Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1891-12-24
PROSPER MERRILL.

Vermont lost one of its brightest and
most widely known citizens in the death
at his home in Woodstock at 1880 o'clocA
Saturday afternoon. He had for many
years suffered severely from Bright's dis
ease, but fought it with high courage and
iron determination. He had, however
3 been falling for about two years and con-
fined at home for about that time and had
not been out of his room for four months
Physicians reczoned his resistance to the
4 disease remarkable, but he succumbed to
+ it at last.
Sketch of his life.
4 Prosper Merrill was born in Burlington,
4 Ct, September IS, 1912, and was the sec
ond son and seventh child in family of
10. His parents were Bissell and Polly
johnson Merrill. His father was a native
of New Hartford, Ct, and was accidental
ly killed in 1880 at the age Of "a years.
Prosper Merrill had only a district
school education, and at the age of 10
years went to work in wooden mill at
Torrington, CT He afterwards worked at
Spencer and Leicester, Mass, and was
made superintendent Of a mill at Oxford,
Mass, 1887. He came to Vermont in Feb,
1888, and became superintendent OF the
finishing department of the Felchville
Wooden company's mill at Felchyille, in
the town of Reading. Thence he went to
Cambridgeport, VT, and was superintend-
ent of Earl & Campbell's mill there until
1849. He returned to Felchvilie in 1850,
bought the mill there and operated it
successfully until the spring oflS5o, when
it was burned He went to Jacksonville,
Fla, in the fall of that year and engaged
in manufacturing, but returned to Felch-
vile, built new mill and ran it, making
wooden goods, until 1868, when 1t was
burned
Mr.. Merrill had at this time accumulat-
ed handsome property, and by the adj
vice of physicians he relinquished active
business He came to Woodstock and
bought the farm just at the south end OF
the village, known as the Blake farm, and
there built house. He sold the farm in
1869 to B. S. Dana, but kept his house,
and lived there, passing his winters in
Florida, because of his health. He had
some property interests in Florida, and
did no business beyond looking after it.
Mr. Merrill represented the town of
Reading in the legislature, and in 1861
and 1862 was a member of the state Senate
from Windsor county. He was twice mar
ried. His first wife was Almira Cum
mings of Milford, Ct, by whom he had
three children. OF the children, two died
in infancy. and the third, Fred B., lives in
Woodstock. Mr.. Merrilfs second wife was
Hannah Boles of Rockingham, who sur
wives him. The only child by this mar
riage, John b., died in 1868 at the age of
% years.
Mr.. Merrill was man Of great nervous
activity and force, full OF resources and
with boundless pluck, and was for many
years known as one OF the shrewdest poll
ticians in the state, although he did not
himself seek office. He had intimate re-
lations with nearly all the prominent men
in Vermont politics for the last genera |
tion, and was leading figure in many OF
the most holly contested campaigns the
state saw at that time. With thin face,
prominent nose, extremely bright eye and
manner that was always nervously aggres
sive and never for an instant suggestive |
of repose, he was a man to make decided |
impression upon every one he met. Thro'
all his later years he seemed to find in bus |
mess and political affairs way OF getting |
his distressing illness out OF his mind and |
would even toward the last discuss state
and national affairs for hours and show a
firmness of grip on the situation and keen
ness OF vision that were astonishing. lie
hardly ever failed in any thing he under |
took, and had a breadth and strength |
which would have brought him success |
in wider fields than those in which he hap /
pened to fall. He was wholly self-made
man, but his making was not an accident.
He had the qualities which make success
as certain as Ire ana nedllu uHucE ehc uh-
favorable circumstances in which he start
ed, and would have made 1t certain under
almost any circumstances.
Mr.. Merrill's funeral viii be held at the
house at O'Clock Thursday afternoon.
b. S. Dana, to whom Mr.. Merrill sold |
the Blake farm, died in the fine old stone
house across the street from Mr.. Merrill's
Friday OF heart disease. Mr.. Dana was
quiet gentleman, highly esteemed in the