Geo. F. Merriman, formerly of this county, has been elected a Trustee of the town of Oakland, Douglas County.
"Brief Reference," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, December 17, 1880, page 3


    WILLIAM H. MERRIMAN: died in Jackson County, September 16, 1877; was a cabinet maker and joiner; was born in Kentucky; came to state in 1852 and to county in 1856; was married February 10, 1853, to Mrs. A. Chapman.
A. G. Walling, History of Southern Oregon, 1884, page 505


    MRS. ARTINECIA MERRIMAN: lives near Central Point; is a farmer; post office Jacksonville; was born in Champagne County, Ohio in 1830; came to state 1851, and to county in 1856; Artinecia (Riddle) Merriman was married February 22, 1848, to James Chapman, deceased. Children John W., Lucinda J., George F., Laura A., Maria E., Annie A., Isaac A., Mary B., Isabel, Effie, Josephine and Willie. Mr. Merriman had one daughter, Auletta L.; Mrs. Merriman has buried four children, Chas. H., Walter, Prudence and Winaford.
A. G. Walling, History of Southern Oregon, 1884, page 505


    We were somewhat chagrined when we unpacked our printing material to find that we were a roller handle short. Our disappointment was turned to surprise when Mr. Merriman of Merriman and Redfield brought us in one of his own making, which works like a charm. They can make anything in their shop, and to be convinced just drop in and examine Merriman's celebrated patent iron harrow. It's just the thing for the farmer.
"Brevities," Medford Monitor, February 20, 1885, page 4


FRONK-MERRIMAN--At the residence of the bride's parents, in Medford precinct, Dec. 31, 1885, C. K. Fronk and Miss Belle Merriman.
Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, January 2, 1886, page 2


    MATRIMONIAL.--C. K. Fronk, the clever manager of the railroad office in this place, and Miss Belle Merriman, one of our most amiable and accomplished young ladies, will be united in matrimony at the residence of the bride's mother today. Their many friends wish them much joy and prosperity, says the Medford correspondent of the Jacksonville Times. Charley is well known in this county, having been agent at Aurora for some time.
Oregon Statesman, Salem, January 2, 1886, page 3


    Geo. F. Merriman is having his residence on C Street enclosed with a handsome picket fence.
"Medford Doings," Valley Record, Ashland, May 9, 1889, page 3


    Will Merriman was home from Glendale Sunday and was given a birthday dinner in honor of his 17th summer. Some 41 people sat down to the spread under a tall tree at Mrs. Merriman's place near town.
"Medford Doings," Valley Record, Ashland, July 11, 1889, page 3


    The Tidings of this week contains a card purporting to have been written by Geo. F. Merriman and bearing his signature, that brands as "a malicious falsehood" the statement that Merriman was an informer, or "squealer," in gambling cases. Mr. Merriman's letter writer can rise up in his might and call it 40 "malicious falsehoods," the facts remain as they are.
    Mr. Merriman's letter writer also says:
    "When my crosseyed friend tries to lead the people to believe that he is opposed to me on those grounds he knows it is a falsehood and that he fights me merely because I have concluded that my family and other claims upon me need the money that he would like to have me spend to buy his saloon, and his good will."
    Right here is where Mr. Merriman's letter writer makes a big, life-size jackass out of George.
    The following affidavit, sworn to before D. T. Lawton, of Medford, a notary public for Oregon, explains itself:
STATE OF OREGON,
    COUNTY OF JACKSON,
    I, J. A. Hanley, being duly sworn, on oath do say that within a week after George Merriman secured the  nomination of the Republican convention of Jackson County, state of Oregon, for sheriff of said county, the said George Merriman came to me and offered to pay me the sum of twenty dollars to "set 'em up for the boys" in his interest to secure his election to the said office of sheriff, and I refused his offer and advised him not to spend his money, as he had a hard man to run against.
    Sworn and subscribed to before me on this 4th day of June, 1892.
    No comment is necessary.
    Merritt Bellinger is also out with a card concerning "the report of Geo. F. Merriman being an informer against his fellow man."
    (Merritt Bellinger and Mr. Merriman are close family relatives.)
    But notwithstanding these cards the fact remains that George F. Merriman has been addicted to the gambling habit for many years. The circuit court record shows
that Mr. Merriman, along with a number of others, was indicted by the grand jury on Saturday, Feb. 21, 1885, for gambling at Deskin's, draw poker being the game, and that he was convicted and fined $50 and costs.
    Mr. Merriman has gambled all along up to and until after the holidays of the past winter and until after he had become spoken of as an available candidate for sheriff. In fact he discussed his prospects for that office over the gaming table and only ceased when the campaign for nominations started in in earnest, which act is now being heralded as a reform.
    (As to whether or not Mr. Merriman is a "squealer" or informer, see article on
editorial page.)
Valley Record, Ashland, June 2, 1892, page 3


