Hopkins Co. TX - Berry and Lewis Merchant, by Eli Hargrave, Daily News-Telegram, Mar. 24, 1939 - From: June E. Tuck ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ *********************************************************************** From the historical files of June E. Tuck, who does not validate or dispute any historical facts in the article. (Edited) MERCHANT BIRTHDAY OCCASION A number of the relatives and friends of "the Merchant boys," Berry and Lewis, treated them to a surprise birthday feast Sunday, March 12th (1939,) in honor of their birth anniversaries, which come on the 14th and 19th, respectively. It was quite a coincident that Berry had just as many guests at his feast as he had passed years, 73, he being his brother^Òs senior by two years. When the feast was spread and all things were called ready, our old friend and patriot, W. C. Veazey, offered a gracious thanks, after which every one helped themselves. Everybody seemed to enjoy it highly except Paul Pearce and Frank Jobe; they didn^Òt seem to feel well. Quite a number of gay young widows were in attendance, each trying to exhibit a prize-winning and delicious birthday cake, which no doubt would have been freely given in exchange for the hand of a nifty young bachelor. These boys were born the sons of Bradley and Polly Ann Neely Merchant, she being the daughter of Greenlief and Nancy Lawrence Neely of Indiana, and he being the son of Edward Merchant of Tennessee, and the mother a Miss Lowe. The father, Bradley, was a native Texan, born June 25, 1833, and died July 27, 1912. The mother born in Indiana, June 13, 1838, died March 12, 1886. She came to Texas in 1849 and was married in 1852. He had a brother, Berry Merchant, a Methodist preacher, who served here as pastor in 1849, when the district extended from Mt. Pleasant to Black Jack Grove (Cumby.) She, also, had a brother, Matthew (Mack) Neely, a Methodist preacher, who served on this pastorate at an early day. These were sturdy pioneer families of the old Pleasant Hill community and a book could be written on their industries and enterprises, but time and space will not permit. The first child in this Merchant family was David, born in 1856. Next a sister, Eva, born in 1858. The third, Laura, born in 1862, died January 27, 1886. Her mother passed March 12th of the same year, 53 years ago, making the date of this occasion one of double interest, not to celebrate her death but in honor of the memory of her chased and beautiful life which gives a happy thought to every one with whom she came in contact. The above named are all deceased and now comes these worthy sons of whom the entire community will join me in saying we are proud, and glad indeed to be called their friends. We have known these boys and been associated with them for these 70 years, and have never known them to be accused except one of them has been guilty of going "a-sparkin" a few times and smoking a few cigars, but his brother has lived a life unchallenged. These are the boys you read about of Blue Black Speller fame and unless you are well prepared, don^Òt tackle them. And that is not all. Berry showed me a plow at their home, made by my great-uncle, Henry T. Barclay, a pioneer blacksmith and soldier of the Cross, and says he followed this plow with a pony in front of it more than 60 years ago. They are at home on the same farm preempted and occupied by their parents the entire span of their married life. They have with them a little bachelor sister, Miss Josie, of whom we are all very proud and whom seems pleased with her situation. Also a widowed sister, Mrs. Cora Green, is with them. Their other sister, Miss Kate (Mrs. J. W. Hunt) lives near them. They, with their brother, Calvin and wife and son, Jack, of Dallas, were present on this occasion. Only one member of the family, Edmond, a brother of San Antonio, was unable to attend. We all join hands in wishing them many more happy birthdays, friend, Eli Hargrave