HON. ELWIN F. MERRIMAN, present representative
from Avon to the State Legislature, is one of the most enterprising citizens
of his town, and has been a leading agriculturist of this part of Hartford
county since his removal here in 1888. Mr. Merriman is a native of the
town of Litchfield, Litchfield Co., Conn., born March 17, 1859, a son of
Joseph Merriman and a grandson of John A. Merriman.
John A. Merriman was born in New York State
in 1800, and in an early day removed to Litchfield, Conn., where he spent
the remainder of his days, engaged in general farming and raising working
cattle. He also did teaming between Litchfield and New Haven. He married
a Miss Cable, and they had fourteen children, four of whom died young,
and the other ten lived without a death among them for over fifty years:
Harlow, the eldest, was a resident of Falls Village, Conn.; Lucy is the
widow of Lewis Perkins, and lives in Litchfield; Hiram is a resident of
Springfield, Mass.; Julia (deceased) was the wife of Samuel McNeil, of
Danbury; John lives in Unionville, Conn.; Robert made his home in Wisconsin,
but died in Unionville, while on a visit; Joseph is the father of our subject;
Charles is a resident of Litchfield, where he has served as first selectman
for many years: Sarah is the wife of Julius Treadway; and Louise married
William Ford. The parents of this family both died in Litchfield county,
where they are buried. Mr. Merriman was a Democrat in politics.
Joseph Merriman was born May 3, 1834, in the
town of Litchfield, where he received his education in the district schools.
He has been one of the most active citizens of his town, all of his early
manhood was spent in doing teaming with oxen, and for many years he served
acceptably as road maker and supervisor, while for some years he had charge
of the town farm, giving general satisfaction in discharging the duties
of that incumbency. At present he is successfully engaged in dairying and
general farming in Litchfield, where he is highly respected for his substantial
worth. He has been active in the ranks of the Democratic party as a stanch
supporter of the principles of that organization, but he has never been
a politician in the sense of office-seeker. In Plainville, Conn., he was
married to Miss Catharine Bradley, a native of that town, daughter of Isaac
Bradley, and six children were born to them: Martha, who is the wife of
Henry Judd, a farmer of Middlebury; Elwin F.; Isaac, a farmer of Litchfield;
Lena, wife of Jay Gilbert, of Litchfield; Katie, wife of Birdsey Atwood,
of Thomaston, Conn., and Una, who died young. Mr. and Mrs. Merriman are
earnest members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Up to the age of thirteen years Elwin F. Merri-man
lived at home, assisting his parents on the farm, and attending the district
schools nearby. Since that time he has been practically self-supporting,
for he commenced to work out among other farmers, at first receiving ten
dollars a month for his services ; but he did not give up the idea of obtaining
a good education, and he continued to go to school during the winter time
as opportunity offered, studying for a time at Litchfield Academy. He taught
school for six terms near his old home, and was engaged thus in connection
with farming up to the age of twenty-two years, when he came to Hartford
county, locating first in Unionville. For five years after his removal
here he was engaged in teaming, and he then embarked in the express business
on his own account, running a wagon between Hartford and Unionville. Meeting
with fair success in this enterprise, he continued thus for two years,
in 1888 removing to West Avon, where he purchased the William Smith farm,
on which he has ever since resided. He carries on general farming, and
believes in extensive farming, and and keeps on his forty-acre farm about
thirty head of stock, peddling the milk in Unionville. Mr. Merriman has
prospered to an unusual degree since his settlement in Avon town, and he
fully deserves all the success which has come to him, for he has earned
the way to his present high position, and may well be called a self-made
man, one to whom the community can point as an example of industry and
intelligent effort. He has always had the reputation of being a straightforward
man in all his dealings, and by his able management of his own affairs
and strict Integrity has won the confidence of his fellow citizens in Avon,
who have shown their appreciation of his worth in many substantial ways.
Not long after settling here he was elected town assessor, in which office
he served faithfully; was acting school visitor for three years, and he
has since been called upon to serve as member of the board of relief and
as first selectman of the town. In 1898 he was chosen to represent his
district in the State Legislature, and he is now serving. Though he is
comparatively a new resident of the town, Mr. Merriman has by his upright
life made a place for himself among its reliable and most respected citizens,
as is evidenced by the many honors he has received at the hands of his
fellow citizens, and he is to be congratulated upon the position he has
reached while still in his prime. His political support is given to the
Democratic party.
Mr. Merriman was married, in 1880, to Miss
Louise Osborn, daughter of James Osborn, of Litchfield, and they had one
child, Raymond, who died at the age of twelve years. Mrs. Merriman died
Sep. 4, 1884, and was buried in Unionville; she was an earnest Christian
woman, in religious connection holding membership with the Episcopal Church.
In 1885 Mr. Merriman was married, in Unionville, to Miss Mary Porter, daughter
of Major and Mary (Thompson) Porter, both of whom died when Mrs. Merriman
was but two years of age. This union has also been blessed with two children:
Grace Isabel, born April 17, 1893, now attending school, and Louis Porter,
a sturdy little fellow, born Sept. 16, 1899. Mr. and Mrs. Merriman are
active members of the M. E. Church, in which he now holds the office of
steward. They are popular among their neighbors, having many friends in
Avon who enjoy their pleasant society and esteem them for their genuine
worth.
Commemorative
Biographical Record
of
Hartford County,
Connecticut
Illustrated
Chicago
J. H. Beers & Co.
1901
pgs 830 - 831
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