My Genealogy Hound

PROF. JAMES ANDREW MERRILL is now filling the chair of natural sciences in the State Normal of Warrensburg, and though comparatively a young man is well known as a successful educator and a scholar of no ordinary degree. On various occasions he has prepared and read papers before teachers’ conventions showing research and wise discrimination, and is now President of the Missouri Teachers’ Academy.

The parents of our subject are Andrew Hanson and Ann E. (Easton) Merrill, both natives of Kentucky. The Merrill family was originally from Holland, the Professor’s great-grandfather and his two brothers having emigrated to the United States before the War of the Revolution, in which the great-grandfather, Hanson Merrill, did valiant service. He was also a participant in the War of 1812. Descendants of his settled in Virginia and Carolina, and one branch moved to Kentucky. Nicholas Merrill, our subject’s grandfather, also took part in the War of 1812. For many years he was engaged in the tanning and milling business in Kentucky, employing large numbers of men and slaves. Andrew H. Merrill learned his father’s trades and followed them several years in Kentucky. In 1864 he moved to Bloomington, Ill., where he engaged in farming two or three years, and then went to Clay County, Mo., where he conducted a mill and also carried on a farm. He was a member of the Christian Church, and was called to his final rest in 1879, beloved and respected by all who knew him.

The birth of our subject occurred April 6, 1861, in Rock Castle County, Ky. When he was eight years old he commenced attending the country schools, which he attended for four or five months each year until he was seventeen years of age. Taking a position as a farm hand, he saved his wages until he had enough money to pay for his tuition in the William Jewell College of Liberty, Mo., and at the end of the year’s course began teaching in district schools at $40 per month, being thus engaged for two years. In the spring of 1883 he came to Warrensburg, and took one term in the normal. That summer he canvassed successfully for subscription books, and the next winter again taught school in Clay County. Later, going to Ohio, he took a general agency, in which he worked during the summer vacation. Returning to his own home district, he taught for two years, or until April, 18S6, when he resumed his studies at the normal, and finished the elementary course in June. In 1887 he completed the advanced course, and was then elected assistant in the department of natural science by the Board of Regents. He later attended a summer term of school at Harvard University, then taught again in the normal during the winter of 1888-89, and in the summer of 1889 once more took a course at Harvard University. In the summer of 1890 he was appointed assistant on the United States Geological Survey, doing field work on the triassic trap sheets in western Connecticut, and the following year was appointed to the chair of natural science, which he has since filled. In the vacation of 1891 he attended lectures and was a student in the Marine Biological Laboratory at Wood’s Holl, Mass. Again in 1892 he went to Harvard, where he remained a year, graduating with the degree of Bachelor of Science in June, 1893. He had obtained leave of absence from his post of duty in the normal, and returned to his work in the fall of 1893.

In 1889 Professor Merrill became a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, belonging to Corinthian Lodge and De Molay Royal Arch Chapter No. 26. He is also a member of Mary Commandery No. 19, K. T. These bodies are all at Warrensburg. When he was only thirteen years of age he was received as a member in the Christian Church, and ever since that time has been one of its faithful workers and supporters. Great credit is due him for the manner in which he has devoted himself to his favorite studies, and for the way in which he has managed to acquire a superior education entirely though his own unassisted efforts.