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This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by:  
N. J. Owen (Njowen@aol.com)08 July 2001

DEATH OF HENRY MERITON

County Surveyor of Green Lake County
from 1858 to 1866.

Particulars have just reached us of the death of Henry Meriton, who passed
away May 5, 1904, at the home of his eldest daughter, Mrs. Ira Lawrence, of
Gladstone, Stark County, N.D.  Mr. Meriton was one of the oldest pioneers
of Green Lake County and had reached the advanced age of 90 years, 5 months
and 17 days.

Henry Meriton, son of John and Catherine Meriton, was born at Hayle, Parish
of Phillack, County of Cornwall, England, on November 18, 1812.  When he was
yet a young boy his mother died, and at the age of 16 he entered his father's
rope making shops at Hayle Terrace and worked at that business for seven years.
He then took up surveying and civil engineering and completed his courses with
high honors.  Soon after which he was married to Elizabethh Walters,
leaving one son Frederick.  Frederick died in London in 1890, leaving a wife, son
and daughter.  In 1842 Henry Meriton came to America and settled at Lagro,
Wabash, Indiana, where he resided until 1849, when he came to Marquette, then one
of the most promising towns along the Fox river.  It was a lot of enterprising
and sturdy fellows who settled at Marquette in the old days and Mr. Meriton
was a fine specimen of the best type of English families, he was tall and
of splendid physique.  In 1849 he was married to Rachel Aiken, a member of one
of the leading families of Marquette, and their marriage has the distinction
of being the first one performed in that village.

He will be remembered by many of the oldest residents as county surveyor of
Green Lake County from 1858 to 1866, and many evidences of his section and
1/4 section corners are still to be found in the county.  Our present county
surveyor, R. H. Spragg, was in business with him for a time at Baraboo,
Wis., and knew him always to be strictly honest and a man among men.

His wife Rachel died at Portage, Wis., in 1892 leaving four daughters and
one son.  The son is now deceased.  Mr. Meriton moved to Portage fom Green Lake
County and did a general civil engineering business at Baraboo and Portage
for a number of years.  In 1901, after an active life, he retired from business
and in the evening of life he went to the state of Washington to spend a
portion of his time with his youngest daughter, and on Aug. 24, 1902, he
moved to Gladstone, N.D., to spend his remaining days with his eldest daughter,
Mrs. Ira Lawrence, where after a long and severe illness he passed peacefully to
his rest.

He was a devout Christian and member of the Episcopal church since 1867.
And on May 7, 1904, the Rev. Dobyn, assisted by the Odd Fellows of the
Dickinson Lodge, attended him to his final resting place.  He left four daughters,
Ida A., Ella L., Florence C., and Susan F. to mourn his loss.

"The boast of heraldry, the pomp of power,
And all that beauty, all that wealth
e'er gave,
Await alike the inevitable hour,
The paths of glory lead but to the
grave."

Submitted by N. J. Owen (Njowen@aol.com)