    Is Merriman a "squealer?" That is the question agitating the sporting fraternity of Jackson County. The argument is if Merriman is a "squealer" he should be defeated and if not he should be elected. The Merriman side of the debate is being conducted by two of his trusted lieutenants, trusted not only at the gaming table but trusted also in the science of politics. They are "Shorty" Hamilton and John Redfield, both talking from experience and calling on high heaven to prove that Merriman is not a "squealer," but that he is an honorable gambler who within the last few months has reformed. There is no use in mincing matters in debate like this. The debate can be settled by Mr. Merriman and his lieutenants in his own town, as John A. Hanley, one of the victims of Merriman's "squealing," offers to vote and work for Merriman, besides giving him $50 for the expenses of his campaign, if Mr. Merriman will prove that neither he (Merriman) nor his relatives caused the indictment and conviction of the Medford boys for gambling at the games in which Merriman was a heavy loser and by reason of being a state witness saved himself from the fine. This is an opportunity for the lieutenants to get in and prove whether Mr. Merriman is a squealer or a straight sporting man and thus settle the question so far as the sporting world is concerned.
    But the balance of the people of the county will settle the question as to whether it is good public policy to place the sheriff and tax-collecting authority in those kinds of hands or to place it in the hands of someone who is not addicted to those vices at all.
Valley Record, Ashland, June 2, 1892, page 2


    My attention has been called a second time to an item in the alleged Medford items published in the Jacksonville Times of May 18th. Here is the item:
    "Geo. W. Barron is not acceptable to the Republicans of Medford at least. He voted for Pelton two years ago, and did his best to defeat Geo. Merriman, who was the regular Republican candidate then."
    As secretary of the Jackson County central committee, I want to say that I am in a position to know something of the sentiment of the people of this city regarding the political possibilities, and I am positive that George W. Barron is most acceptable to the Republicans here. I want to state further that I don't believe the item above, credited to the Medford correspondent, was written in this city, but I do believe it was written in the Jacksonville Times office by either Nickell or some of his hirelings who are steeped in the same unprincipled dregs of lost manhood and honor as himself. George Barron did nothing to defeat me two years ago. As I stated last week, Mr. Barron was in Klamath County at the time of, and several weeks before, [the] election in 1892. As secretary of the Republican central committee I advise every Republican to vote for Geo. Barron and work for his election. He is an honest, square man.
Medford Mail, May 25, 1894, page 2


    At the residence of the bride's parents in Jacksonville, last Sunday, occurred the wedding of Mr. Wm. Merriman and Miss Rose Luy, Rev. Ennis officiating clergyman.
    After the ceremony had been said the couple drove to Medford, where an elaborate reception was given at the residence of Mrs. A. Merriman, the groom's mother. Nearly all the relatives of both bride and groom were present and a very pleasant afternoon was spent and congratulations profusely showered upon the happy twain. Monday afternoon the couple, by marriage vows made supremely happy, took the train for Gervais, their future home.
    The groom is a very bright and most affable young man, with friends hereabouts--his old home--too numerous to count. He is at present station agent for the S.P. company at Gervais, a position he has held, with credit to himself and profit to the company, for some time.
    The bride is one of Jackson County's fair daughters, a reigning belle everywhere and 'tis little wonder Cupid's arrow pierced the heart of so good a fellow as is Mr. Merriman. She is a highly cultured young lady and with all other good traits has served an apprenticeship in a print shop. This acquisition will come in very nicely in domestic affairs. Should her poor husband became derelict in providing suitable "plate matter" she can at once proceed to "pi his form" and he will not dare to resort to the "shooting stick" because that she is more proficient in the use of that article than is he. Should either get out of "sorts" or the husband "off his feet" the wife will communicate with a type foundry in the former case and will provide "Oregon spaces" in the latter.
    The Mail wants to be counted in with all their friends in the valley in wishing them a life of supreme happiness, and a home where a world of life is shut out and a world of love shut in.
Medford Mail, August 3, 1894, page 3


