Biographical History of Pottawattmie Co., IA

ARWELL MERRIAM, a farmer of Lewis Township, is a native of Worcester County, Massachusetts, born January 14, 1833, the son of Asa and Sarah (Warren) Merriam, natives of Westminster, Massachusetts, and of French extraction. The parents were both deceased in Massachusetts, the father dying May 19, 1886, at the advanced age of eighty--six years, ten months and eleven days, and the mother in 1859; she was born about the beginning of the nineteenth century. The father was a farmer, and also owned and operated a mill in Princeton, Worcester County, Massachusetts.

Farwell Merriam was the fifth child in a family of ten children, was reared to farm life, and received his education in the district schools. When he was twenty years of age he entered a wood shop, engaged in getting out chair material, and also learned wood-turning for about one year. February 6, 1854, he embarked for California on board the steamship Georgia; ticket, $115; March 13, 1854, arrived at San Francisco. He there took steamboat Pawnee up the river to Marysville, and then walked twenty-eight miles to Swedish Flat, Butte County, where he engaged in gold-mining for over three years, when he returned to his native State, remaining until the spring of 1858. At Worcester, Massachusetts, April 6, 1858, he purchased a ticket for $32 to St. Louis, Missouri, via Chicago, which was at that time a small place. From St. Louis he came by boat to Council Bluffs, where he remained over night, and the next morning started out afoot for Onawa, Iowa, a distance of some sixty miles. Here he engaged at work for Judge Whitney, in Monona County, where he remained for two or three weeks. Mr. Merriam then purchased a piece of land, all of the northwest quarter of section 5, on the west side of the Sioux River, comprising 114 acres. This was a tract of uncultivated land, which he slightly improved, and remained one year. He then returned to Onawa, where he erected a home, and resided there until May 6, 1861, when he started with a wagon and two yoke of cattle for Denver, Colorado, arriving at Denver June 15, 1861. From there he went to Golden Gate, and over the divide to Black Hawk Point and Central City, where he took up a claim between Central and Nevada City, which he worked for several months. On October 6 he sold out and returned overland to Council Bluffs, and thence to Onawa, where he remained until April, 1862. Mr. Merriam then returned to Council Bluffs, en route for Denver; but when he arrived here he changed his mind, and on May 15, 1862, opened a small grocery, notion and fruit store at No. 187 Broadway. During his stay in Council Bluffs he increased his stock. and controlled the whole fruit market. In 1881 be turned his entire attention to his farm, which is located on section 17, Lewis Township, where he has lived since the spring of 1875, having purchased the same in 1874. This farm consists of forty acres, for which he paid $2,000, and which he has turned into a vegetable garden and fruit farm; but for a number of years he followed stock-raising. Mr. Merriam has made many improvements, and now has one of the best located farms in this part of the county everything denotes thrift, energy and prosperity. He is a stanch Republican, and takes an active part in all political issues of the day, and strives to promote the best interests of his party.

Mr. Merriam was married September 4, 1867, in Sparta, Wisconsin, to Miss Sarah E. Jones, aged thirty-nine years, the daughter of G. H. and Adaline Jones, of Council Bluffs. Mr. and Mrs. Merriam have six children, viz.: George N., of Council Bluffs, aged twenty-two years and four months; Grace E., nineteen years and nine months, and the wife of W. W. Biddleston, of Council Bluffs; Charles F., deceased March 15, 1889, aged fifteen years, three months and twenty-two days; Walter, deceased in 1882, at the age of three years, eleven months and twenty-five days; Leonard- A., at home, aged seven years and six months and Harrold, four years and six months old. Mr. Merriam is a member of the Pioneer Association of Monona County, Iowa.

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