The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-02-08
SKETCH OF HIS CAREER.
Life of the Dead Churchman Told in
Brief

Life of the Dead Churchman Told in
Brief.
In the Dcseret News OF "Wednesday, the
official organ OF the hierarchy, appears
the following sketch OF the life and career
of the dead apostle:
Mariner Wood Merrill was tho son OF
Nathan Merrill and Sarah Ann Reynolds,
and was born September 20, lS32 IN Sack
Vile, Westmoreland county, New Bruns-
wick. His father never came West but
devoted his life to farming and the cut
tincrand hauling OF timber In his native
land. Mariner was one of a family OF
thirteen children, being the fourth son
In early youth his life was not unlike
that OF the farmer of those regions OF
country in which he lived, but the spirit
val Influences OF his life began early to
manifest themselves and become prophetic
of what his later years would be-
{ Life Pictured in Vision.
"At the age OF years he received yis-
ion In which was pictured his own HE,
and that Of the people with whom he
subsequently became dentlhcd de hrst
heard the Gospel preached by native
cider. Later. Elders John Skerry and
Jesse W Crosby came-lnto the neighoor-
hood of his home In April. lS5e at the
age of 10 years, he WAS baptized by 81
der -Skerry, and on the 9th OF September
OF the same year was ordained a priest
by Elder Crosby. About year before TINS
he had learned that his mother had been
for long time q member OF the church,
she having been baptized as early as 1896,
Father Not a Mormon.
His father never joined the church,
One OF his sisters joined but subsequent
ly married non Mormon and soon
turned away from the faith. The other
members OF tho family though not Will
ing TO embrace the Gospel, never mani
tested any hostile opposition to IL. Feel
ing that there was work to accomplish
which could not be done IN New BrunS- Ms
wick. he started about year after his
baptism for the West He had gone no
farther than Boston when his fnthcr died.
and word came from his mother to re-
turn and settle the estate, After doing
80. In 1853. he started out again, going
direct to Boston.
By Lake to Chicago.
From there he went to Buffalo by rail
and travelled on the lakes to Chicago
From Chicago he rode on the first rail-
road TO the hend of the Illinois river. At
the hitter point he took boat for ST
Louis, which was then headquarters for
supplies, and then came TO keokuk by
steamboat As he tourneyed westward he
stopped week at Kanesvllc. but met no
saints there. The company with which
he Travelled crossed the river on ferry
Lake City There were eleven wagons In
the company. Jesse w Crosby was cap
tain. and was assisted by William Akin SIoo
son The company arrived in salt Lake
City September IL, 1883.
Was Nearly Drowned.
ne HlOSl idul event On Nub way
associated with the life OF Elder Merrill
occurred at Plntte river, where he, with
one other boy, decided TO cross the river
and get some cattle which had been left
by other pioneers They plunged Into the
river but Elder Merrill soon became ex-
hausted, as the current was strong. He
water and while noatng down stream
7sant under twice; whercupon the COM
pany became alarmed and Brother
Reese was sent to his assistance As ne
sfa arfa 10 oil Irn ha lan "a
mysteriousy on a sandbar and was al
most exhausted
Landed on Bar.
The circumstance was peculiar be-
cause the man who had sought his rescue
was unable TO find the bar upon which
Elder Merrill stood. The two later made
their way to the opposite shore, whore II
wae shallow enough TO walk up stream
Until they reached a place where the cur
rent moved from one side to the other
Here they tied comforter to their
waists. plunged again into the water and
were borne safely across the river by the
TO get back alive. and the cattle, which
they found disabled, were left unds-
turbed
Worked in Shingle Factory.
Elder Merrilrs first effort on reaching
the Salt Lake valley was to secure work
This he got at so per month, but he was
tried considerably through some OF his
employers being unreliable. In Novem-
ber, 1853, he was married to Sarah A
Atkinson, and Immediately went to a
place In Bingham canyon, seven miles
above Its mouth, where he passed the
winter In making shingles. The new
venture became profitable one. The
shingles then sold at IS per thousand and
he was able to make 500 day.
On Perilous Journey.
After staying In the canyon six weeks
he Ventured on perilous journey home
10 see his wife The snow was seven feet
deep, and having no food with him when
ne began the journey, he was overborne
by fatigue and weakness and almost
tainted before he reached a cabin whore
bread to satisfy his craving. This was
only taste for a starving man but ip
a few hours more food was given and
little by little he overcame the exhausted
was brought. After his long walk and
sufferings he was disappointed in not
finding his wife at home, as she had gone
off TO work, so that he WAS obliged to re-
turn without seeing her.
Remarkable Experience.
During Elder Merrilrs life In Salt
Lake City he engaged In work in North
Mill Creek canyon, where he had most
remarkable experience. 1t appears that
one very cold day he was In the canyon
getting a load of wood when the logs
rolled nom the wagon In such a way as
to bind him 70 the ground and crush him
severely. While in this position and
while praying to the Lord for His pro-
lection. he lost consciousness and knew
nothing more until some time later he
some distance down the canyon, seated
on his wagon, with the logs arranged just
as he had desired.
Attributed Escape to Providence.
"As there no one about at the