Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-06-13
Continued in Charge Of Paper Till
Health Failed in 1ss5-Durins Re-
cent Years Has Lived at ScottsbIuff,
Neb-Sketch of Interesting Career
in Local Newspaper Field.

1 The cause OF Mr. Merrlnan ueatll
! was not stated in the message, but 1t
/ is knowa here that Mr.. Merriman had
been failing in health for several years,
and that six months ago he left Scots
bluff, Neb., which has been his home
! for several years, and wens to San An
! tonic. where "a sister, Mrs. Belle Nc
! Council, resides.
| A most pathetic fact in con-
Injection with the death is that Mr..
Merriman. following long and useful
! life. died practically penniless. he
I had been broken down in spirit since
/ the death of his only son, Halsey c.
Merriman, several years ago
! Came Here in 1869.
/ Mr.. Merriman. native of Peoria, H.,
where he was born June Il. 1913, came
torney Of g. with bright future be-
fore him.
/ Until he was 10 years old Mr.. Merri-
man lived in Illinois. He then went to
! Syracuse, n. Y, where he studied law,
and then to Ann Arbor. where he fin
ished his law course in the University
! of Michigan. He was admitted to the
bar at Ottawa, ILL.,, became associated
with an uncle in Washington, D. c.,
and came here in 1869 and formed a
copartnership with the late Judge
| Henry C. Henderson. He was made
United States land comm, ssioner, and
! held this position few years.
| Mr.. Merriman was the last but one of
his family. His younger brother, S. W..
Merriman, for many years business
manager of the Times Republican. died
several years ago. Mrs. Merriman.
with whom Mr.. Merriman was united
in marriage March 1885,, in York
state, died in October, 1899. Mrs. Mer-
rimans maiden name was Laura E.
Cowles. In addition to the son Halsey
who died in July, 1902. Mr.. and Mrs.
Merriman lost son in infancy.
| Interesting Newspaper History. =
/ Mr. Merriman's newspaper history
lacally is most interesting, and espe-
cially that part that concerns the es-
| tablishment. Of the Times Republican.
! In January 1879, Mr.. Merriman and
his law partner. Judge Henderson,
bought the Marshall County Republic
can, a weekly paper, signing notes for
$4,000 for the purchase price. Early
in the year following Mr. Merriman
bought Judge Henderson's interest and,
after conducting the publication for a
few months, became aware that re-
organization or sale of the Times, a
daily. and strong competition to the
Republican, was brewing. Merriman
learned that McQuiston e, Burnell were
the prospective purchasers of the
Times, having an eye on the job plant
The final result was the job plant OF
the Republican was traded for the
newspaper plant Of the Times, and Nc
Quiston & Burnell acquired the job
business and Mr.. Merriman the COM
bined newspaper plants.
Friends Come to Rescue.
But the deal was big one in those
days. and especially so for one who
had no capital. In the transaction
Merriman was compelled to take ovel
the Times building for $4,000. Merr1'
man didn't have 5000 cents for an IN
vestment such as 1t was then consid-
cred. He went to DR.. Click, then pres
ident of the First National Rank. ant
Click let Merriman have the necessary
d money on security that was yer.
shady.
Starts to Build Up Paper.
Confronted with $4,000 indebted
ness. running at 10 per cent, Mr.. Mer
riman was in the newspaper business
in the strictest sense of the word. Th
Times was the better property of tn
two, but the daily was making NJ
money: in fact it was a burden Away
sapping the profits the weekly was abb
to show, and more too. II had no cir
culation outside of Marsha!ltown, ant
very little even there. Merrimal
realized that to make his daily pay h
must have money. The latter con
tingency meant another trip to d.
Click and Dr. A. T. Bihchard, who toll
Merriman to go ahead with his circula
ton scheme and they would stand be
hind him.
Gets Clark Mcfarland.
Being assured that he would hav
! the necessary money to put his pape
on a paying basis was one thing. blu
his falling health was another and ha
to be considered. Merriman had over
Invoked. He needed an assistant i
the person of city editor-one VIII
could write local and set type. Merri
y man made known his wants to Glicl
and nearby, in the bank, "Ab" Clio
overheard the conversation. He kne'
of Just the right man for the plac
young Clark Mcfarland, Of Des Nome
i"Ab" Click was delegated to writ
II f>OSAsAOA
at $40 per week. Mcfarland accepte
and went to work with all the VII
and force that characterized his make
uiup. He did local, handled the "tele
graph" on rush occasions worked 4
the case and in the early part of ID
did the editorial as well.
Mcfarland proved valuable aid
Merriman, and his work in reportir
the legislative session at Des Moin'
had as much to do with building up II
circulation as any other one thing. tt
paper had its ups and downs how
lever, and its staunch friends came
its rescue at critical times. r. E. Sea
was one Of these in addition to d
utGlick and nr Rirchard. Sears Can
across' with $500 voluntarily at OF
time when, II he had not done 4