Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-04-27
Prominent and Respected
Citizen Breathed His Last
At 2:20 O'Clock This
Afternoon.
WAS I'D ENTITLED
WITH BANKING HOUSE
The Community in General
Mourns Demise of Love-
able Man; Had Been War
Time Merchant of City.

! Death removed J. H. Merrill at 2:2O
o'clock yesterday afternoon at his home
| 227 East Fifth street, after an illness
that had lasted for the past year and q
half, for the past ten days of which his
condition had been quite serious. The
death of Mr. Merrill removes one of
the pioneers of Ottumwa and one of
the older citizens, as well as one of the
most respected and best known men in
the city. He was in the eighty-fourth
year of his age when death came. I'm
til some ten years ago Mr.. Merrill was
one of the largest wholesalers and
business men in Ottumwa. At the time
of his death he was interested in
number of the larger business enter
prises of the city and held positions of
trust in them. Among the concerns IN
which he was interested at the time Of
his death are the Iowa National bank,
of which he was vice president. He
was also president of the Iowa Savings
bank and the City Savings bank and in
all of the banking concerns he was
charter member. He was also inter-
ested as a stakeholder in the Dain
Manufacturing Co. and the Ottumwa
Brick & Construction Co.
Born in New England.
He is survived by his wife, Mrs.
Garaphelia B. Merrill, son, H. w.
Merrill and wife, Mrs. Dennison B.
Merrill and q grandson, c. Greenleaf |
Merrill all of Ottumwa; sister, Mrs
John G. Foote Of Burlington and a
brother Stephen Merrill Of Carthage,
ILL., Mr.. Merrill was born In Plymouth,
N. H., September ~, 1927, and came
to Ottumwa in 1858. Two years later
he built the present home where he
had resided since. J. H. Merr1lIs
name has become known throughout
Iowa and for years has been syn
onym for conservative and honorable
business methods. Mr.. MerrilPs &C.
tivity in business matters never wan
ed until about ten years ago. In
late years he had not been strong
nor able to be about very actively. Mr..
Merrill has endeared himself to all IN
this community and the earnest pray
er, MAY his soul rest in peace rises
in precious pleading from every heart.
Senior Warden Of Trinity.
Senior warden was the church Of
flee held by the decedent at the time
of his death. Mr.. Merrill had been
devoted parishioner of Trinity Episco-
pal church, and was one of the fore
most men in the church in Iowa and
the middle west. He had at numerous
times represented the Iowa diocese at
national meetings. Despite his ad-
vanced age, all the services at Trinity
found him present when sickness did
not prevent.
A War Time Merchant.
Mr.. Merrill was one of the war time
merchants of Ottumwa, having re.
ceived his first stock of goods when the
only transportation facilities were Of
fered by the Des Moines river boats
He was first associated with Col. Kit.
tredge, and was one Of the founders OF
the J. H. Merrill wholesale grocery
house. Upon the retirement of Col. Kit.
tredge, Major Samuel Mahon entered
the business and upon the retirement
Of Mr.. Merrill in 1891 the concern was
recognized into the J. H. Merrill Co.,
of which Major Mahon today is at the
head