The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1912-06-20
UNEXPECTED
PASSING OF
W. |. MERWIN


his home. 1905 Rudd avenue. at 3
o'clock Sunday afternoon from hem
orrhage OF the brain after a brief
illness in the seventy-ninth year of
his age. Although he had not been
very strong for a long time Mr. Mer-
win expressed himself last week as
feeling better than he had for many
months. Last Saturday he assisted in
picking some strawberries at & ranch
on Lincoln park and drove about town
in a carriage during tie afternoon
and seemed to greatly enjoy IT, He
retired TO his room Saturday night IN
his usual health, but falling TO arise
at his accustomed hour his daughter
went to his bed and found him in a
semi-unconsclous condition, from
which he never fully recovered. A
physician was summoned. but was
unable to do anything for the un
fortunate man and he passed peace
fully away eight or nine hours later.
Mt Merwin was most interesting
man and his experiences in life.
coupled with his keen Intelligence and
observation. made him a most delight
ful companion. He was born in Kin
derhook, Columbia county. New York.
Nay Soth 1855. and was the son ui
Jesse and Jane Merwin. prominent
residents cf &c town. He was nnm-
ed after Washington Irving. TIE not
Cd author. whose home was at larry
iown-en-the Hudson. and. who fire.
quontly visited the elder Merwiu. wiki
xaom he was on terms OF the great
est friendship and intimacy, The
character OF "Ichabod Crane In Irv-
ings Sketch Book is that OF the sss-
Tor Merwinl
TIE Nerwins we're Originally from
wales nad the hrat Of The amuy to
come TO America settled at Milsforis
Point. Connecticut. which, Subsequent
ly became known rs "2larwin's
point" Mr Merw.n Of de aeeount
was one of a family OF eight sons aud
itarea laugasers. lie grew to manhood
on his fathers farm ami his educa-
tIon was acquired In The common
hools ana the aeaGemg al kinder
hook. December @. 1856 lie was mar
ried to Miss Mary Reynolds Of his
home town. from which union seven
children were born and an OF whom
are now living.
After his marriage Mr. Merwin be-
came Interested In mercantile pur-
suits at Kinderhook. and was highly
successful in all OF his yentures and
enterprises on selling out there he
established himself in New York City
where he conducted for a number OF
years large store devoted TO the
( fancy grocery trade ON the Bower.
and. also. a stand in Tompkins mark
ct When the ciyial war broke ont
he disposed Of his mercantiie inter
ests and purchased farm. which he
cultivated for four or 1--WE years and
then sold at an advance Of forty dol
lars an acre.
/ In 1876 he closed up his business
affairs at Paduca in Mclean county,
and. later at Bloomington On going
to bloomington In 1859 lie engaged
in the real estate business, and. incl
dentally. made some Investments in
Horticulture. to which he gave con-
siderable degree OF his personal at
tention. Mr.. Merwin was always a
loyal. patriotic citizen, willing to make
any sacrifices for his country. Al
though he was III when the war broke
ont he hired substitute aud sent him
into the army as his representative.
although his physical disability ex-
empted him from the draft. MIR. Mer-
win was always concerned in politics.
but never sought nor held public Of