Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1868-05-22
Andover.

was communicated to the Argus:
Mrs. SUSAN MERRILL ADAMS. widow OF
tue late Nathan Adams. Jr., Of Rumfor.i,
departed this late ai the residence OF her
daughter in Wilton. Maine. on Friday, May
/. 1868. in the 7s;h year Of her age.
Mrs. Adams was The 6rst person of Euro.
pean origin. born IN the town OF Aniover.
Oxford county. a place containing nj the
time of her birth several Indian famiIie, and
vas the youngest chill of Dei. Ezekiel
Merrill. the Grst settler OF An,iover.
Det. Merrill. or esquire Merrill" rs he
was popularity known by all Who dwclt in
the valley OF the Androsccccin. va, a nan
oil mark and influence in his dav. lie was
born at Wcs, Nc~bary. Mass, Dec. 9.17l7.
descendant in the fifth generation from
Nathaniel Merrill who came over from
Eogland in 1858. and settled At Ipswich tho
ancestor OF the numerous family of M-rrili-
OF this country. and who died in 1865. leav
ing as fruit of his marriage with Susan
Jordan, n daughter and six sons.
Dea. Ezekiel Merrill was descendan,
OF John the eldest scn OF Nathaniel. who
was born in 1855. who married Sarah Wat.
son. lady whose beauty and accomplish.
fnents have always been celebrated in the
traditions ofihe Merrill family The eldest
son OF John. was Nathaniel born At New.
bury. Jan. Is. 1866. who had among his
eleven children. Roger, whose son Ezekiel
was the father of Dea. Ezekiel Merrill, the
father OF Mrs Adams. Her mother, Sarah
Emery wa. born Al Newbury Jan. l. 1853.
and died at Andover. Maine. March 4 1913,
IN the 95,h year OF her age. leaving FIVE
children. 40 grandchildren. IS great grand.
children, aud descendants of the fourth
generation. Dca. Merrill died in his S3I
year. March l6, 1880. up to which time
death had never entered bis family. OF
their eight children all became heads OF fam.
lies. Mrs. Adams had six children. OF
whom two only survived her
The history OF Andover and Of the Mer-
riil family are full OF interest. Courage and
for,itude have rarely been better iIlus,rat.
ed.
Dea. Merrill was soldier in the war Of
the revolution and participated in the
capture OF Burgoyne. He settled in New
bury and was married in l772 where his two
eldest children were born. But on account
OF the troubles on the seaboard he removed
10 Pelham. ". H., where he remained Till
the close of the revolutionary war. aud
where five OF his children were born.
Abou, 1877 a company was formed princi-
pally composed OF those who had been com.
radrs IN arms. who determined 10 emigrate
TO Maine. where good lands were cheap and
plenty. Their con,mitfr- CT explorers went
TAR East Belfast. aud on their return
along the frontier they .ame to Sudbury.
Canada, now Bethel. and were told of the
beauties of the valley of Ellis river which
they examined and returned home delighted
with it,
Their Report wa, so favorably received
that they made arrangement for its purchase
from the State. anil Dca Merrill ia March
1888 started for Bethel Their road ended
AT Fryeburg. bu. Mr.. Merrill then made up
a train OF l6 sleds drawn by men, he and
hII family OF 7 children the eldest IA years,
reached in safety the end Of the 80 miles
journey 10 Bethel. where they rcmained IA
months. while he with the help Of others
iclled the forest and built bis camp on the
site Of bis future home.
In May. 1899. in feet Of birch canoes
paddIei by the Indians, they 'ail d down
the Androscoggin TO the mouth of Ellis
River where they encAmped for the night.
and on the next day padded up aga:ns, the
current TO The Forks, where they were
Hospitality received by the families OF
friendly indians, whose canoes had been
hired for the journey. Encamping at night
with Indians on the next morning Mrs.
Merril anu the older children threaded their
way two miles through The woods to their
future home. The little ones were landed
from the canoes OILY a short distance from
the camp.
Being the FIRST settler and large propri-
etor. be bad the right Of the first choice Of
lots which he wisely exercised, for there is
no more beautiful spot than the one he
selected for bis home. The proprietors of
the townsh with Characteristic sagacitf
aud generosity voted to Mrs. Merrill lot
10 BE- selected by herself in consideration Of
hor courage and services, as the 6rs, woman
aud mother Who bad settlyd in the town.
Industry and thrift soon made this fertile
and beautiful valley The abode Of comfort
and refinement. unusual in new country.
bu, il was more than yeas before another
family broke n upon their solitude. The
friendly Indian mothers did all that Kind