Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1891
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 716
AMASA L. MERCHANT

Amasa L. MERCHANT, a resident of section 16, Calhoun Township, came to Harrison County with his parents, three years before the county was organized--in 1850. His father settled where he still resides, in Magnolia Township. Our subject was born in Hancock County, Ill., at Nauvoo, March 11, 1844, and is a son of Lucius and Hortensia (PATRICK) MERCHANT, and when he was four years of age his father fitted out an ox-team and started West, Halting one year in Pottawattamie County, and then came to Magnolia. Amasa L., consequently, received his education in the common schools of this county. He remained at home until twenty-three years of age, when he moved to his present home in Calhoun Township, which he had purchased, the year previous. It was wild land, and upon it he erected a log house 16x18 feet, which is still standing. He occupied this house until 1884, and then erected his present commodious farm house, the upright of which is 14x28 feet, with two good sized additions.

There are important events in every man's life, and perhaps none have a greater bearing on the success and future happiness of a young man starting out in life, than the selection of a wife. It may be said in this connection, that in 1869 our subject took this view of the matter, for on November 22 of that year he was united in marriage to Lorain LOCKLING, a native of St. Joseph, Missouri, born in 1849, and the daughter of Artemus and Thirsa LOCKLING. Mrs. MERCHANT was the youngest of a family of four children, and came to Harrison County with her parents in 1851. Our subject and his wife have been blessed in their home circle by the advent of four children, Minnie M., born February 11, 1869; Jennie H., July 12, 1877; Lula L., March 31, 1882, and Mary I., November 27, 1886.

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