1890 Buchanan and Delaware Counties History pgs. 485-486
CHARLES E. MERRIAM, a well known and popular merchant
of the thriving little city of Hopkinton, is a native of Massachusetts, born at Princeton January 22,
1845, and
comes of a long line of New England ancestry. Marshall Merriam, his father, was also a native
of the Old Bay State, born September
17,1802. He was a tiller of the soil, a quiet, unostentatious man
of excellent habits and one who enjoyed the confidence and esteem of those who
knew him. He filled various minor offices in the community where he lived, and
was always faithful to the important trusts confided to him until his untimely
death which occurred November 21, 1845. The paternal grandfather of our
subject, Amos Merriam, was born in Massachusetts, October 13, 1760, and was a
son of Nathan, born May 20, 1720, who was a son of Joseph, born August 20,
1677, who was a son of John born in July, 1641, who was a son of Joseph, born
in Kent county, England, and who came to America, settling in Concord, Mass.,
in 1635, where he died in 1641. He had three sons, William,
Joseph, Jr., and John.
The mother
of our subject bore the maiden name of Susan Wood, a native of Massachusetts, and who came of a long line of
distinguished New
England
ancestry. She was the mother of six children, four of whom now survive, and a
modest, Christian woman who strove to rear her children in the paths of virtue
and honesty. She died in 1859.
Charles E.
Merriam, concerning whom this sketch is especially written, received a good
common-school education, although his opportunities for obtaining such were
somewhat limited. He came to Delaware county, Iowa, when twelve years old, and was one
of the earliest settlers in this part of the country. He attended Lenox College at Hopkinton two years. The Civil
war then coming on, he enlisted on the ninth of
September, 1861, as a private in the Twelfth Iowa infantry. His first experience in battle
was at Fort Henry. He was also in the engagement at Fort Donelson. He participated in the memorable
battle at Shiloh, where he was captured
along with a portion of the army of General Prentiss. While a prisoner he was
confined at Libby, Macon and Montgomery prisons for a period of six months.
During his prison life he suffered all that was possible for a man to suffer
and live. After his release he came home on a thirty days' furlough to
recuperate. After his return the regiment of which he was a member was
reorganized in time to participate in the fight at Vicksburg and Jackson. He afterwards saw service at Brandon, about twenty miles from Jackson, also at Mobile, Spanish Fort, Tupelo and Nashville. He was wounded at Vicksburg and also at Tupelo, and was confined in the Adam's
Hospital at Memphis from July until December. He was
mustered out as a sergeant January 20, 1866.
After a
most honorable career in the service of his country young Merriam returned to
Hopkinton and engaged in the mercantile business which he has steadily followed
since, with the exception of one year, which he spent with his family in California.
Mr. Merriam
was married April 15, 1868, the lady of his choice being Miss
Margaret C., daughter of Alexander Kirkwood, a native
of Scotland. Her parents came to America and settled in Pennsylvania where she was born. The family
returned to Scotland after a few years' residence in this
country, but subsequently came again to America, settling in Canada, moving thence in 1856 to Iowa and locating in Delaware county,
where the father died in the town of Hopkinton, August 11,
1887. They
came to Delaware county, Iowa, in 1856, and were among the first
settlers in this section of the state. He served three years in the war of the
rebellion, as a member of the Thirty-seventh Iowa infantry, known as the
"Gray Beard" regiment. He was a cabinet-maker by trade and was
respected by all who knew him. On the return of Mrs. Merriam's parents to Scotland she was taken into the family of
her uncle John Campbell, by whom she was reared and educated. She joined her
parents in the United States in 1867, coming to them at that date
in Delaware county.
Mr. and
Mrs. Merriam are the parents of three interesting children, as follows- Jonah
C., born October 20, 1869; Charles E., born November
15, 1874,
and Susan Agnes, born September 4, 1876.
Mr. Merriam
has always been identified with the republican party, and
is well posted on the principles and doctrines of that great organization. He
has always taken an active interest in furthering the welfare of the party, has
been elected delegate to various county, congressional and state conventions,
where he has been prominent in the councils of the party leaders. He was postmaster
of Hopkinton for sixteen years, has held various township offices, being mayor
of Hopkinton and also a member of the town council. He has held the responsible
position of treasurer of Lenox College and is at the present time a member
of the board of trustees of that institution. He is an enthusiastic Mason,
having taken all the degrees in the Ancient York rite up to and including that
of Knight Templar. He is a member of Rising Sun Lodge, No. 187, A. F. and A.
M., at Hopkinton, Iowa, and has been its worshipful master
for ten years. He is a member of Monticello Chapter, No. 42, R. A. M., at
Monticello, Iowa, and a member of Trinity Commandery,
No. 16, Knight Templar, at Monticello, Iowa. He is also an honored member of
the Grand Army of the Republic and was a delegate to the National Encampment at
San
Francisco in 1886. He and his estimable wife are active members of
the Presbyterian church and liberal contributors to
every worthy cause. He has always labored assiduously for the success of Lenox College and is one of its stanch
supporters.
By
perseverance and business tact Mr. Merriam has made a success in life and is
universally recognized as one of Delaware county's substantial citizens,
respected and honored wherever he is known.
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