Grundy County IL Archives Biographies.....Merriam, William 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com March 25, 2006, 5:08 pm

Author: Bio/Gen Record LaSalle/Grundy 1900

William Merriam

It is always of interest to investigate the cause of success, to learn what 
has produced prosperity. In the history of this gentleman we have recorded the 
life of one who is truly a self-made man, for he started out in life empty-
handed and steadily worked his way upward, overcoming the obstacles in his 
path by determined purpose and ultimately acquiring a handsome competence 
which has enabled him to live retired.

He was born November 19, 1829, in Jefferson county, New York, a son of 
Archibald and Polly (Buhall) Merriam, both of whom were natives of New York.  
His father died when William was only six years of age, but he resided in 
Jefferson county until nineteen years of age, spending a part of the time in 
his mother’s home. Early in life, however, he began to provide for his own 
maintenance and learned the trades of cabinet-making and painting. In 1848 he 
arrived in the west, locating first at Somonauk. He afterward worked on the 
farm by the month for a year, and then going to Joliet he secured a position 
on a canal boat as bowsman. He had only six dollars at the time of his arrival 
in Illinois and had made the journey to the west upon borrowed money. On the 
canal boat he mastered all the various duties in connection with its operation 
arid for one and a half years he steered a freight boat. That boat was 
consigned to John P. Chapin, of Chicago, and he entered his employ, a 
connection that was continued for seven years, during which time he served on 
various boats, including the Queen of Joliet, Grand Turk, Charter Oak, 
Woodford, and the J. D. Harmon, and then became owner of a boat of his own 
called the Bill Merriam. This he ran for two years, at the end of which time 
he sold a half interest, and in 1860 he sold the other half. The following 
year he purchased eighty acres of land in Wauponsee township and turned his 
attention to farming, which he carried on until 1884. In the operation of his 
land he displayed great industry and enterprise, and as a result of his 
careful management and business ability he became the owner of a very valuable 
and productive farm.  He made his home there until 1884, when he took up his 
abode in Morris, but he still owns two hundred and eighty acres of land, from 
which he derives a good income.

In Grundy county, in 1854, Mr. Merriam was united in marriage to Miss Rubie S. 
Lyons, also a native of the Empire state, and a daughter of Vernon and Mariah 
(Taylor) Lyons, who removed from Philadelphia, New York, to Kendall county, 
Illinois, in 1847, locating about six miles east of Lisbon. Ten years later 
they came to Morris, where they spent their remaining days, the father passing 
away in 1872, at the age of sixty-three years. He was a farmer by occupation, 
but also followed carpentering.  Mrs. Merriam is the only survivor of her 
father’s family. Our subject and his wife have no children of their own, but 
roared an adopted daughter, Hattie (Bowen) Merriam, wife of William H. Slater, 
of Kansas. Mrs. Merriam is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. 
Merriam is a supporter of that organization. In politics he is a Republican, 
and has served as road commissioner, but has never been an office-seeker, 
preferring to devote his time and energies to his business interests, in which 
he has met with very creditable success. His life has been one of activity, 
but he is now living in retirement and enjoying the rest which he has truly 
earned and richly deserves.

Additional Comments:
Source:  Biographical and Genealogical Record of La Salle and Grundy Counties 
Illinois, Volume 11, Chicago, 1900, pages 482-483

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