    George F. Merriman, the blacksmith, has purchased the shop formerly owned by Merriman & Purdin.
"Medford Items," Valley Record, Ashland, August 29, 1895, page 3


    MERRIMAN, GEORGE F., of Medford, was born in Douglas County, Oregon, September 16, 1853. He is a blacksmith by occupation, having pursued it for twelve years in Medford. He was a member of the Douglas County convention in 1886 and 1882, and the Jackson County convention in 1886, 1890 and 1894, and of the state convention in 1894. In 1892 he received the nomination for Sheriff. In 1894 he was secretary of the McKinley Club, and a member and secretary of the county central committee.
Republican League Register, Portland, 1896, page 245






    GEORGE FRANCIS MERRIMAN. In tracing the source of the importance of Medford, mention is due George Francis Merriman, who, from obscurity and financial limitations, has risen to business, educational, and political prominence. Mr. Merriman's ladder of success has been made up of a useful blacksmith trade, fine personal honor, and exceptional executive and general ability, all of which may be acquired by persistent effort, a truth which furnishes vast encouragement to the industrious and ambitious. His family is one of the well-known ones of the state, for his parents, William H. and Artinecia (Riddle) Merriman, reared a family of fifteen children, five sons and ten daughters, of whom three sons and eight daughters respond to the roll call of residents of this prosperous state, and are established in homes of their own. Mr. Merriman is the second of these children, and was born in Douglas County, Ore., September 16, 1855, his father and grandfather, both named William H., being natives of the state of Illinois, born near Springfield. The younger William H. was a farmer, blacksmith and wagon-maker, and in 1852 crossed the plains to Oregon, locating near Riddle, Douglas County. In 1856 he removed to Jackson County and located two miles north of Medford, purchasing one hundred and twenty acres of land from Jesse Robinson, upon which he farmed until his death in 1877, at the age of fifty-two years. He was an active Republican, and in religion was a member of the Baptist Church. His wife's family is perpetuated in Oregon in the town of Riddle, and her brothers, J. B., George W. and Stilley Riddle, are honored residents of this vicinity. Mrs. Merriman was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and in Illinois married John W. Chapman, who died in Illinois, after which his wife crossed the plains in the same train with her future husband, Mr. Merriman.
    George Francis Merriman's zeal in promoting the cause of education is quite remarkable, considering the difficulties which hedged in his own opportunities in this direction. From earliest youth his ears became accustomed to the sound of industry emanating from his father's busy blacksmith shop, and he was put to work at an age when most boys are considering ways and means by which to keep away from school. Not so this youth, however, for while his days were filled with serving an apprenticeship, begun in his fourteenth year, his evenings were spent in poring over books, and acquiring the knowledge denied him in the schools. After completing his three years of compulsory service he continued a year more with his employer, and in 1874 went to Eastern Oregon, and for two years worked in a blacksmith shop at Canyon City. For the following two years he ran a shop at Central Point, in the Rogue River Valley, and in 1878 was employed as blacksmith by the Oregon & California Stage Company. In 1880 he began a four-years' business in Oakland, and in 1884 located in Medford, where he has since continuously worked at his trade, with the exception of two and a half years. He does many kinds of wood work, wagon manufacturing and horse-shoeing, and so large is his trade that four men are required in the shop.
    Mr. Merriman's services as a staunch Republican official have been of a high order, and demonstrate his breadth of mind and knowledge of municipal affairs. While not seeking recognition himself he has earnestly helped his deserving friends, and by no means confined himself to any one party in offering help. He has been a member of the city council one term, and was nominated for county sheriff in 1892, escaping election by only one hundred and eighty-seven votes in a county claiming five hundred Democratic majority. He was appointed postmaster of Medford January 17, 1900, and still holds the office, which is of the third class. Mr. Merriman finds recreation and friends in various fraternal organizations, among them Medford Lodge No. 103, A.F.&A.M.; Oregon Chapter No. 4, R.A.M., of Jacksonville; Independent Order of Odd Fellows; Knights of Pythias; Ancient Order United Workmen; and Woodmen of the World. He is also identified with P. P. Prim Cabin Native Sons of Oregon, and Roseburg Lodge No. 326, B.P.O.E. In all possible ways he has forwarded the best interests of education, has been a member of the school board for many years, and is one of the promoters and directors of the Medford Business College, having succeeded in raising a large fund for its erection. Two miles east of Medford Mr. Merriman married Mary Murry, who was born in Illinois, and whose father, William Murry, emigrated from Scotland to Illinois, and from there to Oregon in 1874, locating on a farm near Medford. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Merriman, of whom William H. is deceased; Thomas is working in his father's shop; May is the assistant postmistress of Medford; George also is in his father's shop; and Blanch, Mollie, Vera, and Sherron C. are living at home.
Portrait and Biographical Record of Western Oregon, Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904, pages 887-888


