Biographical Sketch of Washington Merritt, Greene County, Missouri,
Springfield

>From "History of Greene County, Missouri," St. Louis: Western
Historical Company, 1883.

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This gentleman is the son of Samuel and Sallie (Ross) Merritt, and was
born in Williamson county, Tenn., January 30th, 1809.  His forefathers
were among the earliest settlers of North Carolina, his grandfather,
James Merritt, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War.  His father was
a pioneer settler of Tennessee, and moved to Kentucky late in life,
where he died.  Washington was reared upon a farm in Tennessee, where
he early learned what is meant by hard work.  In July, 1833, he was
married to Louisa Owens, of his native county, and in the spring of 
1840 he emigrated to Greene county, Missouri, where he became a leading
citizen, and improved several farms in Campbell township.  His first
wife died in January, 1842 and he then married Mrs. Maria Chapman.  She
died in March, 1854, and in August, 1856 Mr. Merritt was married to 
Elizabeth Blakey.  Mr. Merrit is the father of twelve children, and
those that are now living are all doing well.  In politics Mr. Merritt
has always been a Democrat, and ever since his residence in this county
has been a consistent member of the Christian church.  No man in the
county stands higher in the regard of his fellow man than he, and is 
one of the few landmarks showing the character of the early settlers of
this part of the State, that is yet left in full vigor to show what 
manner of men it took to make the "wilderness blossom as the rose."

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