Dickinson Co., KS AHGP-Portrait and
Biographical Album of Dickinson, Saline, McPherson and
Marion Counties-Christian Merillat
Portrait and Biographical
Album of Dickinson, Saline, McPherson and Marion
Counties
Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1893
CHRISTIAN MERILLAT, one of the extensive
land-owners of Dickinson County, residing
on section 23, Centre Township, was
born in Wayne County, Ohio, on the 28th of
June, 1839. His father, David Merillat, was born
in Switzerland of French parentage, and married
Mary Musser, of Alsace, France. Our subject was
reared in Fulton County, Ohio, and remained under
the parental roof until twenty-four years of
age, when he began working at the carpenter's
trade. In 1866, he ran the first thresher ever operated
in that county.
On the 24th of February, 1867, Mr. Merillat was
joined in wedlock with Miss Ursilla Buhrer, who
was born in Switzerland August 10, 1847. She
is a sister of J. F. and G. C. Buhrer and a daughter
of Jacob Buhrer, now of Rhinehart Township.
Unto them have been born the following children:
Anna, now the wife of Grant Wilson, of Rhinehart
Township; Pete C, who operates a three hundred
and twenty acre farm in the same township,
and engages in selling the Enterprise Header;
Fred, who carries on a farm of one hundred and
sixty acres in Rhinehart Township; John, who
was graduated from Enterprise College and is now
engaged in teaching; George W., a stenographer
employed in the Hoffman Mill, of Enterprise;
Christina, Lydia, Christ and Grant.
Mr. Merillat continued to operate his threshing
machine, and also carried on a shingle mill in Ohio
until 1870, when he came to Kansas. He brought
with him about 12,000, and purchased the northeast
quarter of section 23, Centre Township, at
$6 per acre, which he immediately began to
improve. Three years later he purchased one
hundred and sixty acres in Rhinehart Township
for $840, and his landed possessions now
aggregate eight hundred acres, of which three
hundred and twenty are located in the home
farm, the remainder being situated in Rhinehart
Township. This comprises a farm of three
hundred and twenty acres, and another of one
hundred and sixty, operated by his sons, Peter C.
and Fred, respectively. Mr. Merillat gives his
principal attention to the raising of wheat and
corn, having three hundred acres planted in the
former cereal, and one hundred and twenty acres
in corn. He also feeds about forty hogs. He has
been an indefatigable worker throughout his entire
life, and where many others would have become
discouraged and disheartened, he pressed
steadily forward, and thereby has won signal success.
In addition to farming, he puts up about
eight hundred tons of ice each year on his farm,
and is doing a profitable business in this line, selling
the ice in Enterprise and Abilene.
In politics, Mr. Merillat was formerly a Democrat,
but is now a supporter of the People's party.
His wife is a member of the Reformed Church.
He assists in church and educational work, and, although
he had no advantages in the latter direction,
he appreciates the benefit derived from school
privileges and is giving his family opportunities
such as he never possessed. Mr. Merillat is an
honest, reliable business man, and one of the substantial
citizens of Center Township, who has won
through his own unaided efforts a comfortable
competence.
(c) 2009 Sheryl McClure for
Dickinson County KS AHGP