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William John Merrill (1830 - 1904)

William John Merrill
Born in Leon, Crenshaw, Alabamamap
Ancestors ancestors
Husband of — married 24 Jan 1850 in Covington County, Alabamamap
Descendants descendants
Died at age 74 in Leon, Crenshaw, Alabamamap
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Biography

WILLIAM JOHN MERRILL, farmer of Beat No. 8, was born within one mile of where he now resides at Leon, in a little log house with a dirt floor and other appurtenances to match. The date of his birth was February 17, 1830. He is a son of William and Susan (McDade) Merrill. The former was a native of Georgia, in which state he was raised with but a limited education. When a young man he came to Montgomery county, Ala., where he married and afterward removed to Montezuma, the old county seat of Covington county. Here he lived a few years and then removed to and settled in the woods where Leon now is, when the woods were filled with Indians and all kinds of wild beasts, but containing very few white people. Here Mr. Merrill improved a farm and lived many years. In an early day he was engaged in merchandising, and beside this line of business he handled considerable cotton. He was the first merchant at Leon. Mrs. Merrill died at Leon November 2, 1875. She was born probably in Montgomery county, and was raised principally at Mt. Meigs. Mr. Merrill died in Polk county, Tex. He was a man of great perseverance and industry, accumulated considerable property, but was unfortunate in business transactions. His father, Robert Merrill, was probably born in Maryland, whence he removed to Georgia, and later to Montgomery county, Ala., where he died. In his youth he for some years followed the sea. The subject of this sketch was the third of a family of five sons and two daughters, viz.: Sarah, deceased wife of Aaron Feagin; Mary E., widow of James E. Taylor of Texas; William J.; Robert R., of Limestone county, Tex., who served in the Confederate army from that state; James T., who served in the First Alabama cavalry in the western army all through the war, and was once wounded; Jacob P., who was a private soldier in the Thirty-seventh Alabama infantry nearly all through the war, was once wounded and has since died; Henry J., also deceased. William J. Merrill began life on the farm, suffering the privations incident to pioneer days, the nearest market being Montgomery, sixty-five miles away, and occasionally he would go to Milton, Fla., ninety miles away. The woods then were full of wild animals, deer being especially plentiful. January 24, 1850, he married Sarah, daughter of Jesse and Mary Handley, who died in Covington county. Mrs. Merrill was born in Dale county, Ala., and is the mother of thirteen children, three of whom died young. Those living are as follows: Mary A., wife of W. L. Benson; Viola, wife of Riley Odin; Laura A., wife of A. E. Cannon; Beulah E.; Jessie E.; James C.; John F.; Henry J., Robert B., and Joseph P. With the exception of two years, one before and one after his marriage, when he lived in Wilcox county, Mr. Merrill has lived all his life in the neighborhood of his birth, and since 1861 on his present farm near Leon. Here he has 640 acres of good land. At one time he owned about 1,000 acres, but sold off a portion because he thought he had too much. He began with nothing, working one year for the first horse he ever owned. He has done a great deal of hard work and is one of the most widely known men in the county, as well as one of its most respected citizens. In 1862 he volunteered to serve the Confederate cause, but was not accepted, a substitute going instead, in the Thirty-seventh Alabama infantry and serving two years. In 1864, however, he joined company F, First Alabama cavalry, and began operations in South Carolina, his first battle being in Barnwell district, February 2, 1865. The next day he was detailed to service in South and North Carolina, but he afterward rejoined his company and served therewith until the close of the war. On April 26, he left for home. Since then he has pursued the paths of peace, not having sought office, preferring the life of a private citizen. While he has never been a politician he has always been ready to support his party.


Sources

  • "Memorial Record of Alabama", Vol. I, p. 786-788

Published by Brant & Fuller (1893) Madison, WI





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Rejected matches › John Merrilees (abt.1830-)

M  >  Merrill  >  William John Merrill