John Mervin: Risingsun, Ohio Pioneer

JOHN MERVIN, one of the early settlers at the sitefarm had to be cleared, however, and there was no
of the present town of Risingsun, is a highlysmall amount of hard work to be done in the first
respected resident of that place. Like many of theyears of his stay; but the rapid development of the
prosperous and influential men of the day, he haslocality brought prosperity. He still owns severnty
made his way to success through adverseacres of land in the vicinity, and also has ten acres in
circumstances, and his well-won competence reflectsJackson township, Seneca county. In 1877 he built a
credit upon him.fine residence in Risingsun, which he has since
He is of English birth, having entered upon his mortaloccupied. Mrs. Mervin's death, December 9, 1888,
career in Leicestershire, January 11, 1824. His father,brought deep sorrow to this pleasant home. her
Thomas Mervin, was a butcher by trade. Our subjectremains are interred in Trinity cemetery, Scott
was reared upon a farm, near a small village, enjoyingtownship, Sandusky county. They had nine children, all
only the limited advantages of the common schools.of whom are living: Sarah, Mrs. George Young, of
He showed ability in the management and care ofSeneca county; Mary, Mrs. Adam Graber, of
horses, and at an early age found employment inRisingsun; George, a farmer in Perry township;
that work; but the opportunities for advancementElizabeth, Mrs. Frank Blonde, of Perry township; Eliza
seemed to him discouraging, and he determined toand Lucy, who are at home; Frances, Mrs. Benjamin
come to America. Leaving his young wife, formerlyBates, of Risingsun; Anna, Mrs. Courtland Essex, of
Miss Elizabeth Riley, he sailed from Liverpool, in April,the same town, and Hattie, Mrs. Russell Hoover [my
1849, in the ship "Joseph Badger," and after agreat grandmother], of Montgomery township.
voyage of four weeks landed in New York. The tripMr. Mervin's parents came to the United States in
to Albany was made by river, from Albany to Buffalo1855 or '56, and located in Greenwich township, Huron
by rail, and from Buffalo he came by lake tocounty, where his father died at the age of
Sandusky, where he took the Mad River railroad,seventy-three years. His mother afterward made her
then the only one in this region. His destination washome in Wood county with her children, but died in
Avon township, Lorain county, but by mistake heRichland county at ninety years of age. Mr. Mervin is
went to New Haven, Huron county. On learning histhe eldest of six children, all living. Thomas resides in
error he started on foot for Lorain county, but whileRisingsun; George, in Longley; Elizabeth is the widow
en route he was taken very ill in Greenfield township,of James Brinson, of Huron county; Hannah married
Huron county, and was cared for by some friendlyJohn Thompson, of Richland county, and Emma
English people. On his recovery he had but fifty centsmarried first the late John Jenney, and second John
left of the sum which he had saved from his earningsWinder, of New Orleans, Louisiana.
for his journey, and a new start in life. This moneyMr. Mervin possessed in youth a powerful physique,
was spent for wine to stimulate his impaired energies,and is still well-preserved, his strictly temperate habits
and instead of going on, he decided to remain therebeing in his favor. Fond of reading, he has intelligent
and rent a farm.views on the questions of the time, and his interest
In the spring of 1850 his wife rejoined him. She had ain the education of the rising generation has led to
difficult voyage, spending four months on the way,severeal years of able service as school director. In
and being shipwrecked three times. They lived thereprinciple he is a Democrat, but is not bound by
for several years, renting different farms in thepartisan ties in the choice of suitable men for local
locality, but in the fall of 1863 they came to Woodoffices. He is a leading member of the M.E. Church.
county, driving through in a wagon. Mr. Mervin- From Wood County, Ohio, history, pg. 645
purchased sixty acres of land in Section 36,******************************************
Montgomery township, where the village of RisingsunOther articles with mention of Risingsun, Ohio:
now stands. At that time the land was partiallyRisingsun native writes about 'Beyond Babylon' by
improved in the dry portion and a plank house stoodSentinel-Tribune
near his present home. The swamply part of theGerman-American Israelites?