    Mrs. Ike Merriman, living two miles north of Medford, on the Central Point road, was very pleasantly surprised by a number of her friends last night, the occasion being her 41st birthday. The lady had retired for the evening when her friends arrived and reminded her of the fact that birthday parties were still in vogue.
    The evening was very pleasantly spent in various games and listening to several selections on the phonograph. As mementos of the occasion, Mrs. Merriman was the recipient of many valuable presents.
    Among those present were: Mr. and Mrs. Frank Benson, Mr. and Mrs. William Alexander, Mr. and Mrs. J. Martin, Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur Smith, Mr. and Mrs. L. Bennett, Miss Ruth Pettitt, Miss Bertha Martin, Miss Eulah Benson, Mrs. M. E. Harding, Miss Caroline Pettitt, Mr. Douglass Janney.
    It was certainly a jolly crowd that made up the party that bade Mrs. Merriman good night and wished her many more pleasant birthdays.
Medford Mail, May 14, 1909, page 8


    On the farm of I. A. Merriman, three miles north of Medford, are two Winter Nelis pear trees that demonstrate that there is a difference in the constitutional qualities of trees just the same as there is in animals and that trees that have exactly the same conditions of soil and care will differ in the production of fruit as cows in the same herd will differ in quantity of milk and in butter fat.
    These two pear trees are the same age, being planted 30 years ago by Mr. Merriman's father, and are growing adjoining each other in the family orchard where they have had exactly the same amount of plant food and the same cultivation and care, and both are big, fine trees and perfectly healthy, yet one tree is a regular bearer of big crops while the other tree is a light bearer with seasons of no fruit at all.
    This season Mr. Merriman picked from the productive tree 31 boxes of pears, of which 30½ boxes were fancy and were shipped to New York. From the scant bearer he got but 5 boxes of pears and only a little over four boxes were fancy shippers. The crop of these two trees this season is about their relative yield each year. As tree traits are transmitted as are animal traits, to graft from this prolific tree would be to get a high percent of productive trees, while to graft from the shy bearer would be to get a large percent of worthless trees, yet the average nurseryman gives no heed to tree breeding.
Rogue River Fruit Grower, October 1909


    I. A. Merriman is one of the many farmers of Rogue River Valley who are taking up corn breeding, and the favorable results in this line is apparent in the large yields he is securing, even this season, one of driest ever known in Southern Oregon, his yield would do credit to any of the great corn-growing states, for it is much above the average for the United States. From 15 acres of corn Mr. Merriman obtained an average of 41 bushels per acre with the best acre making a yield of 47½ bushels. As the average yield in the United States for the past 10 years is but 25.8 bushels per acre, it will be seen that Mr. Merriman's crop was a very creditable one.
    Mr. Merriman's farm is one mile southeast of Central Point, and the land on which he grew the corn is a second bottom of only average fertility. No irrigation nor fertilizers were used. In favorable climatic seasons Mr. Merriman has had average yields of over 60 bushels to the acre. To carefully selecting the seed ears each year and to deep plowing and thorough cultivation is due Mr. Merriman's success as a corn grower. For a number of years Mr. Merriman has early each fall selected his seed corn, he choosing only ears that are perfect in shape and kernel and that are thoroughly matured. And he takes the further precaution to keep this seed corn in a dry place during the winter, thus ensuring the vitality of the germ and a perfect stand.
    By his method of selecting the seed Mr. Merriman has bred up a type of corn that has adapted itself to the growing season of this valley and is able to withstand the cool nights and with the aid of the long growing period to fully mature the ears. That corn from Eastern seed will not do well here is due to [the] fact that in most of the corn-growing states the seasons are short with hot nights and hotter days that forces a hothouse growth to the corn. Here in Rogue River Valley the weather condition is just the reverse and a corn must be developed that can mature itself by reason of the long growing season compensating for the retarding influence of the cool weather. The corn breeding that is being carried on by many of the farmers in the valley is developing a strain of corn that in quality and in yield will fully equal the best production of the Eastern corn-growing states.
Rogue River Fruit Grower, November 1910


