-Ouray County CO Archives Biographies.....Merling, John January 29, 1839 - ?
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Judy Crook jlcrook@rof.net February 25, 2006, 8:58 pm

Author: Progressive Men of Western Colorado

     John Merling, a prominent farmer, stock-grower and dairyman of Ouray
county, is a native of Germany, where he was born on January 29, 1839, and is
the son of Daniel and Margaret Merling, who were also born in Germany and
belonged to families that had lived in that country for many generations.  When
he was seven years old his parents emigrated to America, bringing their children
with them.  They located in Vermont, there he lived at home and went to school
until he reached the age of seventeen.  He then came west to Iowa, and in 1859
drove an ox team across the plains to Camp Floyd in Utah; and from there he went
on to California, where he engaged in mining until 1861.  At that time he
enlisted in the Union army for the Civil war as a member of Company B, First
California Infantry. He served three years and three months, and was then
discharged in New Mexico, his regiment having been engaged principally in
fighting the Indians who took advantage of the opportunity furnished by the war
to rise and seek to regain their lost prestige and drive the whites out of the
country. After his discharge he returned to Vermont, and after remaining there a
year came to Omaha, Nebraska, and was employed in railroad work on the Union
Pacific.  He continued in the employ of this company until the road was
completed into Wyoming.  In 1869 he came to Colorado and, locating at Las
Animas, engaged in raising stock and dairying, and also ran a meat market.  In
1876 he moved to Ouray county and settled on his present ranch, which comprises
one hundred and sixty acres of excellent farming and grazing land. When he took
possession of it the Indians claimed the ownership and he had difficulty in
defending his rights.  But he succeeded after a struggle in establishing himself
firmly on the land, and at once began to raise stock and sometime later started
a dairy which he has since been actively and profitably conducting.  He has
always taken an active interest in the affairs of the county and has served it
well as county commissioner and county school superintendent.  He was married in
Vermont in 1866 to Miss Mary E. Pepler, also a native of Germany.  She died in
Ouray county in 1901, leaving five children surviving her, George, John D.,
Charles, Frederick and Lillie.  In his business ventures Mr. Merling has
prospered, and in his association with his fellow men he has won their high and
lasting esteem, being now considered one of the leading men of the county in a
commercial way and in public affairs.  His life has been useful and upright, and
his influence for good in the development and progress of the county has been
considerable and has always been wisely and judiciously exercised. 

Additional Comments:
From Progressive Men of Western Colorado.  Chicago:  A.W. Bowen & Co., 1905

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/co/ouray/bios/merling197gbs.txt

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