Alma Merrill

Alma Merrill was born Nov 9, 1861 in Richmond to Marriner Wood and Sarah Ann Atkinson Merrill. Alma is a Pioneer of Richmond. Alma served as the Second President of the Benson Stake.

History

When Alma was about six, he went to the local schools during the winter. Alma was raised on the family farm before he began working with his father to build the railroad from Franklin, Idaho in 1875. Alma worked for the railroad until they reached Butte, Montana in 1881 at which point he moved back to Richmond and worked on the family farm. Alma's daughter relates his day-to-day schedule:

"...he used to drive the cows on foot after milking them to Lewiston, then come back to the mill, get his breakfast and walk down to the South Farm and shock up wheat until 3 o’clock P. M. and then walk back to town, down west across Cub River, down to the big bend of Bear River – southwest of Lewiston – gather the cows, take them back to the mill, milk them, churn, feed calves, pigs, etc. and retire at about 10 o’clock P. M. Up the next morning at 4 o’clock and continue the same routine again."

Soon after, Alma began working for his father at the Cache Valley Dairy Co. He worked until 1902 when he went back to working for the railroad. He built rail from Drummond, Montana to Missoula, Montana, then to Harlington, Oregon. Alma laid his last line of track in 1906 from Wells, Nevada to Deeth, Nevada.

Stake President

In 1901, the Benson Stake was organized with William H. Lewis Sr. as its first President and Alma as his First Counselor. After William's sudden death in 1905, Alma was set apart as the President of the Benson Stake and served until 1921. During his time, Alma saw the creation of many important additions to the Church in Richmond:

• In collaboration with his father, Alma participated in building the Old Tabernacle in 1906.

• In 1907, Alma and his older brother Thomas H. Merrill—Bishop of the Richmond Ward—organized the construction of the Tithing Office.

• In 1917, the Richmond Ward was split and the Richmond South Ward was organized.

Family

Alma married Almira Esmerilda Hendricks on March 19, 1885 in Logan, Utah. Alma entered the practice of polygamy on July 31, 1886 by marrying Almira's younger sister Rebecca Hendricks in Logan, Utah. Alma had 26 children with 18 living to adulthood.

Alma's son Nathan D. Merrill from Almira served on the City Council. Through Rebecca, his son Ruel D. Merrill served in World War I.

Epilogue