The Merrill Family

Marriner Wood Merrill spent most of his life in Sackville, Canada. Marriner's mother joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1834 or 1835. She was forbidden by Marriner's father from joining the Saints in the States, so she taught Marriner and some of her other children the teachings of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. After the death of Marriner's father in 1851, Marriner went head first into the Church, being baptized April 3, 1852 at the age of 20.

Marriner joined along with his branch and President William Atkinson to join the Saints in Utah in 1853. Marriner and Company arrived in Salt Lake City, Utah on Sep 11, 1853. 

While in the Salt Lake City Valley, Marriner worked many odd jobs. Marriner married Sarah Ann Atkinson Nov 10, 1853 in Salt Lake City. They lived in the Salt Lake area for many years, with neighbor Goudy Hogan nearby.

Marriner and family moved from Salt Lake City to Cache Valley in the spring of 1860. They pushed for many days, with some difficulty of snow, but first made their way to the home of Henry Standage in Wellsville, Utah to spend the night. The next morning, the company made their way into Logan, Utah where they lived for only a single day as they felt they were not welcomed in the area. They continued north until Smithfield, Utah, then finally made their way to Richmond where John Bair and Agrippa Cooper welcomed the company.