History of The William Merrill Family from Yates Center, Kansas

William Merrill, was born July 4, 1868 in Paris, Edgar County, Illinois. He moved with his family in 1870 to Neosho Falls, Kansas. His father, Israel was a Section Manager on the Missouri Pacific Railroad in this area for a number of years. When William was about 18 years of age he began to work for the same railroad that his father, Isreal, had worked. In 1891, we find William living across the border from Kansas, in Bates County Missouri. It was in Bates County that we find the marriage record of William Merrill to Miss Dora Belle Craig on April 9, 1893.

Shortly after their marriage, Will & Dora moved to LeRoy, Kansas where he became the Section Foreman for the Missouri Pacific Railroad, working out of the Crotty Depot. In the early part of 1894 there is recorded a death of a small infant to Will & Dora. This child is buried in the LeRoy Cemetery in Coffey County, Kansas.

In January of 1895, a daughter, Phonie, was born to William and Dora, who only breathed life for a few days and died on February 2, 1895. she is also buried at the LeRoy, Cemetery. The inscription on her headstone, "Budded on Earth to Bloom in Heaven."

In September of 1896 the young couple must have been thrilled when their 3rd child, Frank J. was born. His picture is seen in the middle photograph above. The picture, taken in Burlington, KS., had a note written on the back of it when it was first given to me. The note, "burned in the fall of 1897, killed June 1, 1899." There were no names - just this note - in a packet of Merrill Family Pictures. After a few years of research I soon discovered a third tragedy in the William Merrill Family. Little Frankie had been killed in a horrible accident in June of 1899.

While on a genealogy search to Kansas in May of 2002, I uncovered the following news articles found at the Coffey County Public Library in Burlington, KS:

The Burlington News (Burlington, Kansas, June 1899); A terrible accident, resulting in the death of Frankie, the three-year old son of Wm. Merrill, occurred at Crotty last Sunday Afternoon. Mr. Merrill is the section foreman of the Missouri Pacific road at that place, and on this occasion he and his brother had taken the hand car and gone a short distance up the track after a keg of water. Returning, they came down the grade at considerable speed, and as their backs were turned, did not see that the little boy had gone out to meeting them, as children will. The first knowledge they had of such a things was when the car struck him. The wheels ran over one thigh, crushing the bone and almost severing it from the body. They at once took the little fellow on the car to LeRoy. There Dr. Kesner amputated the limb, but the shock and loss of blood were too great and he died Monday afternoon about 4 o'clock. He was Mr. and Mrs. Merrill's only child, a daughter having died several years ago, and the news of the terrible affair causes the most heartfelt sympathy for them.

Found in the LeRoy Reporter, June 9, 1899 (LeRoy, Kansas): Crushing in a Cog-Wheel A terrible distressing accident occurred at Crotty, about eight miles west of this town, last Sunday afternoon. William Merril, section boss, and his brother were on the hand car backing down the track. Unobserved by them the little son of Mr. Merril ran out of the house and stood on the track waving his little hands at his father whose back was turned to him. There was a jar, a scream, and the car stopped. Underneath it was the child, its right leg held firmly between the cog-wheels. It was a frightful moment for the father. His brother stood as one paralyzed. The child was released and as quickly as possible placed on the hand car. Willing hands propelled the car to LeRoy and the little sufferer was taken to Dr. Kesner's office. There Dr. Kesner, assisted by Dr. Rowe, proceeded at once to make an examination of the injury. After washing away the blood, cinders and grease they found the bone above the knee completely crushed to pieces and the flesh torn loose. To save the limb was impossible. So they amputated it a couple of inches above the knee joint. The little one had been placed under the influence of chloroform. When he recovered from its influence he seemed bright and asked for water. He was taken to Dr. Kesner's residence. But the shock had been too great. Vitality had ebbed away with is life blood, Monday evening about 5 o'clock the litter sufferer yielded up his spirit. Pity the poor father who unconsciously caused the death of his own child. Sympathize with the mother whose only child was torn from her in such a cruel manner. Had the little one lived till September next, he would have been three years old. The funeral took places Tuesday afternoon from the M.E. Church as was largely attended.

Soon after the tragic death of Frankie, Will stopped working for the railroad and moved into Wier City, in Cherokee County, living close to his brother Dan, Israel & Jessie -- all working as coal miners. In September of 1904 my grandfather, Danial William was born and 2 and one half years later a set of twins, Claude & Clyde were born to Will and Dora.

