St. Johnsbury Caledonian. (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1920-1920, 1920-09-08
GOLDEN WEDDING
OF REV. DIR. AND
MRS. H. MERRILL
Many Friends Call Monday
Evening to Extend
Congratulations


C. H. Merrill was the scene of 6
double anniversary Monday evening
for Immediately following the wed.
ding of their daughter, many friends
and ncighbors called to extend con-
gratulations. MANY friends called
throughout the entire evening and
following the greetings the guests
were shown into the dining room
whrc ice cream and cake was serv-
ed.
Charles Henry Merrill was born
in Haverhill, N. H., June 1G, 1845,
and educated at Kimball Union
academy. He was graduated from
Dartmouth college in 1865 and
from the Andover Theological SEM
mary in 1868. During his college
course he was member of the Psi
Upsilon and fraternity and also made
a Phi Beta Kappa. He began his min
istry as pastor of the Congregation
al church at Makato, Minn., where
he was ordained in 1870 and where
he remained for year. He came
to West Brattleboro in 1873 where
he was pastor of the Congregational
church for ID years. During por-
ton of this time he was supcrintend-
ent of schools in the town of Brat
tleboro. He came to St. Johnsbury
in 1887 and was elected secretary
the same year of the Vermont Do
mestic Missionary society. He has
held this position to the present
time, conducting the affairs of the
society with rare tact and faithful
ness. D. ing all the years he has
been active in the Congregational af-
fairs of the state and has several
times presided as moderator of the
Congregational convention. Dart
mouth college gave him the degree
Of ID. D. in 1901. He has been a
trustee of St. Johnsbury academy for
many years and is at present vice
president of the board.
Laura Bartlett Merrill was born in
Mobile Ala, Aug. 27, 1848, and for
the first ten years of her life lived in
the South Later she came to Hav-
erhill N. H., and was educated in
X prixat0 4~sAAol .in-tlseseity.of-4 sa-1
cord. She taught for a year in
Bath, N. H. After the war she re-
sided for time in Washington. D.
c. Mrs. Merrill is a member of the
Woman's Club and the Converse
lion Circle and active in the reli-
sious and social life of the town.
Both DR.. and Mrs. Merrill have
been active members of the South
Congregational church during their
residence in St. Johnsbury.
DR.. and Mrs. Merrill were married
1t Washington, Sept. 6, 1870. 1t is
quite coincidence that both are IL
neal descendants of New England
colonial governors. DIR. Mcrrills
was Sir John Leverett,
me of the first colonial governors of
Massachusetts,. Mrs. Merril's grand
'ather was Josiah Bartlett, colonial
governor as we'll as the first govern
u Of New Hampshire and one Of
he signcrs of the Declaration of
There has been no break in the
'amily circle and they have six chill
lren and eight grandchildren. The
are Josiah l.. Merrill of
Philadelphia, DR.. Walter H. Merrill.
Miss Margaret B. Merrill and Luclla
wife of Col. Joseph Fairbanks, all
# Washington; Elizabeth. wife of
Arthur G. Spraguc of st. Johnsbury,
md Winifred S., who is now the
wife of Arthur E. Howard of Hart
ord, Conn. The grandchildren are
son and daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
:. l.. Merrill, two sons of Col. and
Irs. Fairbanks and three sons and
daughter in the familv of Mr.. and
drs. Arthur G. Spraguc. All lne
hildren and grandchildren were
resent at the anniversary except J.
!. Merrill and his family.
Other relatives of the family that |
anne to thn anniversary were two
ousins of DR.. Merrill, Miss Julia
davenport of Hartford and Miss
,aroline Leverett of Plymouth, N.
I.