Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1855-09-21
SAMUEL MERRILL.

SAMUEL MERRILL.
Died, in this city, of nux, August
21ih, oh. BON. p. M, Samuel Mer-
rill, aged 62 years. He was born
Oct goth, 1892, at Peacham, Vt,
where he passed his early youth
lie spent two years at Dartmouth
College, leaving it in his junior year.
In 1913, he went 10 York, Pa, where
he remained three years teaching and
reading law in connection with his
brother, the late James Merrill, Esq,
n lawyer and gentleman Of sterling
character. la 1916 he removed to
Vcvay, Ind, and began the practice
of the law. In 1918 he married
Miss Lydia Jane Anderson, who
died in lS47-but whose memory as
woman, wife, mother, will long be
fragrant, and blessed. He represent
ed Switzerland county two years in
the Legislature, then sitting at Cory
don, TO which he offered the name
of " Indianapolis" which was adj
opted as the name Of the prospect
i've seat of government. In l82 he
was elected State Treasurer, and re-.
moved TO indianapolis in Nov. 1924.
He held the office of Treasur twelve
years, and in 1884 was elected Pres
ldent of the State Bank Of Indiana
in which Office he continued until
1914, when he WINS chosen President
of the Madison and indianapolis r,
r. Co. He resigned this post and
retired from official lie in 1913. He
compiled with immense industry and
research, the " Indiana Gazetteer"
third edition of 10000 copies Of
which was published in 1850. In
this, with Characteristic modesty, his
name is not to be found-not even
as compiler. In 1919 he married
Miss Elizabeth Young who survives
him. Since 1850 he carried on one
Of the largest and best bookstores in
the West. AT the time of his death
he meditated a thorough revisal Of
the Indiana Gazetteer-including a
history of the railroads in the State,
and OF the State Bank TO the present
time.
1t was his ambition TO do whatever
he did, WELL. In school days, when
prizes were offered, he never failed
10 win them. In latter years.. there
are many living witnesses TO the sew
ere and dilligent labor he performed
as President of the Bank and Rail-
road The sirictest punc.uality in
every duty, secular or religious,
marked him through life.
On arriving in the State he stop
ped at Vlncennes, but was prevailed
on 10 return TO Vevay, and being I'M
able to get conveyance thither from
Jacksonville, he procured boat in
which he placed his trunk and quite
a large collection Of law books, and
rowed 1t with bis own hands up to
Vevay-a distance Of 20 miles,
Many years after, returning from tho
East, he heard of The loss, by drown
ing, OF favoriie grandson. The
next morning he started for the Mis-
slssippi and from the spot, rowed six
" miles down the river in an open
boat, searching for the place where
the kind hands Of strangers had de-
posted the little corpse, which he
recovered and restored to its friends.
Well and widely was he known
and honored for his integrity. When
candidate for Treasurer, modesty
prevented his claims being KNOWN
Judge - was very jealous in The
canvass for him. A gentleman,
.gnorant of his merits, but after
wards through life personal friend,
asked the Judge why he was SO an
xious for Mr.. Merrills election. "Be-
cause he's honest" was the reply.
During Henry Clny's visit to the
city in 1912, passing along the street
one day with friend, Mr.. Clay
looked up at Bank building, and re-
marked, "That Merril's an honest
man." 1t was refre shing to see this
honesty so frequently displayed in
the fraukness with which he advised
customers no, To buy books which he
had found worthless.
One Of the first citizens Of In
dianapolis, his public spirit from the
beginning was conspicuous. Abhor-
ring not only the use of ardent spir-
/ its, but tobacco, and every kind Of
niempennce, taking warm inter-
est in agricultural pursuits, in colon
ization, in education, in missions, ho
was earnest and active in the forma-
ton and continuation Of societies for
each.
Long before he was nominally
Christian, Mr.. Merrill was Superin-
tendent Of the Sabbath School, and
never will tho children of the Second
and Fourth Presbyterian Sabbath
Schools-particularly the latter, 10
whom he was like tender father
forget his devotion to their interests.
While Tresnrcr Of State, he taught
school short time at Corydon, and
two quarters in Indianapolis indeed
he has always had a Latin class
For many years he was Trustee Of
Wabash College, and took the deep
est interest in its prosperity.
Mr.. M. joined the N. s. Presby-
terrain Church in 1898, at the organ
izaiion Of the I'd Presbyterian Church
to which the Rev. Henry Ward
Beecher was first called. He has
been faithful and efficient Elder
Cor tho past eiubf years In lSS3.