Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-08-21
ANoovIa,s fIasT sErTlea.
A FAMILY REUNION OF THE DESCEND
ANTS or ExEKIEL MERRILL.

A meeting Of the descendants Of Eze
KEEL Merrill, the first settler Of Andover
was held on the afternoon Of Monday
August 9th, 1900, at the Injecting Of the
waters" the junction Of the two main
branches OF the Ellis River, where
his villa and seven eldest children land.
ed In 1850, having been brought down
the Androscoggin and up the Ellis
Rivers In canoes by the friendly Indians,
and where they spent their 6rst night.
The spot Il beautiful one, and had
been used from time lmmemorial by the
Indians % camping ground. The next
morning the younger children and the
luggage were brought up the West
Branch In the canoes, about two miles,
while the father, mother, and older
children walked through the woods 70 Z
camp already built by Mr.. Merrill near
the site where Merrill House, the 6rst
frame house Ia Audover, was erected by
him 10 1901. Il 10 now In the possession
OF his grandson, Henry varnum Poor.
The proceedings were very informal.
An Interesting paper on Ezekiel Merrill
and the settlement Of Andover, complied
by Miss Agnes Blake Poor, from the
memoirs left by her uncle, the late
Silvanus Poor, was read by Mr.. Alfred
Stone Of Providence. Mr.. apd Mrs.
Lincoln Dresser, now living ct the old
Ezekiel Emery Merrill farm, on which
the first encampment was made, acted
~ hosts, and the guests, after exchang-
log friendly greetings, amused them
selves by strollin9 about, or rowing on
the east branch OF the river.
At half past four picnic tea was
served, and the guests soon afterward
dispersed, having greatly epj 'yed the
occasion. Seveuty-three Of the Merrill
family, including wives and husbands,
were present and signed their names,
Zone or two Of the younger ones msklng
their marks) 10 book TO be preserved
- memento Of the day. IL was also
signed by Mr.. Moses Mason and Mrs.
Edmund Clarke of Bethel, grandchildren
Of Sarah, wife of Peregrine Bartlett, and
eldest daughter of Ezekiel Merrill; and
DIR. and Mrs. Henry Putnam Merrill OF
Portland, grandchildren Of Ezekiel Mer-
rill junior, who were unfortunately
obliged to leave before the meeting be-
gan.
The venerable Elbridge Poor, now
years old. with his brother,
Henry vsrnum Poor, aged eight seven,
and their cousin, Mrs. Nathan Dresser,
were the only grandchildren present
There was also present, William II. Tai.
bot, widower OF Martha Lsurens Poor,
sister Of Eibridge and Henry. There
were five reat-grest-grandchil-
dren present.
The list of descendants present, ipclud-
Ing those by marriage, were Mrs. Olcott
b. Poor, Marion N. and Harold J. Poor.
Hazel Merrill, and Mr.. and Mrs. Rich
mond l.. Melcher, from Moses Merrill,
second son OF Ezekiel.
Mr.. and Mrs. Lincoln Dresser, Mrs
Frank Dresser, Mrs. Emery Dresser snd
her infant son, Ralph Emery Dresser,
Mrs. Thomas N. Barber, Mr.. and Mrs.
Herbert r. Dresser, Mira. Nathan Dress
er, and Mrs. willard s. Newhall, from
Ezekiel Merrill, third son Of Ezekiel.
Mr.. and Mrs. Charles T. Poor and In
iant son, Charles Montgomery Poor, Mr..
and Mrs. Oscar Burditt, Orissa and VIII
lard Dana Burditt, willard 8. Newhsll,
Mr.. and Mrs. Joseph o. Chapman, and
Alice n. Berry, from Anne Moody, wife
Of Samuel Poor, and second daughter Of
Ezekiel.
Olcott B. Poor, Henry Watson Poor,
Edwin 8. Poor, Alice f., Bertha L., and
sylvanus Poor, Mrs. Charles o. Poor,
Nellie H., and Samuel s. Poor, Elbridge
Poor, Mr.. and Mrs. Henry l.. Poor, Es-
teIle, Arthur and Myra Poor, Mrs. Ebeu
Hutchins and her infant daughter, Laura
Emma Hutchins, Mr.. and Mrs. Henry V.
Poor, Agnes B. and Lucy 7. Poor, Roger
Merrill Poor, Charles L., Henry p,
Theopllus p, william s. and Elizabeth
J. Chandler, Thomas T. Stone, Harold
d. Stone, Alfred Stone, Esther Stone,
william II. Talbot, Mr.. and Mrs. John
r. Talbot Frederick W., Edwin, Florence
r., and Agnes Talbot, Mr.. and Mrs.
Charles Z. Cushman, Barbara A., Martha
p, and Elizabeth G. Cushman, from
Mary, wife of Silvanus Poor, and third
daughter Of Ezekiel.
Mr.. and Mrs. Arthur p. Talbot, Ernest
Emery Talbot, from Lydia, wife of
Isaac winslow Talbot, and fourth
daughter Of Ezekiel.
Many letters Of regret were received
from those unable to attend, among them
Miss Arsbella Merrill OF Brunswick, O
daughter Of Roger Merrill, Oldest son
of Ezekiel, and Mrs. John Milton Adams
of Portland, whose late husband was .
ION of Susan, wife Of Nathan Adams,
md youngest daughter Of Ezekiel, the
first white child born In Andover.