Transcription contributed by Arne H Trelvik 23 June 2005

Page
913

CALEB MERRITT, deceased; he was born in Pennsylvania August 2, 1796; was a son of Abraham and Garthory Merritt, natives of Pennsylvania, where they resided until his death. They had eight children, all now deceased. His wife subsequently married Joshua Carter; who with his brother Joseph and family, Joseph Kirby and family, and others, had previously settled in Warren County, Ohio, about 1797, being among the earliest settlers of Clear Creek Township, and here they lived and died. Caleb Merritt grow to manhood in Pennsylvania, and while a single man came to Warren County, and was married Oct 16, 1817, to Sarah Kirby, born in this county Feb. 10, 1799, a daughter of Joseph and Sarah (Carter) Kirby, who, at abovementioned date, settled in Warren County, and here lived till their death; he died June 22, 1832, aged 72 years; his wife survived him till Feb. 15, 1847, aged 82 years. They had nine children - Benjamin, born Feb. 13, 1784; Joseph, Jan. 26, 1786, both deceased; Mary, April 30, 1788, married John Garrard, died Oct. 18, 1855; James, Jan. 18, 1791, died Jan. 16, 1851; Elizabeth, Sept. 24, 1794, married Jonathan Kirby, deceased; Sarah, Feb. 10, 1799, married Caleb Merritt, died Aug. 21, 1824; Hepsabeth, May 29, 1803, married Lewis Lewis, died Dec. 28, 1850; Jane, April 16, 1806, second wife of our subject, and Ann, born June 4, 1809. The grandparents of Mrs., Jane Merritt were Joseph Carter, born in Pennsylvania July 7, 1729, and Mary Gaston, born June 3, 1739, who, as stated above, settled here in 1797. He died July 7, 1798; she died June 3, 1814. Mr. Merritt and wife by their marriage had three children - Joseph, July 15, 1818, died Sept. 25, 1847; Garthory, June 9, 1821; and James, Jan. 12, 1823. Mrs. Merritt died as given above. On Dec. 14,1826, he married Jane Kirby, by whom he had six children - Sarah, born July 19, 1827, died July 13, 1839; Benjamin, Aug. 27, 1829, married Amelia Williamson, resides in Henry Co., Ohio; Amos, Feb. 16, 1832, died March 19, 1872; Jane, June 10, 1834, married Marcus Unglesbe, have three children - Leora, Ida, Florence and Maggie Jane; Rachel, Dec, 10, 1837, married Harvey Earnhart, have two children-Howard Ellis and Ella May; and Mary, born May 23, 1840. Mr. Merritt died April 6, 1840. This record of the above family and their ancestors embraces some of Warren County's first settlers, and were the true pioneers of the county, who bore the brunt of the battle with the hardships and dangers of the wilderness, which then covered this land; and the present and future generations look upon this now beautiful country, with its fine farms, with all the comforts and conveniences, which have been brought about by their industry and hard labors, well may their hearts swell with gratitude and kindness for these rich legacies bequeathed to them Truly their lives and labors should be recorded in indelible letters, upon the pages of history, which shall be more durable than the marble monuments which mark the resting places of their remains.