Bio of Megroth, Thomas Heath (b.1808) Wabasha Co., MN
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Made available to The USGenWeb Archives by: Barbara Timm and Carol Judge
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This bio comes from "HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY" 1884.
Check out Barbara's site for more great information on this book:
http://www.rootsweb.com/~mnwabbio/wab1.htm
There are also some pictures and information from descendents for some 
of the bios on her pages.

Megroth, Thomas Heath, Lake City, was born at Hallowell, on the Kennebec
river, in the State of Maine, in 1808. His father, John Megroth, was a
native of Needham, Massachusetts, and died of camp fever in the war of
1812. His mother, Elizabeth (Heath) Megroth, was a native of Southampton,
England, who came to America in early life and died at a good old age in
West Manchester, Massachusetts. The first fifteen years of our subject's
early life was spent on a farm, after which he began an apprenticeship to
the hatter's trade. This, however, was not congenial to his health, and
after two years' trial was abandoned and his attention turned to the
carpenter's trade. This he found suited to his taste and made it his life
business. In 1849 a trip to California was decided upon, and in April of
that year he, with a party of twenty-five, left Boston for the "golden
gate." They went via the river route from Cincinnati, Ohio, to
Independence, Missouri, where they fitted out with teams and wagons. On
reaching Salt Lake City they tarried fifteen days for the purpose of
recuperation, as well as preparing for the remaining nine hundred miles'
trip before them. This was done by selling their wagons, and packing their
outfit, provisions, etc., on the backs of mules. In this way the journey
was resumed and its end finally reached. The most part of seven years was
spent by Mr. Megroth engaged in mining and working at his trade on the
Pacific slope, though severe sickness compelled him to make a trip to the
Sandwich Islands, and to this alone he now owes his life. In 1856 he
returned, via the isthmus, to the bosom of his family, in Maine, with a
large supply of experience and a good portion of the precious metal. The
following April, 1857, he emigrated with his family to Minnesota and
settled permanently in Lake City, and has since then devoted himself to
his trade. He was married in 1835, to Miss Elizabeth N. Freeman, who is
also a native of the State of Maine. She has shared his joys and sorrows
for almost half a century, at this writing, February 26, 1884, and is now
his constant though feeble companion down the shadowy side of life. To
them were born two sons, Edward J., now enjoying a good property and
unblemished reputation in this city, and Thomas Wesley, who died very
suddenly at Chicago, Illinois, while there attending college. Mr. and Mrs.
Megroth have for many years been exemplary members of the Methodist
Episcopal church.