Monterey County CA Archives Biographies.....Merritt, Manuel R. 1855 - 
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com January 14, 2007, 11:45 pm

Author: Luther A. Ingersoll, Editor (1893)

MANUEL R. MERRITT, ESQ., a native son of California, born in Monterey, June 8,
1855, son of Hon. Josiah Merritt, deceased, a pioneer of California of 1849,
native of New York, born in Orange county, August 21, 1796. He received a
college education in his native State, and then studied and entered the practice
of law, being admitted to the bar in New York city, where he practiced his
profession for several years. Later, in 1845, he Located and pursued his
profession in Illinois a short time, coming to California via the southern route
through Texas, arriving in 1849. In January, 1850, he reached Monterey and took
a somewhat active part in organizing Monterey county in 1851, and was chosen
first County Judge, serving from 1851 to 1854. As a lawyer, citizen, jurist and
friend he was able, fearless, active and true. He was twice married, first in
New York, where his wife died, leaving two sons, Caleb, of Newbury, on the
Hudson, a successful business man, and Sylvander, an engineer on the Erie,
railroad; served as Mayor of Port Jervis, New York, and died in 1886. Josiah
Merritt came to California and married a second time, in 1850, to Juana, eldest
daughter of Simeon Castro, deceased, Judge of the First Instance under Mexican
rule, and a prominent and wealthy Spanish citizen of Monterey. Mrs. Merritt was
an amiable Spanish lady of unusual graces of heart and mind, and was greatly
admired for her personal beauty. She was born June 24, 1820, in Monterey, where
she spent her entire life. Here she bore and reared an attractive family, and
died February 27, 1889. Her children were: Joseph Merritt, born April 19, 1851;
Joseph, learned the art of printing in his native city, in the Monterey Gazette
office, and was later one of the publishers of the Monterey Democrat, which he
established and published for time, and also of the Castroville Argus; he was
married in 1872, to Miss Annie Phillips, of Monterey, now deceased; in 1882 he
was editor of the San Jose Mercury, and later, in 1884, on the editorial staff
of San Jose Daily Herald. In August, 1887, he engaged in real estate and died
November 21, 1887. He was a first-class newspaper writer, and able with his pen,
astute in business, kind of heart and of gentlemanly bearing. The living
children are: Lavinia, Herlinda, Jennie and the subject.

  M. R. Merritt was born in the town of Monterey, June 8, 1855. He is the son of
ex-County Judge Josiah Merritt, and was educated in the public schools of his
native town. In 1869, his father having died, he left school and entered the
office of the Monterey Republican, where he learned the printing business. He
later became the editor and publisher of the Castroville Argus, and later
published the Monterey Herald, in connection with E. E. Curtis, now telegraph
editor of the San Francisco Chronicle. In 1878 he engaged in mercantile
business, which he followed for several years. In 1882 he was elected Supervisor
of Monterey county from the First District. He has been a delegate to the
Democratic-State Convention four times, and served as Secretary to the
Democratic County Committee for several years, and is now Chairman of said
County Committee. For several years he was Clerk of the Board of Trustees of
Castroville District, also Justice of the Peace, a Notary Public and
ex-Postmaster of that town. He is Past President of Gabilan Parlor, No. 132, of
the Native Sons of the Golden West. At present he is Chief Deputy in the County
Assessor's office.

  Several years ago he was married to Miss Lizzie W. Townsend, of Alameda, They
have a charming home in Salinas city, and three children.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

Memorial and Biographical History of the Coast Counties of Central California.

Illustrated.

Containing a History of this Important Section of the Pacific Coast from the
Earliest Period of its Discovery to the Present Time, together with Glimpses of
its Auspicious Future; Illustrations and Full-Page Portraits of some of its
Eminent Men, and Biographical Mention of many of its Pioneers, and Prominent
Citizens of To-day.



HENRY D. BARROWS,
Editor of the Historical Department.

LUTHER A. INGERSOLL,
Editor of the Biographical Department.

"A people that take no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will
never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote
descendants."-Macaulay.


CHICAGO: THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY.
1893.


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