M. Agnes Merriman (Flanagan)

M. Agnes MERRIMAN (FLANAGAN), 101 taught in one-room schools:

by Anne Roth Staff Writer

She was the daughter of a farmer and the wife of a farmer. In her early years, she taught in one-room schools.

M. Agnes MERRIMAN - who grew up without running water and automobiles -- died Thursday at her home on Kamm Road, Marietta, just a mile from where she was born. She was 101 years old.

Mrs MERRIMAN was the daughter of Thomas and Ellen (KINNEY) FLANAGAN. She was the first baby baptized at St Patrick's Church in Otisco, was married there in 1915 and at the time of her death the oldest parishioner.

After attending a one-room school in Otisco, Mrs MERRIMAN traveled by horse and buggy or, during winter, by sleigh to attend Onondaga Valley Academy. She boarded with a family during the week, returning home each weekend.

After her high school graduation, she remained at the academy to attend Training Class, a teacher preparation course. She then taught in one-room schools in Marble District and State Road (now route 20) near Marcellus and Joshua near Otisco.

"Sometimes she taught eight grades in the one-room school, depending on the ages of the children that year," her daughter, Arlene SWETE, said today. "There could be as many as a dozen or 14 student."

After her marriage, she became a full-time homemaker. Life was busy on the 100-acre dairy and crop farm. There were eggs to gather, animals to feed, clothes to wash, children to raise and a large house to maintain.

Mrs MERRIMAN had extensive vegetable and flower gardens and grew many fruits: apples, cherries, prunes, plums and berries. She canned pork, beef, vegetables, and fruit. Her husband smoked ham in the smokehouse.

"We lived off the farm growing up, " her daughter said.

>From her kitchen, off of which is a side porch with a hand pump still in operation, came the aroma of cooking.

"She was a great cook. Her specialty was buttersotch pie. I don't think anyone ever equaled that." SWETE said. "She made some preserves that were unusual, too, and her baked beans were delicious."

Mrs MERRIMAN never learned to drive a car.

"She was the old school," her daughter said.

"She was a quiet woman, kind and firm in raising the children. We didn't get out of order a whole lot. She was very comforting. It was always a pleasure to visit my parets home. I always felt better afterword."

On July 2, 1989, 80 family members gathered in Marcellus Park for a picnic in honor of her 100th birthday. They came from California, Montana, North Carolina, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, New York City, and Washington D.C.

Mrs. MERRIMAN was an active member of the Altar and Rosary Society at St Patrick's. Every Thanksgiving Eve the church has a dinner dance. "She worked on that as long as she was able," her daughter said. She was also a member of the Town of Otisco Senior Citizens.

Surviving are two daughters, Alene SWETE of Onandaga Hill and Lucy SWANSON of Forest Hills; three sons, Paul F. of Alexandria Bay, Gerald W. of Otisco and Vicent E. of Skaneateles; two sisters, Anna CROTTY of Syracuse and Mildred FLANAGAN of Skaneateles; 22 grandchildren; 35 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Services will be held at 10:45 a.m. Monday at Ryan Funeral Home, Marcellus, and 11:30 a.m. in St Patrick's Church, the Rev Vincent Kilpatrick officiating. Burial will be in St Patrick's Cemetery, Otisco.

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5 October 1997