BIO: John Eugene MERRIS, Clearfield County, PA
 
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From Twentieth Century History of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania,
and Representative Citizens, by Roland D. Swoope, Jr.,
Chicago: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, 1911, pages 538 & 539.
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  JOHN EUGENE MERRIS, one of the organizers and proprietors of The Merris Beef 
Company, one of the important business combinations of Clearfield County, Pa., 
is well known in the great meat industry in this section and is identified with 
other large interests.  He has been a valued resident of DuBois, Pa., for 
twenty-nine years but is a native of New York, born on his father's farm, April 
14, 1855.  His parents were John E. and Caroline (Becker) Merris.
  John E. Merris was both former and merchant and enjoyed a prosperous business 
career for many years.  His death occurred at the home of his son, John Eugene, 
at DuBois, Pa., in 1905, at the age of seventy-two years.  He married Caroline 
Becker, who died in 1897, aged seventy-one years.  They had three sons:  John 
Eugene; Howard I.; and Anson E., of Buffalo, N. Y.
  John Eugene Merris spent his boyhood on the farm and in his father's store.  
After attending the district schools he took a course at Griffith Institute, at 
Springville, N. Y., going from there to Aurora Academy, at Aurora, N. Y.  
Beginning when seventeen years of age, he taught school through several winters 
and then entered the employ of Hon. Frank Higgins, who conducted a store at 
Stanton, Mich., and later was with O. T. Higgins in the same business at Belfast 
and at Olean, N. Y.  In 1881 Mr. Merris came to DuBois, with the Bell, Lewis & 
Yates Mining Company and took entire charge of their stores until 1893.  At that 
time he became associated with Armour & Company, at Chicago, Ill.  In 
partnership with Hon. I. E. Long, M. W. Wise and H. I. Merris, he organized the 
Merris Beef Company, consignees for Armour & Company.  Later, L. B. Long took 
over the interests of I. E. Long and M. W. Wise, and since then the membership 
of the firm has been increased by the admission as partners W. H. Cawthra, R. W. 
Criss and A. L. Crumpston, all of whom were old employes.  The refrigerators are 
located at DuBois, Ridgway and Punxsutawney, Pa.  Additional business interests 
are indicated by his being a director in the Union Banking and Trust Company, at 
DuBois, also in the Electric and Traction Company and in the DuBois Land 
Company.  Mr. Merris is recognized as one of the able business men of Clearfield 
County, not only possessing the gift of good judgment which has led him to make 
wise investments, but also the capacity for hard work that, in these days of 
competition, is a necessary adjunct to success.
  On October 8, 1883, Mr. Merris was married to Miss Ida B. Grantier, of Canton, 
Pa., and they have three children:  Howard A., who is cashier for Armour & Co., 
in their Colorado Springs office, married Virginia Macadoo; Helen E., who is a 
student in the seminary at Birmingham; and J. Edward.  Mr. and Mrs. Merris 
attend the Presbyterian church.  They enjoy the comforts of a beautiful home, 
their residence standing on the corner of Main Street and Long Avenue, DuBois.  
Mr. Merris votes with the Republican party and is an earnest and useful citizen 
but has never permitted the use of his name for any political office.  He is 
prominent in Masonry in Pennsylvania and is past master of Garfield Lodge, F. & 
A. M., at DuBois, belongs to the Chapter at Ridgway, to Bethany Commandery at 
DuBois and to the Zem Zem Shrine at Erie, Pa.