Charles Edward Merrill

Charles Edward Merrill was born Feb 9, 1866 in Richmond to Marriner Wood and Almira Jane Bainbridge Merrill. Charles is a Pioneer of Richmond.

History

"As a child he spent most of his time with Uncle Ceason Lewis, his grandmother's husband, who lived just across the street. Charlie and his mother used to go to Sacrament meeting and during the meeting Charlie would sit on Uncle Beason's lap."

In his early life, Charles attended the Richmond public school system, his father's private teacher, and eventually Brigham Young College. During his childhood, Charles became friends with Alma Hendricks and his sister Ortencia Hendricks. Charles and Ortencia were married on March 30, 1887 in Logan, Utah. They moved to Logan where Charles worked for Zion's Bank Board of Trade, but the building burned down and they moved back to Richmond.

When they moved back to Richmond, Charles began working for the railroad, bringing Ortencia and their newborn Charles Leo. The water in the camp was bad, and Orticnia became sick from it. She was sent home after a few months living in the railroad camp and died from an illness from the water on Oct 15, 1889.

Charles returned home to Richmond and began working to support his son. He worked as a clerk for Alma U. Hobson, the Pond Brothers, and was appointed City Recorder in 1890.

"It was during the summer that he started going with Chloe Hendricks (myself). A crowd of young people were out walking one Sunday afternoon and Charlie was with us although he was much older. As we walked along he said to me 'Lets walk up this street and leave the crowd', and we did and that was the starting of our going together."

Charles married Chloe Hendricks on March 4, 1891 in the Logan, Utah Temple. On Jan 30, 1892, Charles and his half-brother Marriner Jr. were commissioned by their father to acquire the land for the Cache Valley Dairy Co. When the dairy was created, Charles served as its first President. Because of his excellent work for the Pond Brother, Charles became the President of the Richmond Cooperative Merchantile from 1900 until his death.

In 1906, when Charles mother died, he inherited her home. 

Family

Charles married Ortencia Hendrick on March 30, 1887 in Logan, Utah. They had one son before her death in 1889. Their son Charles Leo Merrill served in World War I.

Charles married Chloe Hendricks on March 4, 1891 in the Logan, Utah Temple. They had seven children with five living to adulthood. Their son Don Clayton Merrill severed in World War I.

Charles entered the practice of polygamy on March 22, 1893 by marrying Anna Victoria Stoddard. They had six children with five living to adulthood.

Epilogue