Edward Melborn Merritt and Barbara A. Gerow
EDWARD M. MERRITT AND BARBARA A GEROW
and their descendants
Edward Melborn Merritt
Edward M Merritt, born 4/23/1852, married Barbara A Gerow, born 12/18/1855 on 8/20/1876.
Their children [all born in Hodgdon]:
Leslie M. born 3/24/1878-married 11/14/1907-died 10/21/1940
Stephen William born 6/20/1880-married 1/21/1903-died 7/14/1952
Effie L. born 8/19/1882-married 5/20/1903-died 3/28/1923
Harry Cecil born 10/14/1885-married 8/12/1908-died 5/4/1913
Cora Blanche born 8/7/1888-married 12/24/1917-died 5/22/1982
Eben Wm Harrison born 6/18/1890-married 12/14/1910-died 12/12/1961
James Smith White born 9/1/1892-married 1/10/1911-died 4/7/1965 {Peter's line]
Eleanora Cleola born 10/15/1895-married 6/1/1918-died 2/16/1997
Marriages:
Leslie M to Mabel Betts
Stephen William to Charlotte Diamond
Effie L. married Guy Jackins
Harry Cecil married Lillian Izella Palmer on 8/12/1908;
12/24/1917 [this is confusing—not sure I’ve read the corrections correctly?
Cora Blanche married Samuel Leslie Stilwell
Eben William Harrison married Ruby Amanda Barton on 12/14/1910; later after her death, married Faye Wiggins; after her death? Married Mildred Sharman [Sherman?]
James Smith White married Lettie Esther Kelley
Eleanora Cleola married Maurice Gerow
Personal notes by Peter L Merritt:
In my Merritt genealogical quest I became curious some number of years ago why only one of Caleb Merritt’s children came to Maine and in particular to Hodgdon, ME. My great aunt Eleanor Merritt Gerow [youngest daughter of Edward] was the apparent family keeper of history and I sought her out in Bucksport, ME where she lived with her daughter, Nella and son-in-law, James Stone. Upon my query she related the following story:
Caleb Merritt was a deacon in the Baptist Church and was conducting the evening service one night and called upon his daughter, Abigail, to stand and give a testimony. She said she didn’t have one-to which her father said ‘Stand and the Lord will fill your mouth.’ No testimony was given and on the buggy ride home from church, Edward made a sarcastic remark to his father about God not filling his sister’s mouth which offended and angered his father. On arriving home the offending Edward was fastened to the buggy wheel and the whip applied to his backside. Edward apparently was so angry over this incident that he held his father in contempt ever after. Edward was working at a neighbor’s farm and had them save his earnings and upon turning 17, he took his wages and moved to Hodgdon. He never returned to Canada and never attended his parents’ funerals.
He spent most of his life working in the sawmill that was beside the stream in the center of Hodgdon. Later in life he did some undertaking. My grandfather, James, did not care to help in this endeavor. However, my father, Harry, said that he had helped his grandfather on occasion.
From what I understand from my father and others, Edward was possessed of an unpleasant disposition.
Barbara Gerow Merritt was given to a pleasant and kindly demeanor according to my father.
I can remember as a boy that my grandfather, James, bought his father’s old house and was doing renovations on it with his son, Ralph, and Ralph’s boys, Donny and Ronald, one July when we made our annual Fourth of July to the North Country.