Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 07.djvu/371

 MKKiClAM

MEKRIAM

MERRIAM, Clinton Levi, representative, born in Leyden, N.Y., March 25, 1824 ; son of Gen. Ela and Lydia (Sheldon) Merriam ; grand- son of Judge Nathaniel and Eunice (Curtis) Mer- riam, of Leyden, N.Y., and of James and Mary Cheesborough (Lord) Sheldon, of Rerasen, N.Y., and a descendant from Joseph Merriam, who oarae from Kent county. England, to Concord, Mass., 1637-38, and died there 1641, and of John Sheldon, who settled in Pawtucket, R.L, in the seventeenth century. Clinton Levi Merriam attended Denmark academy and engaged in banking and mercantile business. He removed to New York, where he conducted an importing and jobbing house, 1845-54. He was married, in 1849, to Caroline, daughter of Judge Levi Hart, of Collinsville, N. Y. He was a banker and commis- sion merchant in New York city, 1860-64, and re- moved to Leyden, N.Y., in 1864. He was a Republican representative in the 42d and 43d congresses, 1871-75 ; an original member of the Union League club, New York city, and a writer and speaker on finance and banking. He died in Wasliint^ton. D.C., Feb. 18, 1900.

MERRIAM, Qeorge, publisher, was born in Worcester, Mass., Jan. 20, 1803 ; son of Dan and Thirza (Clapp) Merriam. He attended the district schools of West Brookfield and worked on the farm until 1818, when he was apprenticed to tlie printing business in his father's office. He w;is admitted to partnership by his uncle Eben- ezer in 1824, to take the place of his father, who died in 1823, and in 1831 disposed of his interest in the firm and removed to Springfield, Mass., where he established a book-publishing business with his brother Charles, known for almost fifty years under the firm-name G. & C. Merriam. Homer, a younger brother, was taken into the firm in 1856. He was married, first in May, 1828, to Abigail W. Little, and secondly, March 31, 1842, u> Mrs, Abby (Fiske) Spring, daughter of the Rev. John Fiske. George Merriam died in Springfield, Mass.. Juno 22, 18S0.

MERRIAM, Qeorge Spring, author, was born in Springfield, Mass., Jan. 13, 1843 ; son of George and Abby (FLske) Merriam. He was graduated at Yale, A.B., 1864, A.M., 1867, and in September, 1865, entered Yale Theological seminary. He was a tutor at Yale, 1866-68, visited Europe in 1868, and wasoffice editor of 77i€ Christian Union, New York, 1870-78. He returned to Springfield, Mass., in 1878, and devoted himself to literary work. He is the author of : A Living Faith <1876) ; The Wai/ of Life (1881) ; The Life and Times of Samuel Bowles (1885) ; The Story of William and Lucy Smith (1889) ; A Symphony of the Spirit (1894) ; Reminiscences and Tjetters of Caroline C. Briggs (1897) ; Tlte Chief End of Man (1897), and contributions to periodicals. VII. — 23

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MERRIAM, Henry Clay, soldier, was born in Houlton, Maine, Nov. 13, 1837 ; son of Lewis and Mary (Foss) Merriam, and a descendant in the eighth generation from Joseph Merriam, the im- migrant, 1636. He attended Houlton academy, and was graduated from Colby college, A.B., 1864, A.M., 18- 67. He left the col- lege, Aug. 9, 1862, to accept the captaincy of a company in the 20th Maine volun- teers, and resigned, Jan. 7, 1863, to organ- ize colored troops in Louisiana, and was commissioned cap- tain in the 80th U.S. colored infantry,

March 11,1863; serv- ing with them at the assault on Port Hudson, La. , May 27, 1863. He was commissioned lieutenant-colonel of the 85th U.S. colored infantry. May 21, 1864; was transferred to the 73d U.S. colored infantry, June 3, 1864, and led the regiment (originally 1st Louisiana native guards) over Fort Blakeley, Ala., April 9, 1865, at his own request and in advance of all other troops, for which action he received the con- gressional medal of honor. He was brevetted colonel of volunteers, March 26, 1865, for services against Mobile and its defences, and was honor- ably mustered out of the volunteer service, Oct. 24, 1865. In the regular service he was commiss- ioned major of the 38th U.S. infantry, July 28. 1806 ; was brevetted lieutenant-colonel, March 2, 1867, for Antietam, and colonel the same day for Fort Blakeley, Ala.; was transferred to the 24th U.S. infantry, March 15, 1869, and was promoted lieutenant-colonel and assigned to the 2d U.S. infantry, June 10, 1876 ; colonel of the 7th U.S. infantry, July 10, 1885, and brigadier-general, June 30, 1897. He re-entered the volunteer serv- ice as major-general of volunteers. May 4, 1898, and commanded the Departments of California and Columbia, which comprised the entire Pacific coast, including Alaska and the Hawaiian Islands during the Spanish and Philippine wars. He was honorably discharged from the volunteer service, Feb. 24, 1899. and was given command of the departments of the Colorado and the Mis- souri. He was placed on the retired list Nov. 13, 1901. He was married, Jan. 16. 1866, to Lucy J. Getchell. who died, April 24, 1870 ; and secondly, June 4, 1874, to Una Macpherson. His son. Henry Macpherson Merriam, born Oct. 12. 1877, at Houlton, Maine, was appointed from Leland Stanford Jr. university, July 9, 1898, 2d lieu-