St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1888-11-29
RECENT DEATHS.

mSIIllI DIT OG. L dui, hiHH., WHICH, oC-
Cured in the morning. The Rutland
Herald makes the following statements
concerning the particulars of his death,
and also some facts concerning his life
to which we add others. Mr.. Merrill,
who removed to st. Paul last January,
had not improved any in health, and
had several severe attacks of asthma,
with which he had been afflicted for
several years. The immediate cause
of his death is not known, but it is be-
lieved that while in an attack of asth
ma the heart failed to beat.
Col. George A. Merrill was born in
Plymouth, N. H., in November, 1920,
received good education and in 1851
located in St. Johnsbury, where he
lived 13 years. In 1857 and again in
1858 he represented st. JOhnsbury in
the legislature. Many of the older
readers of the Caledonian will recall
the delightful letters he wrote to this
paper during both sessions of the leg
islature over the pseudonyme "Hal."
During Col. Merrill's residence in this
town he built and occupied the brick
house on Eastern avenue, tho present
residence of DIR. G. B. Bullard. While
here he was on the staff of Gov. Eras-
tus Fairbanks and was secretary of
1861. For time he was postmaster,
and later was collector of internal rev.
enue. Afterward he was superinten
dent of the Passumpsic railroad. AT
this time he was close and intimate
friend, socially as well as politically,
of the Fairbanks family and Judge
Poland, friendship which lasted un-
til the latter's death. He was inti
mately associated with the following
St. Johnsbury men whom he so soon
follows to the other land: ExGov.
Fairbanks, Judge Poland, E. c. Red
ington, Chas. S. Dana and Calvin Nor
rill. The deceased served on a COM
mittee with Hon. George F. Edmunds
to adjust certain government claims.
He went to Rutland in 1861, and was
appointed superintendent of the Rut-
land & Burlington railroad, which po-
sition he held until 1871, when the
Central Vermont railroad took posses
sion of the road. Although not giving
up his residence in Rutland, he went
to New London, Conn, after leaving
the Rutland road, and I. f.,r two years
was superintendent of the New London
Northern railroad. Soon after his
return to Rutland he went to Lyndon
vile, to take the superintendency of
the Passumpsic railroad but he held
that position only Il short time and re-
turned to Rutland. Col. Merrill was
elected president of the Howe Scale
Co., in 1876 and held the position for
five years after the removal of the
works to Rutland and since resigning
that position he had not been engaged
in active business.
The deceased left a widow, Caro-
line Dean Merrill, daughter of DR..
Edward Dean of Bath, n. H., and six
children as follows: Catherine r., wife
of Hon. Lyman w. Redington; Ed
ward D.. John F.. and Samuel w. OF
St. Paul George Arthur, who resides
in California, and James A. of Rutland.
Col. Merrill possessed all those quail
tiles which make a noble and Christian
man. He was simple and very domes
tic in his habits, but had a host oi
friends. He was a member of the
Congregational church and took great
interest in it's welfare, Mrs. Merrill
being also especially active in church
work
The remains left st. Paul Sunday
night, accompanied by John F. Mer-
rill, and will be brought to st. Johns
bury for burial. Mrs. Merrill, who is
in feeble health, will not come East
The funeral will be held here on
Wednesday.
RUssELL.-The death of Mrs. Eunice
Russell was briefly noticed in las
life deserves more extended notice
When a child her father, Rev. Luther
Wood, removed from southern n. HI. tt
this town, near East st. Johnsbury
Here she shared with the rest of the
family in the hard work and privatiOni
so common in the early part of thu
present century. On reaching woman
hood she married John Russell. H'
soon after bought II tract of land i'll The
edge of Kirby, cleared away the tree
and built log house. This place re
mained her home for the greater par
of her life In course of time a sub
stantial frame house took the place o
the log one. Here for many years
hospitality was freely dispensed. Ii
the ''free and easy" style of visiting 81
common in the farming districts in th'
past, her home was always a favOrit'
} resort, and the large circle of relative
and friends were always sure of
!, hearty welcome from both Mr.. AM
; Mrs. Russell. On the death of he
husband, 90 years ago, she remained
on the home farm in the family of he
son, NJ. j. Russell, until his removal t.
this place 6 or years ago, since whicl
. time her home has been here. She re
tanned her powers of mind and body t.
a remarkable degree until year o
4 4.