| JOHN MERVIN, one of the early settlers at
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| | be done in the first years of his stay;
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| the site of the present town of
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| | but the rapid development of the locality
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| Risingsun, is a highly respected resident
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| | brought prosperity. He still owns
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| of that place. Like many of the
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| | severnty acres of land in the vicinity,
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| prosperous and influential men of the
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| | and also has ten acres in Jackson
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| day, he has made his way to success
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| | township, Seneca county. In 1877 he built
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| through adverse circumstances, and his
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| | a fine residence in Risingsun, which he
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| well-won competence reflects credit upon
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| | has since occupied. Mrs. Mervin's death,
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| him.
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| | December 9, 1888, brought deep sorrow to
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| He is of English birth, having entered
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| | this pleasant home. her remains are
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| upon his mortal career in Leicestershire,
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| | interred in Trinity cemetery, Scott
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| January 11, 1824. His father, Thomas
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| | township, Sandusky county. They had nine
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| Mervin, was a butcher by trade. Our
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| | children, all of whom are living: Sarah,
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| subject was reared upon a farm, near a
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| | Mrs. George Young, of Seneca county;
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| small village, enjoying only the limited
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| | Mary, Mrs. Adam Graber, of Risingsun;
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| advantages of the common schools. He
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| | George, a farmer in Perry township;
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| showed ability in the management and care
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| | Elizabeth, Mrs. Frank Blonde, of Perry
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| of horses, and at an early age found
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| | township; Eliza and Lucy, who are at
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| employment in that work; but the
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| | home; Frances, Mrs. Benjamin Bates, of
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| opportunities for advancement seemed to
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| | Risingsun; Anna, Mrs. Courtland Essex, of
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| him discouraging, and he determined to
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| | the same town, and Hattie, Mrs. Russell
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| come to America. Leaving his young wife,
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| | Hoover [my great grandmother], of
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| formerly Miss Elizabeth Riley, he sailed
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| | Montgomery township.
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| from Liverpool, in April, 1849, in the
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| | Mr. Mervin's parents came to the United
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| ship "Joseph Badger," and after a voyage
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| | States in 1855 or '56, and located in
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| of four weeks landed in New York. The
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| | Greenwich township, Huron county, where
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| trip to Albany was made by river, from
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| | his father died at the age of
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| Albany to Buffalo by rail, and from
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| | seventy-three years. His mother afterward
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| Buffalo he came by lake to Sandusky,
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| | made her home in Wood county with her
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| where he took the Mad River railroad,
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| | children, but died in Richland county at
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| then the only one in this region. His
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| | ninety years of age. Mr. Mervin is the
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| destination was Avon township, Lorain
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| | eldest of six children, all living.
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| county, but by mistake he went to New
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| | Thomas resides in Risingsun; George, in
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| Haven, Huron county. On learning his
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| | Longley; Elizabeth is the widow of James
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| error he started on foot for Lorain
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| | Brinson, of Huron county; Hannah married
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| county, but while en route he was taken
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| | John Thompson, of Richland county, and
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| very ill in Greenfield township, Huron
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| | Emma married first the late John Jenney,
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| county, and was cared for by some
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| | and second John Winder, of New Orleans,
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| friendly English people. On his recovery
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| | Louisiana.
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| he had but fifty cents left of the sum
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| | Mr. Mervin possessed in youth a powerful
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| which he had saved from his earnings for
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| | physique, and is still well-preserved,
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| his journey, and a new start in life.
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| | his strictly temperate habits being in
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| This money was spent for wine to
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| | his favor. Fond of reading, he has
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| stimulate his impaired energies, and
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| | intelligent views on the questions of the
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| instead of going on, he decided to remain
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| | time, and his interest in the education
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| there and rent a farm.
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| | of the rising generation has led to
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| In the spring of 1850 his wife rejoined
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| | severeal years of able service as school
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| him. She had a difficult voyage, spending
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| | director. In principle he is a Democrat,
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| four months on the way, and being
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| | but is not bound by partisan ties in the
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| shipwrecked three times. They lived there
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| | choice of suitable men for local offices.
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| for several years, renting different
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| | He is a leading member of the M.E.
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| farms in the locality, but in the fall of
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| | Church.
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| 1863 they came to Wood county, driving
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| | - From Wood County, Ohio, history, pg.
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| through in a wagon. Mr. Mervin purchased
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| | 645
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| sixty acres of land in Section 36,
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| | ****************************************
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| Montgomery township, where the village of
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| | *
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| Risingsun now stands. At that time the
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| | Other articles with mention of Risingsun,
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| land was partially improved in the dry
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| | Ohio:
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| portion and a plank house stood near his
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| | Risingsun native writes about 'Beyond
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| present home. The swamply part of the
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| | Babylon' by Sentinel-Tribune
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| farm had to be cleared, however, and
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| | German-American Israelites?
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| there was no small amount of hard work to
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