The Merrill Newsletter - Volume 7, Number 2 -
July, 2002 - Page 2
John P. Merrill, Jr. of Batavia, NY
by Vicki Merrill Johnston
Batavia, NY 1895 Thursday [August 15, 1895 edition of newspaper, The Daily News.]
"DOMESTIC TROUBLE
John Merrill's Wife Leaves Him and Comes to This Village to Live!
John Merrill, who had his eyes blown out and was otherwise terribly injured by an explosion at his lime kiln on the Oakfield Road on May 20th. last, is now having domestic trouble. His wife has left him.
Lawyer John G. Johnson, who was at work for Mr. Merrill when the accident occurred, took charge of Mr. Merrill's affairs while the latter was in a hospital in Rochester. He lived on the Merrill place, where Mrs. Merrill remained, and held Mr. Merrill's power of attorney. The lawyer has continued to live there since Mr. Merrill returned from Rochester. Mr. Merrill became dissatisfied with the manner in which the lawyer was conducting his busubess affairs, and on Tuesday he came to Batavia and went to the house of his brother, Joseph Merrill of Washington Ave. Yesterday Mr. Merrill revoked the power of attorney and instructed Sheiff Neasmith to order Lawyer Johnson to vacate his premises at once. The Sheriff also was instructed to request the lawyer to present his bill for services rendered to Mr. Merrill, and that it would be paid at once. The Sheriff carried out his instructions, Lawyer Johnson then went to Justice Robson's court and commenced a suit against Mr. Merrill to recover for services rendered. Mr. Merrill went out to his farm this morning and found that his wife was moving out, taking a portion of the furniture in the house and bring it to a house at No. 105 West Main Street, Batavia. When Mr. Merrill asked his wife what she meant to do, she informed him that it was her intention to leave him. She upbraided him for coming to Batavia and remaining two days. Mr. Merrill says his wife left some furniture for him, but he cannot live there alone and he doesn't know what he can do. It is possible that he will go to live with his sister, Mrs. Fish, whose place is near his on the Oakfield Road. Mr. and Mrs. Merrill have been married nearly 30 years. They had no children."
This is a story I got from the Batavia, NY newspaper. John Merrill was my relative. His father John Merrill Sr., who was born in 1801, was the oldest brother to my great-great-grandfather Andrew Jackson Merrill.
John stayed with his sister, Mary Julia Fish, for awhile. John's wife, Catherine, came back to him and stayed with him till he died in 1910.
John Merrill Sr. was born May 9,1801 in Vrooman's Landing, Schoharie Co. NY to Elisha Merrill and Anna Froman.
Elisha Merrill was born March 9, 1771 in East Canaan, Conn. He married Anna Froman on September 16,1798 in Vrooman's Landing Schoharie Co., NY. Anna Froman was born November 21, 1779 in Vrooman's Landing, NY. Elisha and Anna Merrill had 12 children: Wealthy, John, Mary, Susan, Nelson, Eliza, Chauncy, Hyram, Sylvester, Deloss, Edwin, and Andrew Jackson Merrill .
They lived in Laurens, NY from 1810 until 1833, then moved to Batavia, NY. Elisha and Anna Merrill moved with their son Deloss Merrill to Benton, Michigan in 1847. Edwin Merrill had moved to Benton, Michgan in 1845 and caught a cold and died in Benton in Jan 1847. Edwin Merrill was the first person buried in Potterville Cemetery. This is also where Elisha and Anna Merrill are buried. Elisha Merrill died September 21, 1850 in Benton, Michigan. Anna Merrill died August 11, 1857 in Benton, MI.
John Merrill Sr. married Mary Champlin in Batavia, NY on September 23, 1829. They had 6 children:
Mary Julia Merrill born August 29,1831 in Batavia, NY. She died April 8, 1911 in Saginaw, Michigan. Mary Julia was married to Horace Fish.
Julia Frances Merrill born June 27, 1833 Batavia, NY. She died January 11, 1852 in Batavia, NY
John P. Merrill Jr. born May 20,1836 in Batavia, NY. Married to a Catherine E.? John died December 10, 1910 in Batavia, NY. I have his Obit.
Sarah Merrill b 1840 Batavia, NY She married a How/Howe. She died before 1881.
James Merrill b 1842 Batavia, NY I have not been able to find anything on him since 1860. Died ?
Joseph C. Merrill born March 1849 in Batavia, NY, married Bertha W. Bucholz in 1872 Batavia, NY. Joseph C. Merrill moved to Salt Lake City in 1900. Joseph Merrill died Dec 6, 1915 in Salt Lake City, Utah
This is the John P. Merrill Jr. Obit from newspaper:
"December 9, 1910 Batavia
John P. Merrill Died From Heart Disease:
Blinded 15 Years ago By Quarry Explosion,
John P. Merrill died suddenly at his home on the Oak field Road about 8
o'clock this morning from angina pectoria. Mr. Merrill had been able to
be about and was in usual health until the attack of heart disease today.
After rising and eating his breakfast Mr. Merrill did some chores about
the house and then sat down. Suddenly his wife, who was in a adjoining
room, heard him groan, and went to his assistance. He died before a physician
could be summoned. Coroner Snow viewed the remains and granted a certificate
of death.
Mr. Merrill was born in Batavia on May 20,1836, and spent his whole life in this town. For several years he was employed at the furniture and undertaking estabishment at No. 111 Main street now conducted by H. E. Turner, being employed by the late C. H. turner and the late George D. Williamson, Mr. Turner's predecessors. Later he made a business of buring lime in a quarry on his place on the Oakfield Road.
On May 20, 1895, while Mr. Merrill was blasting at his quarry, a blast
went off prematurely. He stood nearly over it and his eyes were blown from
his head. He was otherwise badly injured. After his recovery he acquired
the instinct of the blind and was able to find his way about the village
with a cane and could go any where unassisted. Mr. Merrill was widely known
and highly esteemed. He leaves, besides his wife Catherine, one brother
Joseph C. Merrill, who is now in Salt Lake City, Utah, and a sister Mrs.
Mary Julia Fish of Oakfield road.
The funeral will be held from the house on Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock."
