Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1869-03-17
From Greene.

EDITOR Chronicle Since my
last, we have been called to part with
q much respected citizen Mr.. Aaron
Merritt, who died Feb. 1869, aged 66
years. Mr.. NJ. emigrated from Cana
da East in 1917, resided with his broth
er Ichabod and his widowed mother
until about nineteen, when he COM
menced doing business for himself.
He took up land on a credit but hav-
ing no capital with which to COM
menee business, his progress was nee
essarily slow. But by untiring indus
try and strict economy he had accu-
mulated a fair property, leaving his
family in easy circumstances. When
at the age of seventeen or eighteen,
he got him a new suit of clothes coat,
vest and pants, all made of finely
dressed 6uckskin. In this suit he at
tended the district school taught by
Capt. John Harrington. Though a
man of great candOr and of good
judgement, he always felt doubtful of
his own abilities, aud seemed inclined
to stand q little back and let others
take the front ranks. But possessing
a very sweet, mild and rich musical
voice, and q thorough knowledge of
the principles of music as taught at
an early day, he was chosen leader of
the choir, which position he filled
with much credit for many years.
When young he was acknowledged
the best hand with an AK of any man
in Greene. One circumstance it will
not be amiss to relate. At an early
day of the settlement OF Greene, a
chOpping bee was made by Usual
Bowen, and all the young men in
Greene and Mecca were invited. At
the time appointed the young men of
both towns met, each resolved on the
victory in chOpping. Several races
were had by different parties (; each
town then chose their best man,
Greene at once choosing Mr.. Merritt,
and Mecca making choice of Mr.. Ed
ward Battles. y large straight beech
tree was selected, twelve feet were
measured off and Mr.. Merritt took his
stand, twelve feet more and Mr.. Bat
ties took his position, each having an
assistant with q stick or pole to re-
move the chips so nothing should be
in the way. The signal was given
and the axes fell. Had there been q
thousand dollars at stake they could
udNG uOAlC AO bCllCA . pCAlCCL l6AACA4NC
prevailed nothing but the axes were
heard, until the shout was raised by
the boys of Mecca, Victory VictOryp
But the words were hardly artieulated
before the Green boys shouted, "Vieto-
ryI Good! Merritt had the butt log.n
After sufficient time had elapsed for
them to take breath, they again took
theirstand Mr.. Battles, taking the butt
log. The signal was given and both
at once sank deep their keen sharp
axes into the wood. The excitement
was intense, but perfect silence pre-
vailed, each party watching with the
greatest anxiety their faYorite man.
Soon the cry was raised by the boys
in Greene, "We've beat, we've beat"
but the words had scarcely been ut
tered before the Mecca boys shouted
Victory, Battles had the butt log"
There was so little difference if any,
that they all agreed to shake hands
and call it an Y pull. We feel
fully justified in pronouncing upon
our departed friend the highest eulo-
gy, as we al most truthfully say,
HE WAS An HONEST MANI. While
a wife and four children MOURN the
loss of an affectionRte husband and
tender father, we would assure them
that they share the deepest sympathy
of the community.
A p~rotraeted meeting is now in
progress at the NJ. Z. Church, which
we trust is resulting in much good.
Rev. w. Brush of Ashtabula county,
will preach at the f. w. Baptist
church Sunday, March Dist, az II
o'clock A. NJ.