Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1885-02-10
8. s. Merrill. general manager of the
Chicago, Milwaukee + st. Paul railroad,
died in Milwaukee at 1890 q. m. on
Sunday the Sth inst. of apoplexy.

Sunday the sth inst. of apop!e1y.
Shelburn s. Merrill, son Of Moses and
Sally Worthing Merrill, was born in
Alexandra, Grafton county, New Ramp.
shire, July %. 1878. He was bred q
farmer, and educated in the common
schools, which he attended until he was
sixteen years old. At that age he began
to work for himself. He found employ
ment about hotel in Concord, New
Hampshire, for one year: then for six
years in Boston in the furnishing house
OF Moses kimball. He next served a.
clerk in hotel in Troy, N. Y, and later
returned to his native state, settling at
Bristol, where he renamed some Year,
keeping . hotel, and having an interest
in woolen mandatory at that place.
he remained there till 1850. In Nov. Of
that year he came to Milwaukee and
was initiated in his railroad business
career as foreman of gang OF men then
employed in grading Q section OF the
Milwaukee & Mississippi railroad, now
the Prairie du Chen division OF the
Chicago, Milwaukee & st. Paul rail.
way. Mr.. Merrill handled this, his first
command, with an energy and efficiency
that showed him possessed already Of
those traits Of character which iu their
development since, have raised him to
the highest rank as an executive railroad
official. His railroad career WAS from
the beginning succession of advance.
ments. He did mot force himself for.
ward, but was called to the various
positions he occupied by his peculiar
fitness alone. 1t is almost unnecessary
to enumerate the steps in his advance
ment, so familiar is his railroad history
to nearly every employe in the country.
who has many times drawn inspiration
from il.
From foreman in the construction do.
partment he became conductor, then
paymaster, then assistant superln-
tendent-E. II. Broadhead, the retired
banker. being at that time superintend-
ent OF the road. He was next superin-
tendent Of the Milwaukee & Watertown
railway, now part of the Chicago, Nil.
waukeee and st. Paul. Then for time
he served ss superintendent of the La
Crosse & Milwaukee, now the Northern
division OF the Chicago. Milwaukee L
st. Panl. About this time, to lecuperate
his impaired health, he left the shores
Of Michigan aud accepted for six months
the superintendenoy of an inland road
the Winons l. st. Peter. At the close of
this engagement. in July, 1865, he was
appointed general manager Of the Mil
waukee 4 st. Paul railway, which. aince
the completion of the branch from Obi.
cago to Milwaukee, has been known un-
der the name ofthe Chicago, Milwaukee
4 st. Paul railway. This railroad under
his management developed. ~ 10 we'll
known. into the most important road in
the northwest. and the longest road
owned BY any one company in the United
States. Mr.. Merrills character vas
marked BY those traits OF character Pc
culiar to men successful as leaders OF
men-ready. prompt. exactiug Of obe-
dience to orders. careful in de-
tails. strict iu discipline. and con-
scientious in obeying orders him.
self; be wss just always, generous
oitsn; treAcherous or unfair, never. In
pesson NJ. Merrill Was tall, erset aud
spare. With arm but nervous tread. He