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