The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1881-11-19
Death of John Merryman. of Hazfelds.


| Hon. j ohm Merryman, whose illness was hereto
fore announced in these columns, died at his resi-
| dence, Hayfelds, about two miles northwest of
| Cockeysville, on Tuesday morning last. He had
been in delicate health for a considerable time and
suffered from combination of diseases, and his
death was not unexpected.
John Merryman sprang from an old Maryland
family, his ancestors having come from near
Monkton in Herefordshire, England, to this State,
before 1850. The immediate ancestors of the de-
ceased settled ON the Gunpowder and called their
new home Monkton, and which bears that name
to the present day. They acquired many thous-
and acres of land both east and west of the Gun
POWDER and early in the eighteenth century located
upon the farm now called "Hereford," after the
old county from whence they came. The remains
of John Merryman and Sally Rogers, his wife,
the great-grandfather and great-grandmother of
the deceased-both dying in 1777-are in the
family graveyard upon the same farm. The
grandfather of the deceased, also named John
Merryman, and whose wife as well as his mother
was named Sally Rogers. John Merryman (the
grandfather) left four children, John Sally Rogers
Elizabeth and Nicholas Rogers, the latter being
the father of the subject ofths sketch, John Merry
man, of Hayfelds, who has been IN active citizen
for the past thirty years. He was born ON the
Hereford farm, on August 9, 1924. His mothers
name was Ann Maria Colt.
In 1889, having had but limited means of edu-
Morris, in Baltimore. In the winter of 1S41 he ac-
cepted situation rendered him by his maternal
uncle, Samuel N. Colt, in his countng-room at
Guayama, Porto Rico, West Indies. He returned
home in July, 1912, and was induced to remain
and take charge of several farms belonging to his
uncle, John Merryman. In 1S43 he settled at
Hayfelds and the next year married Ann Louise,
daughter of the late Elijah Bosley Cuttings They
have had ten children, nine of whom survive.
n ha W Selncted VeStrV of Sher-
wood congregation, Cockeysvill, as their delegate
to the diocesan convention, and has been their
only representative at the convention ofthe church
since that period. He has been the register of
the congregation and parish since 1S45. In 1S49
he became an active member of the State Agricul
tural Society, in 1852 its vice president, and in
1857 its president. The same year he was elected
County Commissioner of Baltimore county, and
was selected by his associates their president.
Successful agricultural fairs were held under his
administration in Baltimore in 1858, in Frederick
in 1859 and in Baltimore in 1860.
In the early part of the late war Mr.. Merryman
was Lieutenant of the Baltimore County Horse
Guard, commanded by Capt. Ridgely, of Hamp-
ton. During the excitement in April, 1861, Lieut..
Merryman, under orders from his superior officers,
burned several bridges on the line of the Northern
Central railroad to prevent the passage of Federal
troops through Baltimore. Shortly thereafter he
was arrested on a charge of treason and confined
in Fort McIIenry. After remaining in the Fort
some time he released on bail but was never
brought to trial
In 1870 Mr. Merryman was elected Treasurer Of
the State CT Maryland, and assisted materially in
the pushing forward of the Baltimore and Pot0-
mac railroad. lie member of the House of
Delegates in 1874. Some little time after its re-
organization in 1879 he again became president
of the Maryland State Agricultural and Mechani-
cal Association, and that year it held a very sue
cessfu fair at Pimlico. In January, 1880, he was
elected president of the United States Agricultural
Society.
In 1856 Mr.. Merryman introduced Hereford
cattle upon the Hayfelds estate, and has most
successfully bred them since. He has owned
nearly 500, breeding most of them. To-day 100
bulls bred by him at the head of herds of cat
tie in Indiana Illinois, Iowa. Minnesota, Nebraska,
Wyoming, Colorado, Kansas and Texas. Twice
he imported directly from England, his last being
a bull and a hefer, selected in person while visit
ing Herefordshre in 1878. In 1865 Mr.. Merry
man established the house of John Merryman
Co., in Baltimore, manufacturers and dealers in
fertilizers. The business has yearly increased.
Their shipments last year to the South exceeded
$1,000 tons. In return for their shipments they're
ceived cotton, amounting to from 5000 to $4,000
bales yearly, which is sold directly to the spinners
in Baltimore, thus contributing largely to the
trade of the city and the general prosperity of the
State.
In every puollc enterprise MT. merry imam TOOK
a warm interest and active part, and he has
done much good by his intelligence, liberality and
energy. As man he was frank, genial, cordial,
friendly, generous, correct and unselfsh; as
public official attentive and conscientious in the
discharge of every duty as friend and relation
unbounded in his love and gentleness. His
memory will long be revered by all who knew
him.
His remains were inferred at Sherwood church.
Cockeysville, Thursday afternoon, and the funeral
was very largely attended, many prominent per-
sons being present. The services were conducted
by Rev. A. L. Pindell. rector of the church. The
pail bearers were eX-Gov. 0den Bowie, William
Seemuller, Col. w. S. Franklin, b. Mclean Har-
disty Edward Worthington, DR.. De Courcey, Col.
Edward Lloyd, John r. Seemuller, ii. ii. Carroll,
B. II. Waring, VIM. Goodwin and Thomas P.
Williams.