Dear Jan, We have had one person researching the Merril family, but the address may be 10 years old--I don't know. The last known address is Opal M. Kellogg, PO Box 465, Parsons, KS 67357-0465. I know of no place that has shopping information or business owner material. The early papers at times published information about the businesses in town, but finding it is almost impossible, as you have to read each issue of the paper. Our oldest abstracted obituaries show a Sarah L. (Joslyn) Merril born January 5, 1835, in Hardwick, Caledonia County, Vermont. She was married in Vermont on December 4, 1851, to George W. Merril. The family came to Louisa County in 1858. She died July 16, 1889. She had 9 children. The husband, 7 sons and 1 daughter survive her. This is from an obituary in the Columbus Gazette of July 24, 1889. A second obituary in this abstraction is for an Alice M. (Hight) Merril. She was born on March 29, 1828, at Albany, Vermont. She was married October 15, 1855 to John L. Merril, who preceded her in death. She and John had 5 children, 4 of whom survive. They are Mrs. T. Himmelreich of Cotter, Mrs. Robert W. Owen, Miss Ida and William A. She died March 29, 1893. Three brothers survive, B. W. Hight of Council Bluffs, W. M. Hight of Massachusetts and John Hight of Glenwood. One sister also survives, Mrs. W. H. Johnston of Columbus Junction, Iowa. This information was in the Columbus Safeguard of March 31, 1893. There is an entry for John L. Merril in the 1885 Portrait and Biographical Album of Louisa County. I will type it here in the following paragraphs. John L. Merril, a merchant of Columbus Junction, Iowa, was born at Lisbon, Grafton County, New Hampshire on March 11, 1831, and his parents were Peter and Hannah (Locke) Merril. His father was born in Vermont and was of English descent, while his mother, who was a native of New Hampshire, was a lineal descendant of the historic family of that name of the original Plymouth Colony, her ancestors having come from England to America in 1636. Mr. Merril's parents removed to the town of Craftsbury, Orleans County, Vermont, where he was reared on a farm, and on the 15th of October, 1855, at Albany, Vermont, he was united in marriage with Miss Alice M. Hight, a daughter of John N. Hight, who was a native of that city. Mr. Merril and his young bride left for the West on their wedding day and came to Columbus City Township, Louisa County, Iowa, locating upon a farm which he had made a trip to purchase the previous spring, and prepared for their reception. They continued to make that their home for many years, and there 5 children were born to them, 1 son and 4 daughters, all living with the exception of 1 daughter. Flora, the eldest, is the wife of Theodore Himmelreich and lives on the old homestead. Emma L. died in February, 1864, aged three and a half years. Willie A. is engaged with his father in the store. Nettie E. and Ida A. are with their parents. Mr. Merril continued farming until the autumn of 1873, when, having been elected County Treasurer, he entered upon the duties of his office January 1, 1874, serving two years. On the sixteenth of June in the following year he moved his family to Columbus Junction, where he has since resided, and in April, 1879, embarked in his present business, dealing in groceries, provisions and queensware, though still retaining his ownership of the farm. In addition to his official service as County Treasurer, he has held various minor offices, such as that of member of the Town Council, and of the School Board, of which he has served as President for several years. Mr. Merril also holds a one-third interest in the Marsden Horse Company. His farm in Columbus City Township contains 130 acres, while he has 22 lots where he resides, and 2 lots at his place of business. His mother died in the East, and his father, afterward marrying, came to Columbus City Township, where his death occurred October 8, 1864. Four of his sons were soldiers in the late war, one of whom gave his life in defense of the Union. Mr. Merril is a Republican in politics, and a member of the Columbus Junction Lodge No. 10, A. O. U. W. He is one of the prominent businessmen of Columbus Junction and is highly respected throughout Louisa County. Prior to 1899 there are marriages in Louisa County for Flora A. Merril, Ida Merril, Nettie B. Merril, Asa Merrill and Thomas G. Merrill. In the Columbus City Cemetery are buried Alice M., 1828-1893, wife of J. L.; Clarke, died 1857, son of owner; Emma L., died 1864, daughter of J. L. and Alice; George W. 1835-1905; Gracia, 1880-1882; J. L. 1831-1891, husband of Alice; Jennie E., died 1861; Mrs. G. W. (Sarah) died 1899; Peter 1792-1864. No search has been made in other Louisa County records which might add information on land purchases and sales, probate records, etc., so quite a bit of information is to be found on your Merril family. I haven't tried to run down any descendants, but there surely are some living in Louisa County. Hope this helps. Keith Street ckcasey@netins.net 325 Franklin Ave, Wapello, IA 52653-1515 319-523-8164 -----Original Message----- From: Binkschat@aol.com <Binkschat@aol.com> To: IALOUISA-L@rootsweb.com <IALOUISA-L@rootsweb.com> Date: Friday, January 28, 2000 2:39 PM Subject: RE Merrill >I am looking for the surname of Merrill in the Louisa Co area in the 1800's. >They were around Columbus City/Junction and were merchants. The first names >I'm looking for are Peter, Sr & Jr, George, John, Asa, and I'm not sure who >else. I'm wondering if there would be any records of their shopkeeping. I >am also interested to know if there is possibly any desendants of this family >still in the area. Any help or direction is much appreciated. > >Thanks >Jan > > >==== IALOUISA Mailing List ==== >Mailing Lists: >mailto:IALOUISA-L@rootsweb.com >mailto:IAHENRY-L@rootweb.com