George W. Merry Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1233-1234 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				GEORGE W. MERRY. 

	George W. Merry, of Milbank, was one of the pioneer settlers of 
Grant county and gained financial independence through his activity in 
cattle shipping and farming. He was also quite prominent in political 
affairs and in 1906 was elected to represent his district in the state 
senate. His birth occurred in Magog, in the province of Quebec, Canada, 
December 14, 1839, and he remained there until 1856, when with his 
parents he removed to Cresco, Iowa. There he continued his education, 
attending school in the winters, while during the summers he was 
employed in farm work, thus earning the money to pay his school 
expenses. For a time he engaged in teaching school in Howard county but 
in his early manhood he also spent several years in prospecting in the 
Rocky mountains and made several trips to South Dakota, bringing horses 
and purchasing farm lands. In 1880 he located in Grant county, this 
state, and for a number of years engaged in buying and shipping horses. 
Later he turned his attention to the cattle business, which he followed 
with marked success until 1900, when, owing to failing health, he 
retired from that business and became a resident of Milbank. He owned 
much farm land in Iowa, which he sold in 1910, but at the time of his 
demise he still held title to a great deal of valuable property in 
South Dakota and Minnesota. The financial independence which he gained 
was the merited reward of his well directed industry and enterprise as 
he began his career a poor boy. 

	Mr. Merry was married in 1867 to Miss Wealthy Bruce, by whom he 
had a daughter, Ella, now the wife of Captain John Wein, of Ortonville. 
In September, 1885, Mr. Merry was united in marriage to Mrs. Alice J. 
Niles, a widow, who was born in England, a daughter of Solomon and 
Hannah Harris. By her first husband, Marvin G. Niles, she has a son 
Marvin G., who is a successful photographer of Milbank. Besides his 
widow and daughter Mr. Merry is survived by a sister, Mrs. Emma Blake, 
of Minneapolis. 

	Mr. Merry was a progressive republican in politics and in 1906 
was elected to represent his district in the state aerate, being the 
first progressive republican to gain election to the senate. He was for 
many years active in political affairs and in territorial days attended 
the territorial conventions, while later he attended many state 
conventions of his party. At various times he was offered state 
appointments by the governor but he was not able to accept any of them. 
In 1910, owing to failing health, he retired from political life. His 
religious faith was that of the Congregational church He traveled 
extensively and as he was a man of keen observation he thus added much 
to his knowledge of people and affairs. He was one of the well informed 
men of his community and exercised a great influence in his locality 
His demise, which occurred on the 4th of January, 1915, was sincerely 
regretted by all who knew him, for his dominant traits were such as 
invariably inspire respect and warm regard.