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