Grundy County IL Archives Biographies.....Merriam, William Richardson 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com May 13, 2006, 7:15 pm

Author: History of Grundy County, 1914

Merriam, William Richardson (deceased) – The records of Grundy County show 
that many of its substantial citizens gained their competence from farming.  
Later on in life many of these men retired from the farm, and coming to the 
County Seat, passed their declining years in peace and comfort.  The late 
William Richardson Merriam, after a somewhat eventful life, located on a farm 
in Wauponsee Township and lived there until his retirement.  He was born in 
Jefferson County, N. Y., November 29, 1829, a son of Archibald and Polly 
(Bowhall) Merriam, natives of New York.  The father died in 1835.

When he was nineteen years old, William Richardson Merriam learned the trade 
of cabinetmaking and painting, and in 1848, came west to Somonauk, Ill.  Later 
he obtained employment on a farm by the month, and after a year, went to 
Joliet, Ill., where he worked on the Illinois and Michigan Canal as bowsman.  
Within eighteen months he was made steersman of a freight boat which was 
consigned to John B. Chapin & Co., of Chicago.  Mr. Merriam entered the employ 
of this firm, and after seven years became owner of a boat called William 
Merriam.  Two years later, he sold a half interest, and two years after that, 
disposed of his other half.  In 1861, he bought eighty acres of land in 
Wauponsee Township, and operated it until 1884, when he retired.  In the 
meanwhile, he had added to his holdings until he owned 280 acres.  Retiring 
from the farm in 1884, he came to Morris and bought a handsome residence on 
East Washington street, where he died, September 8, 1901.

On March 26, 1854, Mr. Merriam was married at Saratoga, Ill., to Rubie S. 
Lyons, born in Jefferson County, N. Y., October 30, 1836, a daughter of Vernon 
and Maria (Taylor) Lyons, natives of New York State.  The family moved to 
Kendall County, Ill., in 1847, locating six miles east of Lisbon, and in 1857, 
came to Morris, where Mr. Lyons died August 27, 1872, aged sixty-three years.  
His wife died December 1, 1885.  Mr. and Mrs. Merriam had no issue.  Mr. 
Merriam was a Methodist, and in politics, was a Republican, although he never 
cared for public office.  Since the death of her husband, Mrs. Merriam has 
lived at her residence, generally alone.  She is a most estimable lady, and 
enjoys universal respect, as did her husband during his life.

page 867

Additional Comments:
Source:  History of Grundy County, Illinois, Chicago: Munsell Publishing Co. 
Publishers; 1914

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