County. Geo. Monlun, Pres.; Hon. E. C. Roach Sec’y; and Col. F. M. Thompson, Historian. Geo. A. Ogle & CO., Published, Engravers and Book Manufacturers. Chicago, 1904-1905

Transcribed by Roseanna Zehner, Darlene Jacoby and Diane Johnson