The full biographical sketch as printed, transcribed from the public-domain book. Spelling and wording are the original author’s; a few scanning errors may remain.
RUFUS L. MERRITT.
Among the progressive and prom- inent farmers of Mills C(»untv, Iowa, is Ru- fus L. Merrill, llie subject of this l)iogra])hic- al sketch. lie was born in Xorth Caro- lina, l-'ebruary 15. 1835. and was a son of Benjamin Franklin and Edna (Combs) Merritt, both natives of North Carolina. The Merritt family is a long-lived race, the paternal grandfather attaining a great age. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary war and held the rank (^f captain in the war of 181 2. In 1842 the family removed to Ken- tucky, where they remained until 1849, when
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the surviving members came to Lyons town- ship, Mills county, Iowa, where tlie father
died at the age of forty-nine. The vener- ated and belo\-ed mother is still living at the ad\"anced age of ninety-four. She is the most honored member of her son's family, and although somewhat of a cripple from an accident which occurred sixteen years ago, slie enjoys a cjuiet life, in her favored corner, surrounded with all the care and comfort that loving hands can bestow. It will be a sad day when she is missed from the rocking chair where she has passed so many years, and the old Bible will lie treasured because she has read its pages so long. Mrs. Merritt Avas the fourth in order of birth, in a family of eight children, and is now the onlv livino- member. Ker father died when she was but six years old, and when she came to ^Nlills county in 1849, ii'' company with her hus- band, there was not a single house on the whole Missouri bottom. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. ]Merritt have all passed away with the exception of our subject.
Rufus L. Merritt was married June 15, 1854. to ]\Iiss Nancy Grizzle, a daughter of ^^^illiam and Rachel (Berger) Grizzle, natives of Tennessee, and they have had four children. — Edna B., now ]Mrs. Sheldon Hub- bard, of Sarpy county, Nebraska; Mary Elizabeth, now Mrs. \\'illiam Snuffin, of Glenwood,'Towa; John L. and George A., residents of Lyons township.
]\Ir. Merritt is a large land owner, his farm of two hundred and forty acres being v.ell situated and very productive. He has introduced many nrogressive methods of farming which have displayed his good judgment and have served to make his land still more valuable. Personally he is pop-
ular in his community and possesses the es- teem of all with whom business or social life throws him into contact.
Source: A biographical history of Fremont and Mills Counties, Iowa. See the original pages at the Internet Archive.
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