My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Jefferson County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

* * * *

Joseph Merrill, capitalist, Pine Bluff, Ark. No name is justly entitled to a more enviable place in the history of Jefferson County than the one that heads this sketch, for it is borne by a man who has been usefully and honorably identified with the interests of this county, and with its advancement in every worthy particular. He was born in Rockingham County, N. H., and is the son of William and Mary (Sweat) Merrill. There were three sons and one daughter in the family, Joseph being the youngest. He was reared in New England, and at the age of eleven years was apprenticed until twenty-one to learn the trade of shoemaking and tanning. At the close of his apprenticeship he worked at his trade for five years in Boston. He then went West, stopping at Sidney, Ohio, where he had a shoe-shop for nearly three years. The business not being remunerative, and his health being poor, he wended his way southward, and landed at Little Rock, Ark., in December, 1835, where he at once found friends and congenial employment as a clerk in a store. In 1847 he followed his whilom employer and friend to Pine Bluff, Ark., continuing in the same line of business. Pine Bluff then had but three stores and few houses. In 1848 he opened a store of general merchandise, which he prosecuted successfully until 1860, when he sold out. He was postmaster also during most of this time. He, like many others, suffered heavily from the ravages of war, and also by reason of the bankruptcy of others thereafter. Enough of his good earnings were left him, however, to enable him to add to his landed property by the purchase, at reduced prices, of available lands and city lots that have since materially enhanced in value. His planting interests are constantly becoming more extensive, and he has now fully 900 acres of good bottom land in a nice state of cultivation. Mr. Merrill is the founder of the “Merrill Institute,” not yet completed. At a cost to him of at least $20,000, and on a choice and valuable lot by him deeded, he has caused, under the auspices of a board of trustees; previously selected by him, to be built a brick building, 50x114 feet, three stories in height, with a tower, containing a lecture hall, a library, a well-equipped gymnasium, and commodious parlors, for the use of the young people of the city, to improve them physically, morally, and spiritually. When completed, the building will be a credit to the architect, and the institution an honor to its donor. Mr. Merrill is near eighty years old, and remarkably active. He was never quite strong, yet by moderate care bids fair to add many more years to his usefulness.

* * * *

This family biography is one of 136 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Jefferson County, Arkansas published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Jefferson County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

To view additional Jefferson County, Arkansas family biographies, click here

Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.