    George F. Merriman and wife, who for the past several days have been visiting with Mr. and Mrs. George W. Murray near Hanford, left this morning for their home in Medford, Oregon. They will stop in San Francisco and complete their California trip of several weeks' duration.
"Local Briefs," Hanford Daily Journal, Hanford, California, February 6, 1911, page 5


Rogue River Fruit Grower, May 1912, page 29


    Ed Wilkinson, Shorty Miles, Court Hall, George Merriman, and Charles Young are among the Medford men who will be at the ringside when Bud Anderson fights Sammy Trott next Saturday afternoon. Horace Dudley of Los Angeles will join the local contingent at Vernon.
"Local and Personal," Medford Mail Tribune, January 20, 1913, page 2


    Among the pioneers at the annual meeting at Jacksonville Thursday was Mrs. Merriman, mother of George Merriman, now in her ninetieth year, who acted as interpreter for the Rogue River Indians when they made the last treaty with the whites in the early '50s.
"Local and Personal," Medford Mail Tribune, October 2, 1914, page 2   Family history asserts that Mrs. Merriman served as interpreter, but it must have been for the Umpqua Indians in Douglas County.

    Isaac Merriman, a native son of this county, died today on Bear Creek, where he and his sons, Lester and Chester, had gone to cut wood, and expired a short time after starting to cut down a tree. Mr. Merriman was born on the farm where he resided all his life. Born September 11, 1861, and was aged 61 years, 3 months, 7 days. He had been a member of Medford Lodge I.O.O.F. for 33 years and also a member of Medford Camp W.O.W. He leaves his wife, Emma, and four sons, Harry Merriman, Clark, Wyoming; Merritt Merriman, Gold Hill, Ore.; Chester and Lester of Medford, Ore. Funeral arrangements announced later. Remains are at the Perl Funeral Home.
"2 Well-Known Jackson Co. Men Called Suddenly,"Medford Mail Tribune, December 19, 1922, page 6


Medford Mail Tribune, October 8, 1923, page 5  This obit was reprinted verbatim in the Medford Clarion of October 12.


Medford Mail Tribune, November 14, 1925, page 2


    "When I was 20 years old my people moved to Jacksonville and I went to work as a helper for George Merriman, a blacksmith. Wielding a blacksmith's hammer and shoeing obstreperous broncos gave me lots of muscle, so I began my career as a boxer, and soon became local champion. Sometime when you are in Medford or Jacksonville ask some of the old-timers about me, or you might get a line on me at Bandon, for I owned and operated a blacksmith shop there for eight years. If I do say it myself, it was one of the best-equipped shops between Portland and San Francisco."
Perry Lee Randles, quoted by Fred Lockley, "Impressions and Observations of the Journal Man," Oregon Journal, Portland, February 5, 1927, page 4




Medford Mail Tribune, November 6, 1927, page 3



    Death of Edward F. Merriman, aged 70 years, at Alhambra, Cal., Wednesday afternoon, January 22, is announced in a telegram received by Mrs. E. M. Wilson.
    Mr. Merriman resided in Rogue River Valley 45 years ago and was one of the early Merriman pioneers of the valley. He visited relatives and old-time friends here during the summer of 1928, becoming ill soon after his return home, and for six months prior to his death was bedfast.
    Most of his life was given to railroad work in the employ of the Pullman and Southern Pacific companies, being retired on pension by the Southern Pacific Company a few years ago. He leaves his wife, a sister and numerous relatives in Medford and vicinity and in Goshen, Ind. Funeral services will be held Friday at Alhambra.
Medford Mail Tribune, January 23, 1930, page 3

Last revised April 17, 2024