Leonard Brooks Merriam (abt. 1835 - 1923)

Born about 3 Aug 1835 in Houlton, Aroostook, Maine, United States [uncertain]

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 25 Sep 1923 at about age 88 in Spokane, Spokane, Washington, United States

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Biography

Musician Leonard Merriam served in the United States Civil War.
Side: USA
Regiment(s): 1st Regiment, Maine Cavalry

BIRTH:

A book of State of Maine genealogy referenced below: Leonard Brooks (Merriam), August 3, 1835, was a soldier in the First Maine Cavalry in the civil war, removed to Spokane, Washington; married, December 15, 1858, Susan S., daughter of John H. and Dorcas B. (Williams) Jones.^[1]

PROFESSION:

MARRIAGE:

See source under BIRTH.

CENSUS:

The 1850 US Census of Houlton, Aroostoock, Maine finds this Leonard as a 15yr old farmer, living there in a household headed by his father, Lewis Merriam, Sr., and also containing his mother, Mary and seven younger siblings. This record says Leonard was born in Houlton, Maine.^[2]

The 1860 US Census of Houlton, Aroostook, Maine finds this person given as L.B. Merriam, a 24yr old laborer, born in Maine, living there in Houlton with his 22yr old wife, Susan and 1yr old baby son, Charles H.^[3]

The 1870 US Census of Houlton, Aroostoock, Maine finds this Leonard Brooks, Merriam as a 35yr old farmer, living there with his wife, 32yr old Susan, four children and Susan's father, 59yr old John Jones. There is also a clan of servants living with them.^[4]

The 1880 US Census of Houlton, Aroostook, Maine finds this Leonard B. Merriam at the age of 44yrs old, given as born in Maine and employed selling something. He is living there in Houlton with his 41yr old wife, Susan S. and four children; 20yr old Charles H., 18yr old Willis H., 12yr old Leonard F. and 3yr old Una F.^[5]

The 1900 US Census of Carlisle Precinct, Spokane, Spokane, Washington finds this Leonard B. Merriam at the age of 65yrs old and given as a jeweler, born in Maine in August 1834, and married for 42yrs. He is living there in Carlisle Preceint, Spokane with his 62yr old wife, Susan S., three children who are certainly his and Susan's and one child given as his child, but who's parentage is uncertain. The children who are certainly his are; 40yr old Charles H., 39yr old Willis H. and 23yr old Una F. The child who's parentage is uncertain is given as 12yr old Mary Masters.^[6]

The 1911 census of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada finds this Leonard B. Merriam at the age of 75yrs old and given as born in the US in August of 1835. He is living there in Edmonton in the household of his son-in-law, William "McCharney" (sic), with his daughter UNa F, (William's wife) and his son, Frank L. Merriam.^[7]

The 1920 US Census of Stevens, Echo, Washington finds this Leonard B. Merriam at the age of 85yrs old and generally retired, living there in a household headed by his son-in-law, William B. Mc Chesney and Leonard's daughter/William's wife, Una F. (Merriam) McChesney.^[8]

MILITARY EXPLOITS:

NOTE: According to a US National Park Service Record for this Leonard Merriam:

Merriam, Leonard B. BATTLE UNIT NAME: 1st Regiment, Maine Cavalry SIDE: Union COMPANY: F&S SOLDIER'S RANK IN: Musician SOLDIER'S RANK OUT: Musician ALTERNATE NAME: FILM NUMBER: M543 ROLL 14 PLAQUE NUMBER: NOTES: none^[9]

DEATH:

A Washington State Death Certificate for the death of this Leonard B. Merriam, who it says died September 25, 1923 in Spokane, Spokane, Washington. This record says he died at the age of 88yrs, 1-month and 2-days; that his spouse was Susan B. Merriam and his parents were Lewis Merriam and Mary A. Foss.^[10]

OBITUARY:

A newspaper obituary for the death of this Leonard B. Brooks who died in Spokane, Washington September 25, 1923. Lists surviving family members.

