The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1889-06-12
Temperance Department
Contributions BY the Ladies Of the Women's
Christian Temperance Onion.
Mrs. Caroline Elizabeth Merrick.
President Of the W. C. T. U. Of the
State Of Louisiana.

The daughter of Captain David
Thomas, from an old South Carolina
family, Mrs. Merrick's childhood was
spent OH the plantation where she was
born, Cottage Hall, in the Parish Of
East Feliciana, La A large element
in the formation of her character, with
those of her FIVE brothers and sisters,
was the fact that in Jackson, five
miles distant, was located the State
College, in which her father was an
active trustee, and from which the
Professors came on frequent visits to
the plantation. Their intellectual dis
cussions and learned conversation nat
urally awakened in the young minds
that listened, love of noble themes
and pursuits.
But as Mrs. Merrick herself loves to
say, with generous enthusiasm, she
owed most of all to her fathers third
wife, nee Susan Brewer, her own moth
er having died when she was seven
years old. This lady had been an
eminent teacher, and she was termed
by the Rev. Wilbur Fisk the pioneer
in the South of the cause Of woman's
education. She had also reputation
as a writer and conversationalist.
Her superior abilities she devoted to
the training of her foster children, who
rewarded her care by their improve
ment and tender affection. AS was
customary among wealthy planters of
. that day, the children were educated
by governesses at home; and while
still very young, Caroline was married
y to Edwin Il. Merrick, who became a
distinguished member of the Louisiana
n bar. In 1855 he was elected Chief
Justice of the State, and they removed
d to New Orleans from Clinton, La.
I where they had resided for Is years
Judge Merrick has always given
e his earnest sympathy and generous
support to the causes that his wife hat
e championed, and these are by nc
e e means few. For fifteen years she has
a been an active member of the Boart
b of Directors of St. Annals Asylum foI
u the relief of destitute women and chill
dren, and for thirteen years she ha
4, served as its Secretary. The judge
has repeatedly given his professiona
. services to this institution, securing
= moneys that would otherwise have
been lost, and obtaining its exemption
from taxation, which saves a large an
s. nual expenditure.
az Miss Willard, whose quick eye
ne ALWAYS on the lookout for able lieu
I'd tenants, wrote to Mrs. Merrick abou
six years ago, urging her to throw he
r. energies aud abilities into the W. {
ns Z. q. movement. A corresponding
ch ensued, resulting in visit from Mis-
Willard, and in the organization
'r- the Louisiana State Temperance Uniol
=, of which Mrs. Mcrrick became Pres
IS. dent, and which now numbers sever
ed ty-nine local unions.
Of, Here in the peculiar conditions I
'ss the work she grapples vigorously wit
80 every difficulty, moderating her ow
es, views to keep pace with tue steps
'us her co-laborers.
ter Mrs. Merrick's many official duti
or take much of her time, but she sti
:; finds ample leisure for all her fami
s sir and domestic interests. Her dain
sct home in the :'garden" district, S
among roses and sweet olives, is Il
au. frequent scene of refined and genera
the hospitality. The young children
on, her two deceased daughters are und
~. her motherly CAGE. Her two sons a
=, 10 both living and performing we'll the
hat parts, one aa planter, and the 9th
,lic as lawyer in New Orleans.