By 1910 the family had moved into Yates Center, Kansas, residing at 109 West Butler Street. Will and Dora have been seen in articles as the proprietor and cook at the Woodson Hotel, on the square, in Yates Center. This is also seen on the 1920(both Will and Dora) and the 1930 Census (Dora only).

My grandfather, Danial joined the Marines and eventually settled in Washington state where he married Margaret Carriveau. His brothers Claude and Clyde followed their older brother to the west. Clyde married Doris Freemantle from Vancouver, Canada in Vancouver, BC and then resided in Seattle. Claude married Jessie Old, who also had grown up in Yates Center and later moved to the Seattle Area.

William passed away in November of 1929 due to heart failure. His obituary was found in The Yates Center News, Friday December 13, 1929; "Died; William Merrill, son of Israel and Elizabeth Merrill. He was born July 4, 1868 near Paris, Illinois and died at his home in Yates Center November 29, 1929, aged 61 years, 4 months and 25 days. He came with his parents to Kansas in 1870, and settled near Neosho Falls, where he grew to manhood and received his public school education. On April 9, 1893 he was united in marriage to Dora Craig of Fostor, Missouri. To this union, six children were born, three of whom died in infancy. the surviving children are Daniel W. and Clyde of Seattle, Washington, and Claude of Yates Center, Kansas. Besides his sons he leaves to mourn his departure two grandchildren, and three brothers, Jesse of Davenport, Iowa; Daniel of Vernon, Kansas and Charley of El Dorado, Kansas, with many relatives and a host of friends. Mr. Merrill was converted and united with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church as Fostor, Mo., in 1896. In later years he united with the Methodist Church in Yates Center, remaining a Constant member to his end. He was also a member of the Hebrew Lodge No 14 AF&AM for 40 years or more. The funeral services were held at the Methodist Church, Tuesday, December 3 at 2 o'clock p.m. and conducted by his pastor, Rev. A.W. Johnson. Several of his favorite hymns were sung by the mixed quartette of the Methodist Church, C.A. Hale, Mrs. L.R. Wallace, Mrs. A.W. Johnson and L.E. Conber with Mrs. W.L. Gunnells at the piano. Many beautiful floral offerings were presented by loved ones and friends. The burial was made in the LeRoy Cemetery."

After William's death, Dora worked for a while at the Woodson Hotel, but had to quit because of complications due to diabetes. She did travel west to visit her sons frequently in Seattle, and lived with her sister Maude Craig Merrill (Wife of Dan Merrill) at whose home she passed away in 1935

"Funeral services for Mrs. Dora. B. Merrill were held at the home by Rev. R.J. Zeidler, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church at Yates Center, and the remains laid to rest in the LeRoy Cemetery. Dora B. Craig, daughter of James F. and Mary J. Craig was born near Versailles, Morgan county Missouri, February 23, 1870, and died at the home of her sister, Mrs. Dan Merrill September 2, 1935, aged 65 years 6 months and ten days. When a child she moved with her parents to Bates County Missouri, and later to Fostor Missouri, where she met William Merrill to whom she was married April 9, 1893. To this union six children were born, three of them dying in their infancy. Her husband passed away November 28, 1929. When fourteen years of age she was baptized into the Christian church, later when they moved to Crandall, Kansas she united with the United Brethren church at that place, and when in 1909 the family moved to Yates Center of which she remained until death. She leaves to mourn her death: three sons: Daniel, Claude & Clyde, all of Seattle, Wn; four brothers Walter, Osten, Lee and Sam Craig all of Pittsburg, Kansas, six grandchildren, five nieces and three nephews, numerous other relatives and a host of friends. The last few years of her life, after the death of her husband were spent with her three sons in Seattle, Wn, and her brothers in Pittsburg, and her sister in Yates Center. It was when she was with her sister that she died. She was a devoted and loving wife and mother, kind to her neighbors and loyal to her calling, and respected by all who knew her."

It is fitting that Will and Dora were buried next to their 3 children who died at such young ages.

Forgotten settlers of the Kansas past, but remembered in my heart as great-grandparents and part of my great family heritage.

~Richard Swymeler

For More information about the Merrill Family in America and it's history, please link to the following web site: The Merrill Family

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