Leonard Merriam Is Taken By Death

Leonard B. Merriam age 88, pioneer business man of Spokane, and brother of the late General Henry B. Merriam, died this morning at 9:30 o'clock at the home of a sister, Mrs. Augusta J. Boyd., 8519 Madison street. Death was due to complications arising from old age.

Mr. Merriam, a member of one of the best known early pioneer families of the Inland Empire, and a family which has produced a long line of men prominent in higher army circles, is survived by three sons, Willis H. and Frank of Spokane and Charles of Des Moines, Iowa, his sister here and two brothers, Dr. C.K. Merriam and Major Louis Merriam of the United States Army, stationed at Washington, D.C.' ' Mr. Merriam came to Spokane 35yrs ago, and for many years engaged in the jewelry business. He was an active member of the J.L. Reno post of the G. A. R. Funeral arrangements have not been made yet.^[11]

Sources

1. ↑ Genealogy and Family History of the State of Maine; Little, George Thomas; 1857-1915 ed.; Burrage, Henry S. (Henry Sweetser), 1837-1926; Stubbs, Albert Roscoe; Lewis Historical Pub. Co.; New York; 1909; pg. 188. For internet access: https://archive.org/details/genealogicalfami00litt/page/188/mode/2up
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-67J2-DS?cc=1401638&wc=95RF-YWP%3A1031308201%2C1031308202%2C1031438001 : 15 October 2019), Maine > Aroostook > Houlton > image 26 of 37; citing NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1860," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9BS3-TMZ?cc=1473181&wc=73BR-HJ6%3A1589428278%2C1589428305%2C1589428306 : 24 March 2017), Maine > Aroostook > Houlton > image 42 of 51; from "1860 U.S. Federal Census - Population," database, Fold3.com (http://www.fold3.com : n.d.); citing NARA microfilm publication M653 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-67X9-7XS?cc=1438024&wc=KGBM-RM9%3A518654601%2C518942201%2C518976601 : 12 June 2019), Maine > Aroostook > Houlton > image 16 of 72; citing NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYBW-QFB?cc=1417683&wc=X485-RM9%3A1589404979%2C1589405021%2C1589405423%2C1589394834 : 24 December 2015), Maine > Aroostook > Houlton > ED 218 > image 38 of 66; citing NARA microfilm publication T9, (National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C., n.d.)
6. ↑ "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-XXD7-TXP?cc=1325221&wc=9BW6-V8Z%3A1030550101%2C1032022801%2C1032206201 : 5 August 2014), Washington > Spokane > ED 68 Carlisle and Cass Precincts Spokane city Ward 3 > image 23 of 36; citing NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
7. ↑ "Recensement du Canada de 1911," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV9P-JJ1N : 16 March 2018), Frank L Merriam in entry for William Mccharney, 1911; citing Census, Edmonton Sub-Districts 62-75, Alberta, Canada, Library and Archives of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario; FHL microfilm 2,417,653.
8. ↑ "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9RXK-FVH?cc=1488411&wc=QZJR-83D%3A1036474601%2C1039110101%2C1036775701%2C1589335850 : 14 September 2019), Washington > Stevens > Echo > ED 290 > image 1 of 4; citing NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
9. ↑ https://www.nps.gov/civilwar/search-soldiers-detail.htm?soldierId=96D251BA-DC7A-DF11-BF36-B8AC6F5D926A
10. ↑ "Washington Death Certificates, 1907-1960," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N3G2-25B : 10 March 2018), Lewis Merriam in entry for Leonard B. Merriam, 25 Sep 1923; citing Spokane, Spokane, Washington, reference 930, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Olympia; FHL microfilm 2,022,220.
11. ↑ https://www.newspapers.com/image/562155030/?terms=%22Leonard%20B.%20Merriam%22&match=1