MERRITT E. HOTCHKISS
Merritt E. Hotchkiss was born in Mexico, Oswego county, New York, on the 9th of August, 1842, his parents being Stephen and Tryphena Hotchkiss. On the third day of May, 1861, he enlisted in Company D, Twenty-fourth New York Volunteers. He was with McClellan at Bailey's Crossroads; was in the engagements at Fredericksburg, Cedar Mountain, and many others. On the ninth day of May, 1863, he was discharged, and soon returned to his home in Oswego county, New York, where in January, 1869, he was married to Miss Helen E. Henyon, of that town. They have had five children, none of whom are now living: Willie, born in 1870, died in March, 1872, and four died in infancy. He remained at home until September, 1863, when he again enlisted in Company A, New York Infantry, and thus served until the close of the war. He then returned to New York City, and there remained until the spring of 1867, when he removed to Olmstead(sic) county, Minnesota, where he was engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1868, when he came to Cass county, and the spring following purchased a farm in section 5, Cass township, where he now resides. His farm contained one hundred and twenty acres of land, a nice residence, and many other farm buildings. Mr. Hotchkiss is a prominent and substantial citizen of this township, and his high standing in the community is chiefly owing to his ambition and successful management. He is a Mason of high degree, and is Worshipful Master of the Lewis Lodge, No. 137, A.F. and A.M., and also a member of the Ophir Chapter, No. 84.
Transcribed by Gloria Goltiani from "History of Cass County, Iowa. Together With Sketches of its Towns, Villages and Townships, Educational, Civil, Military and Political History: Portraits of Prominent Persons, and Biographies of Old Settlers and Representative Citizens." Springfield, Ill.: Continental Historical Company, 1884, pp. 511-512.
