My Genealogy Hound

DAVID E. MERRILL, a member of the widely known firm, Empire Washer Co., manufacturers of washing machines, also of the W. T. Falconer Manufacturing company, is a son of Joshua S. and Olive E. (Griggs) Merrill, and was born in the town of Sheridan, Chautauqua county, New York, September 6, 1859. Lyman B. Merrill was born in eastern New York. He was our subject’s grandfather, and follows his lineage to 1632, when Jonathan and Nathaniel Merrill settled at New London, Connecticut, as the original locators. The family drifted into Vermont, thence to Cherry Valley, N. Y., and finally to Chautauqua county. Lyman B. Merrill was a blacksmith by trade and pursued this occupation for many years in this county. Politically he was a democrat and when eighty-nine years of age died at Laona, this county. David Griggs was the maternal grandfather. He was a native of Connecticut but came to this county in 1810, and followed farming until about 1878, when he moved to Mishawaka, Ind., and died in 1889. Mr. Griggs was a whig and republican, and served as a private in the war of 1812, participating in the engagements at Stony Point, Lundy’s Lane and the burning of Buffalo. The renowned and wily warrior, Red Jacket, was a familiar acquaintance of Mr. Griggs, with whom he spent many days in the forest. He was a relative of Governor Clinton, and had other eminent connections. After reaching the advanced age of ninety-nine years he died at Mishawaka, Ind., in 1890. Joshua S. Merrill was born in the town of Sheridan, April 12, 1835, and spent his boyhood about the village. He attended school and acquired sufficient education to carry him through life, and then learned the trade of blacksmith and carriage-maker, and worked at it in Fredonia, Titusville, Pa., and other places, in his younger days. Later in life he became an extensive manufacturer of fine carriages and owned extensive works at Titusville, and Erie, Pa., where he employed about one hundred and twenty -five men. In 1854 he married Olive E. Griggs and had a family of three children: David E., Effie M., who married Frank A. Stilson, and lives in Jamestown; and George J., a clerk in this city. Politically he was a republican and was a member of the Methodist church, and the Odd Fellows; F. and A. M., and Knights of Pythias fraternities. In business Mr. Merrill was conservative but astute, energetic and active, but careful, and was liberal-minded and public-spirited in his notions as to the administration of the government. He died August 23, 1877, and is buried in Erie (Pa.) cemetery, while Mrs. Merrill resides at present (1891) in Jamestown.

David E. Merrill changed his residence in youth as his father moved his business and spent his days and attended school at Fredonia, Titusville and Erie. He graduated from the high school of the latter place and attended the Normal school at Fredonia. He began his business life as a bill clerk for a wholesale grocery firm in Erie, Pa., and was then appointed paymaster’s clerk in the navy. Succeeding this he was attached to the signal service and was afterwards for a number of years book-keeper in various large institutions. In 1882 he came to Jamestown and soon after with a company began the manufacture of the Empire Washing machines. His company employs above one hundred men and their annual product equals one hundred thousand dollars, shipments being made to all parts of the world.

In 1882, he married Anna H. Merrill, of Willoughby, Ohio, and they have one son: John Clayborne, born August 20, 1888.

Politically Mr. Merrill identifies himself with the Republican party; he is very public-spirited and is connected with several prominent organizations.