California Biographies

Source:
History of Napa and Lake Counties
San Francisco, Slocum, Bowen & Co., Publishers. 1881

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper 2011

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives 
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm


HORACE A. MERRIAM.  A Son of Horace and Mary P. Bailey Merriam, was born in Rockland, Maine, 
December 19, 1852, where he resided until he was seventeen years of age, attending the common 
schools of that place, and afterward the high school. He then concluded to go to sea, and made several 
voyages, and afterwards followed coasting from Maine to New York, until 1871. He then went to 
Andover, Massachusetts, and started to learn the trade of machinist and engineer, and remained at 
this for about eighteen months. He then moved to Pawtucket, Rhode Island, and continued at his 
trade. The reason of his change from Andover was on account of not being able to learn but a few 
branches of his trade. His next move was to Hyde Park, near Boston, where he worked for the Barnard 
Milling Machine Company, and remained there until the financial panic of 1873, when the mill closed 
down, and the subject of this sketch moved back to Rockland, and worked there until his coming to 
California, which occurred in April, 1875, arriving in San Francisco on May 10th of that year. He then 
found employment at his trade, and remained for one year and a half. We next find him in the employ 
of the Florence Sewing Machine Company, and after following that for one year he was given charge 
of the advertising department of the Victor Sewing Machine Company, remaining at this until his 
health began to fail. He then proceeded to Napa Valley to recuperate, but liking the climate so well, 
concluded to locate, and his brother arriving from the East about this time, they bought a ranch of ten 
acres one mile north of St. Helena, and remained on this until 1878. Mr. Merriam then sold his interest 
to his brother, and purchased a half interest in the clothing firm of Alden & Co., of St. Helena, and after 
the lapse of one year Henry E. Alden bought the other half interest, and the business is now 
conducted under the firm name of Alden & Merriam. Their first location was under the Palace Hotel, 
but their business increasing, they had to secure more commodious quarters, and about the middle of 
June, 1881, they moved into their spacious and magnificent store under the Windsor Hotel, and it is 
but just to say that the firm of Alden & Merriam is one of the leading as well as most popular firms in 
Napa County. Mr. Merriam was united in marriage December 10, 1878, to Miss Carrie L. Lander, a 
native of Michigan, and by this marriage they have one living child and one deceased, Jennie W., born 
December 19, 1879; Frank L., born March 3, 1881, died July 3, 1881.