My Genealogy Hound

Charles W. Meryhew, of the firm of Givens & Meryhew, was born in Ohio December 7, 1830. His parents, John and Elizabeth (Bias) Meryhew, were both natives of New York. The father was a millwright and carpenter, and built several mills still standing on different streams in Ohio. He was a soldier in the second war with England. Our subject received the mental discipline of a common school, and fitted himself, in part, for an educator, while feeding stock for his father, who was a stock breeder as well as a millwright. He taught school several winters, and by his studious habits during that period, acquired a fair English education. In 1856 he came to Missouri, continuing to teach during the winters. He spent the summer of 1858 in Kansas, and the following autumn and winter he taught in Richland County, Ill., the next spring he began reading law at Olney, in that county, with Preston & Livingston. In February, 1861, he was admitted to the bar by the supreme court of the southern district of Illinois, and was in practice at Olney when the American flag was insulted in the South. The autumn before he had commanded a company of Wide-awakes who escorted Gov. Yates through Egypt, Ill., and when President Lincoln made his first call for troops, Mr. Meryhew joined the Eighth Illinois Infantry, a three-months’ regiment. At the expiration of that time he tried to get into Gen. Fremont’s escort, but was half an inch too short. In August, 1861, he joined the Black Cavalry, which, in March, 1862, was consolidated with Missouri companies, and formed the Seventh Missouri Regiment Volunteer Cavalry, in which, as lieutenant, he commanded Company K, between one and two years, and Company G, nine months. He was then detailed as assistant commissary of musters of the Seventh Army Corps, and shortly afterward was detailed as aide-de-camp to Gen. Carr, remaining on his staff until July 18, 1864, when he resigned on account of ill health. He came to Clark County, his present home, in the autumn of 1864, was appointed general agent of the Missouri, Iowa & Nebraska Railroad Company, and in January, 1865, he led to the altar Miss Harmenia A. Heil, daughter of Augustus F. and Anna (Kleinline) Heil. She was born in Pennsylvania in May, 1844, and by her marriage became the mother of three children, viz.: May E., Cora E. and Lula. His wife and daughters are members of the Old School Presbyterian Church. After marriage he settled at Waterloo, then the seat of justice of Clark County. In the autumn of 1866 he was elected judge of the probate court, was re-elected in 1868, and served two terms, making an efficient and faithful county officer. In 1870 he followed the county seat to Kahoka, where he has since resided, except two years, 1874 and 1876, which he gave largely to the improvement of his farm, attending to such suits as he had on his hands. In 1880 he was elected prosecuting attorney of the county, and, after serving six months, was counted out. He is a man of fine sense, and an able advocate. Before a jury he is candid and logical, sometimes witty, and easily places himself on good terms with a jury. He was president of the Clark County Agricultural Society three years while at Waterloo, and has held the same office the last two years. He is a public-spirited man, and has done a great deal to build up agricultural and other interests. He has been a member of the I. O. O. F. for a quarter of a century, and has passed all the chairs in the subordinate lodge. Latterly he has made a specialty of insurance, and is doing a heavy business in that line. He is eminently reliable and trustworthy, and has the fullest confidence of the people.