California Biographies
Merritt, John

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

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

Merritt, John. The subject of this memoir is a native of Marion county, Indiana,
having been born there June 30, 1827. At the age of fifteen years. he
accompanied his parents to Andrew county, Missouri, and with them dwelt for five
years longer. In 1847 war was declared against Mexico, and Mr. Merritt among the
chivalrous youths of that year enlisted in the Fifth Missouri Cavalry under
Captain Rogers, bent to earn a reputation at the cannon's mouth. The first
Winter, 1847-48, was passed in the dreary round of garrison duty at Fort
Kearney, on the Missouri river; in the Spring they were moved to New Fort
Kearney on Platte river, and were there stationed until the month of October, he
being finally mustered out in November 1848. Having spent the Winter of 1848-49
at his home, we find Mr. Merritt on May 4, 1849, starting for California as one
of the band of emigrants known as the Savannah company. Their route lay by way
of Fort Hall, through the Sierra Nevada at Carson route, making the California
line at Placerville, then known by the ominous name of Hangtown, on September
4, 1849. At that epoch gold hunting was the occupation of all, old and young,
feeble and stalwart. Merritt therefore at once commenced placer mining on the
spot, and continued it until the Spring of 1850, at which juncture he removed to
Sacramento, but after a short time returned to his engrossing occupation, this
time to the Georgia Slide in Canon creek, near Georgetown; where he remained
until the Fall of that year, when, in connection with his father who had
accompanied him to this State, he opened the first grocery store, at Georgia
Slide, on Canon creek. In the Fall of 1850 he came to Green Valley, Analy
township, and commenced the cultivation of potatoes, which was continued there
for two years, when he moved to the place known as the "Burnt Ranch" near
Petaluma, where he resided until he came to live on his present farm which
contains one hundred and two acres. In 1878, having up to that time been engaged
in the stock business, he opened his stock yard in Petaluma. As far back as the
year 1852, Mr. Merritt shipped the first fat hogs from Petaluma to San Francisco
on a sail boat before any steamers ran on the creek. Built the second house in
Petaluma, and stacked hay on the site of McCune's block in the Fall of 1851.
Married, March 16, 1854, Sarah E. Wilfley, a native of Scotland county,
Missouri, by whom he has John T., Edwin B., and Ida Jane.

Source: HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY, Alley, Bowen & Co. 1880