Sullivan-Bradford-Clearfield County PA Archives Biographies.....MERITHEW, Stanley S. 1837 - living in 1899 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com July 2, 2005, 5:22 pm Author: Biographical Publishing Co. STANLEY S. MERITHEW, an enterprising and progressive farmer and business man of Forks township, Sullivan County, Pa., whose portrait is shown on the opposite page, is a veteran of the Civil War, in which he participated in many engagements and established an excellent record for bravery and coolness in the time of danger. He is a son of Merritt and Polly (Northrup) Merithew, and was born in Wysox township, Bradford County, Pa., in 1837. Our subject is of English descent, his great-grandfather, Merritt Merithew, having come from England and located in Salem, Mass., early in the eighteenth century. His grandfather was Samuel M. Merithew, who was born in Salem, Mass., in 1752, and removed to Wysox township, Bradford County, Pa., in 1812, and purchased what is now known as the Strickland farm. Though well advanced in years, he continued to follow the occupation of a farmer until he was four-score-and-five years of age. He then went to live with his son-in-law, James English, at whose home he died in 1849, having attained the rare age of ninety-seven years. He was the progenitor of the following children: Hiram; Samuel; Lydia; Merritt; Lafayette; Lloyd; and Delia. Politically, he was a Democrat; his religious opinions conformed with the doctrines of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Merritt Merithew, the father of our subject, was born in Salem, Mass., in 1810, and was but two years old when he moved to Pennsylvania with his parents. He was reared on his father's farm and obtained what education he could pick up, for the public-school system was not then in existence. At an early age he learned the trade of a whipmaker and also that of a shoemaker and, although he was practically a farmer by occupation, he followed those trades off and on throughout life. While in the prime of life he purchased what was known as the William Hinman farm in Monroe township, Bradford County, which consisted of one hundred acres on the Burlington turnpike. This property he cultivated until 1866, when he disposed of it to our subject. Politically, he was always a loyal and unswerving Republican and always voted for the principles and candidates of that party. Religiously, he was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He formed a matrimonial alliance with Polly Northrup, by whom he had the following children: Phoebe, who married U. M. Cox; Wealthy Jane, the wife of C. F. Yonkin, oŁ Forks township; Charlotte, who died in 1848; Rosanna, who married A. R. Moe, of Tompkins County, N. Y., Mr. Moe is dead and his widow resides in Rochester, N. Y.; Stanley S.; George, who married Mary Goss, and now lives at Towanda; and John, who married Mary Williams, and also lives at Towanda. Mr. Merithew was called to his final rest in 1879. Stanley S. Merithew obtained his education in the common schools of Wysox township and in the old academy at Towanda. Soon after leaving school he learned the trade of a miller, which he followed at different times for many years. In 1863 he enlisted in the 34th Reg., N. Y. Independent Battery, and rendered distinguished service in the following battles: Vicksburg, Miss., July 4, 1863; Siege of Jackson, Miss.; Blue Springs, Tenn.; Lenoir Station, Tenn.; Campbell Station; Siege of Knoxville; Rutledge; Wilderness; Spottsylvania; on the left of Spottsylvania; North Anna; Salem Church; Games' Farm; Cold Harbor; and before Petersburg, June 18, 1864, and remained there nine months and sixteen days, until Lee's surrender. He was mustered out June 27, 1865, at Hart's Island, N. Y., after which he returned to Bradford County, Pa., locating at Monroeton, where he was made postmaster. In 1873 he bought a tract of one hundred and sixty acres of coal and wood land in Westover township, Clearfield County, Pa., which he still owns and which is a valuable estate. In 1883 our subject moved to Campbellville, Sullivan County, and in the same year was appointed assistant postmaster there, which office he held for thirteen years, in connection with which he operated a flour and feed mill, which is now owned by Norton & Hotteinstein. In 1896 he rented the F. C. Weuck farm, consisting of one hundred and twenty acres, in the northwest part of Forks township, upon which he is now located. Besides engaging in general farming he conducts a general store, which is well patronized. He is widely known throughout that section and is highly respected by all with whom he comes in contact. Mr. Merithew was united in marriage with Mary Ellen Rockwell, a daughter of Allen and Catherine (Cole) Rockwell, who were the parents of the following offspring: William; Lemuel; Liza; Elizabeth; Franklin; Mary; Ellen; Sally; and Reuben. Our subject and his wife are the proud parents of three children, namely: Portus L., who married Rose Bullock; George N., deceased; and Hattie Belle, whose union with Charles Phflaum is blessed with three children, Portus Leon, Genevieve, and Wilhelmina. Politically Mr. Merithew is strongly affiliated with the Republican party, the principles of which he believes to be the foundation upon which rests the future prosperity of our country. Socially he is past grand-master of Burnside Lodge No. 679, I. O. O. F., and a member of Swartz Post, No. 72, G. A. R., of Albany, Pa. Additional Comments: Extracted from: Book of Biographies of the Seventeenth Congressional District Published by Biographical Publishing Company of Chicago, Ill. and Buffalo, NY (1899) This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/pafiles/ File size: 6.0 Kb