County of Christian, Kentucky.  Historical and Biographical.  Edited by 
William Henry Perrin.  F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1884, pp. 385-386.

JOSIAH R. MERRITT was born October 7, 1833, in Williamson County,
Tennessee.  His parents were both natives of Tennessee, where they grew to
maturity and married.  The mother, whose maiden name was Mary Shannon, died
several years ago, after the family had moved to this county.  The father,
William T. Merritt, was born on the 23rd of February, 1802, and became a
farmer of considerable note in this county, to which he removed in the fall
of 1853.  He then settled in Mount Vernon Precinct, of which he was for
several years magistrate.  Mrs. Elizabeth Sherrell (nee Titterington),
became his second wife, survives him, and lives on the old homestead. 
William T. Merritt was an influential member in the Baptist Church, and
died October 3, 1882.  He had thirteen children, most of whom grew to
maturity, and whom three sons - Josiah R., Daniel H., and Burkett B. - now
reside in this county.  Josiah R. was educated in the Triune Academy of his
native county and at the Harmony Academy of Caldwell County, Ky.  He came
to Hopkinsville in 1861, and engaged as merchant clerk for a few years, a
business for which he possessed a peculiar fitness.  About 1869 he formed a
partnership in the grocery trade with F. W. Dabney, under the firm name of
Merritt & Dabney, which terminated after an existence of two years.  He
then engaged in the boot and shoe business which he prosecuted for four
years, since which time he has been retired.

Merritt Shannon Sherrell Titterington Dabney
=
Williamson-TN Caldwell-KY

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/christian/merritt.jr.txt