My Genealogy Hound

Nelson D. Merrill, residing in Creston, owns and manages a farm of three hundred and twenty acres in Highland township largely devoted to the raising of registered Percheron horses and shorthorn cattle, in which connection he has become widely known. He was born in Fulton county, Illinois, in 1849. His father, Henry Merrill, was born in Kentucky and died in 1886 at the age of eighty-three years. He was of English lineage and in 1813 accompanied his parents on their removal from the Blue Grass state to Genesee county, New York, where he remained upon a farm until 1836. He then went westward to Illinois, settling in Fulton county, where he bought land, upon which he spent his remaining days. He was a successful agriculturist, bringing his fields under a high state of cultivation, and as the years passed the sale of his crops returned to him a good income. He was a member of the Baptist church, diligent and active in its work and zealous in support of the cause He served for a long time as one of the officers of the church and did everything in his power to promote its growth and insure its success. In politics he was originally a whig and afterward a republican, and for twenty-five years served as postmaster of Middle Grove, Fulton county, Illinois. In early manhood he married Delilah Rose, who was born in the state of New York and died in 1892 at the age of ninety-two years. She, too, was of English descent and held membership in the Baptist church. In their family were five children: Mandana, the wife of Henry Edwards, of Wyoming, Illinois; Euphemia, the widow of J. K. Lance, of Middle Grove, Illinois; Alzina, the wife of H. H. Leonard, of Rantoul, Illinois; Asa H., a retired stockman living at Riverside, California; and Nelson D.

The last named was reared on the farm and pursued his education in the country schools and at Farmington, Illinois. His entire life has been given to general agricultural pursuits and stock-raising. In the spring of 1878 he arrived in Union county, Iowa, settling on a farm in Highland township, where he resided until 1906, when he took up his abode in Creston. He still, however, manages his farm, which comprises three hundred and twenty acres of land, very rich and arable. He has engaged quite extensively in raising registered Percheron horses and shorthorn cattle. He is a lover of the thoroughbred horse and has at the head of his stud Tristam, No. 48832, imported from France in 1902. He is registered in the Percheron stud book of America and his recorded number is 30742. He is a brown-black stallion of fine proportions. Mr. Merrill now has forty head of imported horses and mares. He started his stables with a Percheron mare, Dutch Girl, registered in the Percheron stud book as No. 24962 as the property of N. D. Merrill, color dark iron gray. Mr. Merrill has owned some of the finest horses raised in this section of the country and has made extensive sales and shipments.

In 1875 occurred the marriage of Nelson D. Merrill and Miss Anna Leverton, who was born in Highland county, Ohio, in 1849, a daughter of Thomas and Maria (Poke) Leverton. Her father, a farmer by occupation, removed from the Buckeye state to Fulton county, Illinois, and became a prosperous farmer there. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Merrill have been born a daughter and a son; Cora M., who has engaged in teaching and is now at home; Major H. W., a farmer and carpenter of Creston, who is married and has one son.

The parents are members of the Congregational church and in politics Mr. Merrill is a republican. He has held some minor townships offices and is interested in the growth and success of his party but is not a politician in the sense of office seeking. He prefers to concentrate his energies upon his business and in his chosen field of activity has prospered. He is one of the best known stock-raisers of this part of the state, gaining a wide reputation because of the fine stock which he has owned and handled. In his business interests he displays keen discernment and enterprise; and is continually progressing toward the goal of prosperity.