Merriam, Farwell

MERRIAM

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 9/22/2019 at 17:41:10

Farwell Merriam

(From the 1891 Biographical History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, p.237)
FARWELL MERRIAM, a farmer of Lewis Township, is a native of Worcester Co., Massachusetts, born January 14, 1833, son of Asa and Sarah (WARREN) MERRIAM, natives of Westminster, Massachusetts, and of French extraction. The parents were both deceased in Massachusetts, the father dying May 19, 1886, at the advanced age of 86 years, 10 months, 11 days, and the mother in 1869. She was born about the beginning of the 19th century. The father was a farmer, and also owned and operated a mill in Princeton, Worcester Co., Massachusetts. FARWELL MERRIAM was the fifth child in a family of ten children, was reared to farm life and received his education in the district schools. When he was 20 years of age, he entered a wood shop, engaged in getting out chair material, and also learned wood turning for about a year. February 6, 1854, he embarked for California on board the steamship "Georgia," ticket $115. March 13, 1854, he arrived at San Francisco. He there took the steamboat "Pawnee" up the river to Marysville and then walked 28 miles to Swedish Flat, Butte Co., where he engaged in gold mining for over three years, when he returned to his native state, remaining until the spring of 1858. At Worcester, Mass., April 6, 1858, he purchased a ticket for $32 to St. Louis, Missouri, via Chicago which was at that time a small place. From St. Louis he came by boat to Council Bluffs where he remained over night, and the next morning started out afoot for Onawa, Iowa, a distance of some 60 miles. Here he engaged at work for Judge Whitney, in Monona Co., where he remained for two or three weeks. Mr. Merriam then purchased a piece of land, all of the northwest quarter of section 5, on the west side of the Sioux River, comprising 114 acres. This was a tract of uncultivated land, which he slightly improved and remained one year. He then returned to Onawa, where he erected a home, and resided there until May 6, 1861, when he started with a wagon and two yoke of cattle for Denver, Colorado, arriving at Denver, June 15, 1861. From there he went to Golden Gate and over the divide to Black Hawk Point and Central City, where he took up a claim between Central and Nevada City, which he worked for several months.

On October 6 he sold out and returned overland to Council Bluffs and thence to Onawa, where he remained until April 1862. Mr. Merriam then returned to Council Bluffs, en route for Denver; but when he arrived here, he changed his mind and on May 15, 1862, opened a small grocery, notions and fruit store at No. 187 Broadway. During his stay in Council Bluffs, he increased his stock and controlled the whole fruit market. In 1881 he turned his entire attention to his farm, which is located on section 17, Lewis Township, where he has lived since the spring of 1875 having purchased the same in 1874. This farm consists of 40 acres for which he paid $2,000 and which he has turned into a vegetable garden and fruit farm; but for a number of years he followed stock-raising. Mr. Merriam has made many improvements and now has one of the best located farms in this part of the country; everything denotes thrift, energy, and prosperity. He is a stanch Republican and takes an active part in all political issues of the day and strives to promote the best interests of his party. Mr. Merriam was married Sept 4, 1867, in Sparta, Wisconsin, to Miss SARAH E. JONES, aged 39 years, the daughter of G.H. and Adaline JONES of Council Bluffs. Mr. and Mrs. Merriam have six children: George of Council Bluffs, aged 22 years 4 months; Grace E., 19 years 9 months, and the wife of W.W. BIDDLESTON of Council Bluffs; Charles F., deceased March 15, 1889, aged 15 yrs 3 months 22 days; Walter, deceased in 1882 at the age of 3 yrs, 11 months 25 days; Leonard A., at home, aged 7 years 6 months; and Harrold, 4 years 6 months old. Mr. Merriam is a member of the Pioneer Association of Monona County, Iowa.