Eben William Harrison Merritt
Eben William Harrison Merritt as born 8/6/1911 and died 8/6/1911.
Lorna Mae was born 7/22/1912 and died 3/3/1993.
Mildred Amanda was born 10/21/1913 and died 3/14/2001.
Elbridge Zephania/’Stub’ was born 12/5/1914 and died 4/20/1981.
Marion Margaret was born 5/18/1916 and died 2/18/1932.
Fred Edward was born 12/16/1917 and died 11/14/1980.
Earl Barton was born 4/28/1919 and died 10/1/1999.
Dorothy Elizabeth was born 10/4/1920 and died 7/21/2002.
Byron Leroy was born 7/13/1922 and died 1/13/1987.
Eben was also married to Faye Wiggins and to Mildred Sharman [see obit at botom for more info.]
Notes:
‘Ebbie’ had a threshing machine that he worked for hire at various farms. He worked for the town and also cut firewood. My [Peter] of him was following my father and grandfather down a little path through the snow and coming upon this large man in a heavy coat and another man helping him with a single cylinder ‘make and break’ engine running a saw machine. The steam was rolling off the contraption [never had seen one before] and great uncle Ebby was putting snow in the top of the engine to keep it cool. I was about frozen but I didn’t dare even get near the whirring flywheel and flopping flatbelt to try to get warm.
{I venture to say the threshing machine that is on our old farm on Hannigan Road is that same threshing machine--am quite sure someone told me that. I have a photo or two of it also.]
Eben’s daughter, Marion, who was a very attractive and athletic girl, was home ill from school and came downstairs for a lunch and was sitting on the kitchen counter while her brother, Fred, was cleaning an ‘unloaded’ gun. It discharged, hitting Marion in the chest. She jumped off the counter and said, “You shot me!” and dropped dead. Fred ran into the barn terribly distraught and never really reconciled himself over this tragic accident. Marion is buried with her parents in the Hodgdon Cemetery. Fred battled with alcoholism the rest of his life. Ruby, my grandmother, died two years later of cancer.
‘Stub’Merritt played on the HHS basketball team with my father [Peter], Harry.
My mother, Dot Merritt Hannigan, also played on the girl’s HHS basketball team.
Eben W H Merritt
This appears to have been taken at Aunt Cora's, but not certain.
Ruby Amanda Barton
Look at the great chair she is sitting in. This appears a professional photo...no clues on it though. I tried doing a painting of her from this photo and gave it to Mom. I have it now, of course.
Eben Merritt -logger
This was in the Hodgdon Pioneer Times [Jan 10, 1996] as a vintage photo [Eugene Jackins] showing Grampie Ebby driving a team of horses out of the woods with a load of logs. Do not know who the person is standing on the logs.
U Les Stilwell & Dad [Jim Hannigan in far back…barely seen; with U. Earl and A Ruth Merritt--next row: A Cora Merritt Stilwell; A Mildred Merritt Howard; U Stub; A Virginia {Cone] Merritt; A. Lorna Merritt Murchie; ; and in front, kneeling-Uncle Fred Merritt and Mom, Dot Merritt Hannigan.
Reasonably sure this was Grampie Ebbie's threshing machine.
This is rusting away somewhere out in 'our' woods--on what used to be the Hannigan farm in Hodgdon.
HOULTON - Mildred M. Merritt, 82, died Aug. 10, 2002, at a local hospital. She was born July 28, 1921, at Hodgdon, the daughter of Edward and Caroline (Potter) Sharman. Mildred is survived by several nieces and nephews, and a special friend, Ruby Murchie. She was predeceased by her husband, Eben W. Merritt. Friends may call at the Dunn Funeral Home Tuesday, Aug. 13 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., the time of service, with the Rev. Tim Boger officiating. Interment will be in the Hodgdon Cemetery. Gifts may be made in Mildred's memory to the Cary Baptist Church or Gardiner Health Care Facility Activity Fund, care of Dunn Funeral Home, 11 Park St., Houlton 04730.