The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1912-01-16
Death of Charles Evan Merritt.

Death of Charles Evan Merritt.
Charles EVAN Merritt, well know
lawyer of this county, died at his hom
on High street, Sunday, about noon. H
had been in poor health for long time
but his death was sudden and unexpected
Three years ago Mr.. Merritt was attacked
with paralysis, but he recovered sufficient
ly to attend to his business and suffered nj
bad effects beyond the inability to NOV
as freely as before the stroke. In Octobe
he was attacked with acute indigestion
and from that time he gradually faile,
and the weakened condition of his system
affected his heart and it was the giving
out of that organ which caused death
DR.. VanDerveer, his physician, was a
the home of Mr.. Merritt short time be
fore death occurred. He found hi
patients heart acting In very unsatis
factory manner, but did not think there
was immediate danger. He had hardly
reached his home before he was SUNNI onet
to return to the bedside of the sick man
who had died before medical assistance
could be rendered.
Mr.. Merritt was born In Ohio. Hi
parents were natives of Burlington county
who removed to Ohio in 1887. In 184s
Mr.. Merritt was born. He entered the
freshman class of Ohio Wesleyan Univer
sity. and Joined the volunteer ranks Of
the Union army in 1862, serving In ar
Ohio regiment under command of the late
President Harrison. Beginning army life
as private he was honorsbly discharged
in 1865 with the rank of regimental
Quartermaster-Serge He at once re-
sumed his studies and graduated from
Wesleyan University in 1868. He was ad.
mitted to the Ohio bar in 1870 and to the
New Jersey bar in 1871. He opened an
Office in Ohio but on the death of his uncle,
Evan Merritt, he returned to Mount Holly
and took the Office and practice of the
latter
Mr.. Merritt was public-spirited gentle
man and was identified with many of the In
terests of the town and county. He always
retained kind feeling for military
affairs and at one time was the captain of
the local company. holding the commission
for more than eleven years. Gen. A. E.
Shiras Post, G. A. R., was organized
mainly through his efforts.
At the time of his death Mr.. Merritt
was president of the Farmers Trust Com
pany, being elected to that Office on Tues
day, when the trust company replaced the
Farmers National Bank He had been a
director In the latter Institution since Jan.
uary, 1888, and its president since Janu-
airy, 1901. While an ardent Republican
he never held state Office. The only one
he aspired to was the state Senate, in the
contest for which he was defeated by the
late Fl. B. Smith. He was solicitor of the
Board of Freeholders for several years, a
member of the Northampton township
committee for one term, and was con
nected with many local and county insti-
buttons, among them being the Burlington
County Safe Deposit and Trust Company,
at Moorestown, of which he was director
and solicitor; the Burlington County Ly-
ceum Of History and Natural Sciences,
and the Peoples Building and Loan Asso-
citation. He was treasurer of the Bur-
ington County Fair Association, and of
st. Andrews church, as well as the treas
urer of the Diocese of New Jersey. He
was also warden In the vestry of st.
and was superintendent of the
Sunday school attached to that church
until falling health compelled him to re-
inquish the Office.
At the death of Charles II. Folwell, ST.,
Mr.. Merritt became editor of the Mirror,
and for four years he conducted the
editorial page In manner that was highly
beneficial to the paper, and to the princi-
pies which 1t advocated. This position
ne was compelled to relinquish because of
he growth Of his legal practice, which
engaged all of his time. 1t was during
his part of his life that the writer first
became intimately acquainted with Mr..
Merritt. The friendship then formed
grew stronger even though the newspaper
life was interrupted. AS a lawyer
Mr.. Merritt was a safe and valued coun-
'elor, and his advice, frequently sought,
was carefully considered. This character
site was not confined to his legal life, for
ne was always ready to give advice and
extend helping hand without regarding
he pecuniarY return that might be ex-
oected to follow.
Charles EVAN Merritt had the esteem
md confidence of his fellowmen In the
highest degree. He was perfect gentle
nan and a conscientious and consistent
christian. He leaves widow, son, and
hree daughters. who will miss a loving
md devoted husband and father, and in
Ill circles there will be loss that time
alone can repair.
The funeral will take place tomorrow
afternoon at $50 O'Clock. The remains
nay be viewed in st. Andrews church an
hour previous to that time. Services will
De said at the church, and interment will
De in St. Andrews burial ground.