JOHN EDWIN MERRILL

JOHN DIED IN HIS HOME ON MELVILLE STREET IN PITTSFIELD, MASS ON JUNE 14, 1896 AT 630 PM. AFTER A WEEK OF ILLNESS WITH TYPHOID FEVER THAT DEVELOPED INTO CONGESTION AND PNEUMONIA.
JOHN WAS BORN MAY 21, 1820 IN PITTSFIELD,MASS WHERE HE ALWAYS LIVED. HE WAS THE SON OF PHILLIP MERRILL AND FRANCES STANTON MERRILL. HE WAS THE GRANDSON OF CAPT HOSEA MERRILL OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR. JOHN WAS IN FARMING AT THE TIME OF HIS RETIREMENT IN 1886., WHEN HE MOVED TO THE CITY. JOHN WAS A QUIET AND RETIRING PERSON. HE WAS ALWAYS INTERESTED IN PUBLIC MATTERS AND HELD SEVERAL PUBLIC OFFICES. IN THE WINTER OF 1866-1867 HE WAS A DEMOCRAT STATE LEGISLATURE, TO THE SATISFACTION OF HIS DISTRICT.
DURING THE 1860'S AND 70'S HE SERVED AS A ASSESSOR AND HIGHWAY COMMISSIONER AND TWO TERMS AS A SELECTOR, BEFORE PITTSFIELD WAS CITY. HE WAS ALSO A SCHOOL COMMITTEEMAN AND A TRUSTEE OF THE PITTSFIELD CEMETERY CORPORATION.
HE WAS CONNECTED WITH THE BANKING INSTITUTION FOR OVER 40 YEARS AND WAS TRUSTEE FOR THE BERKSHIRE SAVINGS BANK FOR 30 YEARS AND WAS FIRST VICE PRESIDENT AT THE TIME OF HIS DEATH. HE WAS ALSO CONNECTED TO THE AGRICULTURAL NATIONAL BANK AND A MEMBER OF THE FARMING COMMITTEE FOR 35 YEARS.
john was a pillar of the community and was president of the bershire agricultural savings for 2 years, he also served as secertary.
IN 1868 JOHN AND JAMES BULTER BROUGHT THOMAS ARWOOD'S PROPERTY ON NORTH STREET. AND THEY BUILT A 4 STORY GRANITE FRONT BUILDING NAMED THE MERRILL BUILDING.
JOHN WAS ACTIVE IN THE ST STPEHENS EPICOPAL CHURCH. HE ARE A JUNIOR AND SENIOR WARDEN OF THE CHURCH. ALSO SUPERINTENDENT OF THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
THE FUNERAL WAS LARGELY ATTENDED IN THE AFTERNOON ON JUNE 17TH AT HIS HOME ON NO 17 MERVILLE STREET. REV DR W.W. NEWTON OFFICIATED.