The Portland daily press., 1869-12-16
Rerrr Merrill.

That genial genteman@that agreeable COM
panion, whose familiar and pleasant counte-
nance has for so many years greeted us on the
Streets no more. After lifes fitful fever,
and days of painful suffering, he sleeps well.
We shall miss him from our walks, and shall
feel that another of the associate links which
have bound us to our society are broken; the
pleasant companion of our youthful days is
stricken down by our side Death which has
so recently taken away his distinguished
brothers-in-la law, Deblois and Fessenden. has
now removed the eldest of the husbands of
three sisters, daughters of our late fellow-citi
zens, James Deering. deaths shafts fly
fast"
MIR. Merrill was born in Falmouth in 1880
the son of Elias Merrill, who having beea
chosen Register of Deeds in 1904 as successor
OF Isaac Ilsley, moved to Portland with his
family in that year. The same year he was also
chosen County Treasurer, and held both offices
by successive elections until his death in 1922,
showing an unusual degree of popularity,
which he justly earned by his courtesy and
fidelity. His son inherited these qualities
which made him general favorite. Mr.. Mer-
rill, writing an excellent han1 was taken into
his fathers Office, where he continued num-
ber of years, and the volumes of that period
exhibit neat and excellent record not ex-
ceeded in subsequent years. After serving a
faithful apprenticeship in these two important
offices, he engaged in commercial business on
Exchange street, and closed his mercantile
life OF some twenty years by conducting
large grocery business on the corner of Middle
and Exchange streets, in partnership with Mr..
John Cox. After retiring from the mercantile
business he went into the Custom House un-
der Collector Isaac Isley, and maintained that
position until Mr.. Ilsley resigned in 1929 In
1841 he was appointed one of the Inspector of
Customs under Collector Nathan Cummings,
which situation he held for two years. He
then retired from active business.
Mr.. Merrill was married ON the first day of
December, 1928, to Almira, a daughter of
james Deering, who survives him, without
children, to mourn over the loss of most kind
and affectionate husband. 1t seems singular
Providence that in the brief period of two
years and three months three husbands of the
only married daughters of one family should
be taken away by death; the bereavements fall
N~Ss ~AN AS"'J anu NV oAiJ VIC dulCteu ldml-
lies, but society feels tie shock, which sudden
ly, as in all these three cases, has removed from
the ranks of the living prominent and conspic-
uous members. Mr.. Merrill retained to his
very last days the buoyant, cheerful disposi-
tion which characterized his youthful ones-
There are men of whom it may be said that
they have never grown old; green patriarchs,
who refuse allegiance to advancing time. Mr..
Merrill was one of these; and although at times
he was hasty and impetuous, he never nursed
his wrath, and the ruff1ed wave soon recoy.
cred its calm surface. His life was an even
one; his fathers family was most kind and
affectonate circle, and in his own home he
found domestic enjoyment which is the fruit
of gentle temper and judicious compromises.
We part with our friend and lifelong com
panion with sadness, and the more sad as we
find that death is gradually taking away the
friends and acquaintances with whom we have
been pleasantly travelling long road upon
which many friend has dropped, and which
is constantly growing narrower as we ap-
proach the end. But it is bright beyond; the
day star appears,
"And light is mingled with the gloom
And JOY with grief;
Divinest compensati0ns come
In sweet relief" w,