Newaygo County MI Archives Biographies.....Merrill, Winfield S. January 7, 1851 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Jan Cortez http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00020.html#0004939 March 15, 2009, 11:23 pm

Author: Chapman Brothers

WINFIELD S. MERRILL, farmer, section 17, Ashland Township, was born Jan. 7, 
1851, in Bridgeton Township, 

Newaygo County.  He is a son of Isaac D. and Augusta (McKinny) Merrill, who 
were born in Maine.  They were 

married in their native State and came to Michigan.  After sepnding some time 
in the lumber woods on the 

Grand River they located in Muskegon County, coming later to Newaygo, where 
they resided a few months and 

went to Bridgeton making the first settlement on Sand Creek in that township.

Mr. Merrill passed the first 18 years of his life on his father's farm and 
operating in his saw-mill, 

devoting every leisure moment to the cultivation of a naturally gifted mind, 
studying in the common 

schools until September, 1868, when he went to Ithaca, N.Y., to enter Cornell 
University, where he studied 

three terms in the scientific course.  Returning to Michigan, he became a 
teacher in the public schools of 

Muskegon and Newaygo Counties.  He continued to make this his profession for 
some years, during which he 

officiated as County Surveyor.  He has also devoted mcuh time to making 
preparations to follow the calling 

of a farmer.

He was married May 26, 1875, to Orinda M., daughter of D. H. and Maria (Page) 
Scott, born respectively in 

Ohio and England.  Mrs. Merrill was born dec. 4, 1856, in La Grange Co., Ind., 
and was educated in her 

native country, and spent some years as a teacher.

After marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Merrill loved on the farm in Bridgeton two years, 
and in 1877 located in 

Ashland Township, on 80 acres of stump land.  Besides the fulfillment of his 
obligations as teacher and 

surveyor, Mr. Merrill has thoroughly improved 30 acres of his farm.  Mr. and 
Mrs. M. have one child, - 

Karl G., who was born Nov. 9, 1882.  Mr. Merrill is a zealous and influential 
adherent to the principles 

of the Republican party, and has held the offices of Supervisor of the 
township, acted as School 

Superintendent two years, and has also served as School Inspector.  He is a 
member of Blue Lodge No. 131, 

at Newaygo, and himself and wife are connected with Grange No. 545, at Ashland 
Center, of which he is 

Secretary.  He is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Baptist Church, and 
was County Surveyor two 

terms - from 1872 to 1874, and from 1880 to 1882.

Additional Comments:
1884 Portrait & Bio Album of Newaygo Co.

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/newaygo/bios/merrill244nbs.txt

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