MERRITT BIOGRAPHIES, Henry County, Missouri ==================================================================== MERRITT, M. B. - b: 1819 Williamson Co, TN source: 1883 History of Henry Missouri , National Historical Co. - page: 650 residence: Tebo Twp Judge M. B. Merritt, owner of Cherry Grove farm a fine estate of 520 acres, is Tennesseean by birth, and was born April 27, 1819, in Williamson County. His father, Benjamin Merritt, was born September 18th, 1782, in Wake County, North Carolina, and his mother, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Barnett, was born May 1st, 1791, in the same state. They were married January 21st, 1813, and were the parents of eight children, three only of whom survive. Milton B., Mahala, (now the widow of Benjamin Fewell, of Callaway County, Missouri, who was born January 8th, 1804, and died June 18th, 1870, in Callaway County,) and Thirsa, now the wife of Benjamin C. Fewell of Henry County. Benjamin Merritt died May 13th, 1844, in Tennessee, and his widow died September 23d, 1872, in Tebo, Henry County. M. B. Merritt married Miss Susan A., daughter of Mason C., and Malinda L. Fewell, of Henry County, Missouri, September 25th, 1844. By this union there were eleven children, eight daughters and three sons, of whom eight are now living. Emily Dophelia, who married Richard F. Gaines, of this county, March 16th, 1876. Cerepta Virginia, who married Maranda R. Amick, also of the same county. Roschen Medora, who was born March 27th, 1851, died December 27th, 1869. Edith Livona, born February 7th, 1853, died September 7th, 1854. Lelia Theressa, born December 6th, 1854, and married Mr. C. E. Avery, February 21st, 1883. Arthur Fewell was born December 1st, 1856, and is now a practicing physician and surgeon at Lucas. He received training at the St. Louis Medical College, and afterwards took his honors at the Jefferson College, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in class of '81. Amantha A. was born January 5th, 1859. Serena E. was born March 28th, 1861. Mary E. was born June 3d, 1866, and Milton Edwin was born November 6th, 1871. Mason C. Fewell, the father of Mrs. Merritt, was born January 30th, 1797, in Culpeper County, Virginia, and was married in 1822 to Miss Malinda L. Wall, who was born September 2d, 1799, in Rockingham County, North Carolina. There were four children by this marriage, of whom only two are living, Mrs. Merritt and Harriet E., widow of Dr. Jacob Sipe, of this county. Mrs. Fewell died September 17th, 1829, in North Carolina, and Mr. Fewell died February 8th, 1873, in Tebo. The subject of this sketch, while a young man, came in company with Benjamin C. Fewell from Tennessee to Henry County, Missouri, in 1841. He was engaged in teaching for two years, when he was called by the death of his father, to his native state. Settling up the affairs of the estate he returned to Missouri in September of 1844. He received 320 acres of land from his wife's father, and since that time has gone on improving his fortune and winning his way to the hearts of the people by whom he is surrounded. His lands are not confined to Henry County alone. He is also the owner of considerable property in the county of Johnson. As a farmer and stock handler, he ranks high in this vicinity. His farm is well watered, and 300 acres are devoted to blue grass. He also handles cattle and hogs of good grades. Progression is the motto, and he has not failed to give honor to it through life. A man of high and generous impulses, of cheerful and genial spirits, he is boundless in his hospitalities. He is one of the directors of the First National Bank of Clinton. Politically he is a Democrat, and has served as judge and held other official positions for many years. He was compelled to resign his seat on the bench after the last election (in 1882) on account of deafness. He made an excellent judge and was held in high esteem by the members of the bar. ==================================================================== MERRITT, Milton Benjamin - b: 1819 TN source: 1919 History of Henry Co MO, Uel W. Lamkin, Historical Publishing Co - page: 752 residence: Tebo Twp Milton Benjamin Merritt - Few pioneers of Henry County did more for the development and upbuilding of Henry County than did the late Judge Milton Benjamin Merritt, who for over three score years was an influential and widely- known figure in the life of Henry County. Judge Merritt was born in East Tennessee, April 27, 1819; soon after his birth was taken to Gibson County, Tennessee. He died in Henry County, Missouri, March 14, 1906. His parents were Benjamin and Elizabeth (Barnett) Merritt, who had a family of six children, three of whom came to Henry County. Milton B. Merritt came from Tennessee to this county in 1841. He taught school in Johnson County for some time and after his marriage in 1844, he settled on what is now the Merritt homestead in Tebo township. He was one of the earliest of the pioneers of the Tebo neighborhood. Lexington and Boonville, were the nearest trading points. Ten or more families came from North Carolina about the same time and settled in what is now Tebo township. Milton B. Merritt used horses and later oxen to break up his land. Two things were absolutely necessary to sustain life in those early days. These were wood and water, and the settlers invariably chose a location convenient to both. Mr. Merritt was a Democrat politically and was one of the leaders of his party in Henry County. He was first appointed to the office of county judge and was afterwards elected to this office for two terms. Judge Merritt was married September 25, 1844, to Susan Fewel, who was born in Rockingham County, North Carolina, June 18, 1825, the daughter of Mason C. and Malinda Lindsey (Wall) Fewel, natives of Culpeper County, Virginia. The Fewels came from North Carolina to Rives County, Missouri, in 1839, and were here when Henry County was formed and organized. Ten children were born to Milton B. and Susan (Fewel) Merritt, as follow: Mrs. Emily D. Gaines, deceased; Mrs. Cerepta V. Amick, deceased; Roschen M., deceased wife of William J. Fewel; Eddith Livania, deceased; Lelia T., wife of Ed Avery, Tebo township; Dr. A. F. Merritt, deceased; Amentha A., living with her aged mother on the old home place; Mrs. R. W. Avery, Tebo township; Mrs. Mary E., Avery, deceased; Milton E., a farmer in Tebo township. The Merritt estate consists of three hundred and sixty acres of productive farm lands and is located in section 21, Tebo township Mrs. Susan A (Fewel) Merritt is the oldest living pioneer woman in Henry County. She has 21 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild, Emmett Ellis Bagby, Green Ridge, Missouri. She has four grandsons in the National Army, in France, Liland Earl Avery, Lyman Lane Avery, Arthur F. Merritt and Ralph Merritt. Judge Merritt assisted in the organization of the Primitive Baptist Church and also helped to build the Baptist Church in Tebo township, always having been a liberal contributor to religious works. His liberality in the founding of this church was such that the church congregation donated him two burial lots in the church yard cemetery. His name will always be linked with the early history of Henry County as one of its founders and builders. ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by the Henry County MOGenWeb http://www.rootsweb.com/~mohenry/henryco.html Contact the Henry County Coordinator for comments or corrections. ====================================================================