STEUBEN REPUBLICAN, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1905, p.1, c.7

ERFORD E. MERRITT, 16 Jul 1857 - 01 Feb 1905

   Erford E. Merritt, son of Daniel and Mary Merritt, was 
born in York township, Steuben county, Indiana, July 16, 
1857, and departed this life Feb. 1, 1905, aged 47 years, 5 
months and 15 days.
   When only five years of age his father was taken away by 
death, leaving the mother with the burdens of the home with 
three sons to care for.  About two years after the death of 
the father, the mother was married to Charles Gilbert, and 
the fruit of their union was one son and two daughters.  Mr. 
Merritt grew to manhood on the farm, and on the 2nd day of 
July, 1887, was united in marriage with Orilla May Vaughn, 
and to this union one son Floyd was given.
   Deceased became a christian about five years ago at Metz, 
and continued in the fellowship of the saints to the time of 
his departure.  He had also been an Odd Fellow since about 
the age of 21, and was faithful to the order.  He was known 
as an honest, upright citizen, a good neighbor and friend, a 
faithful brother and loving husband and father.  Two half-
sisters, two brothers and a son and the wife mourn his death.  
"It is little matter what hour of day the righteous fall 
asleep.  Death cannot come to him untimely who has learned to 
die.  The loss of this life, the more of heaven, the shorter 
time, the longer immortality."  Funeral services were 
conducted by his pastor, Elder Veach, of the Christian 
church.
(Picture included with obituary)

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

   Erford E. Merritt, 16 Jul 1857 - 01 Feb 1905 (1904 in the 
cemetery book), married Orilla May (Vaughn) Merritt, 16 Jul 
1868 - 05 Jun 1940.  They are buried at Powers Cemetery, 
Steuben County, Indiana.  Erford was the son of Daniel 
Merritt, 1827 - 02 Dec 1861, who, on 23 Oct 1851, became the 
1st husband of Mary (Headley) Merritt Gilbert, 30 Mar 1830 - 
14 Jun 1897.  On 01 Sep 1864, as a widow, Mary married 
Charles M. Gilbert, 03 Oct 1839 - 25 May 1883.  He was the 
son of Joseph Gilbert, 1815 - 1872, and Siva H. Gilbert, 11 
Apr 1811 - 25 Oct 1893.  They are all buried at Powers 
Cemetery.
   Erford's grandparents were Reuben Headley, 15 Nov 1794/95 
- 29 Sep 1860 who is buried at Powers Cemetery and Louisa 
(Harper) Headley, 08 Jan 1898 - 12 Feb 1892/94 who was buried 
at Eutzler Cemetery, St. Joseph County, Indiana.

CHILD OF THE MARRIAGE OF ERFORD AND ORILLA:
   Floyd Merritt, 22 Nov 1891 - 1970, married Erma McDougle, 
25 Aug 1896 - 21 Feb 1950.  Floyd died at Cadillac, Michigan, 
and is buried at Springfield Cemetery, Fife Lake, Michigan.  
Erma is buried at Powers Cemetery.  She was the daughter of 
J. S. and Clara (Henderson) McDougle.

BROTHERS OF ERFORD:
   Levi Daniel Merritt, born Jun 1854, no date of death.  He 
married Semira/Myra E. (Lamberson) Merritt, born Mar 1855, no 
date of death.  She died in Jackson, Jackson County, 
Michigan.  Erford Merritt is shown living in Levi's home in 
the 1880 United States Census, Camden, Hillsdale County, 
Michigan, Family History Library Film #1254580, NA Film #T9-
0580, page #79B.
   Thomas J. Merritt, born Dec 1852, no date of death, 
married Joannah E, (Lamberson) Merritt, born Oct 1853 in Ohio 
and died in 1940 in Steuben County, Indiana.  Burial places 
unknown.

HALF-BROTHER AND HALF-SISTERS OF ERFORD:
   Louisa J. Lyda (Gilbert) Coldsnow, born 1865 and died 
after 1940 at Jackson, Jackson County, Michigan, married 
Frank E. Coldsnow, no other informtion.
   Cina A. (Gilbert) Shook, 14 Feb 1867 - 23 Jan 1940, 
married Willard W. Shook, 1864 - 1925.  They are buried at 
Powers Cemetery.
   Francis Frank Gilbert, Sep 1869 - 29 Sep 1905, married 
Matilda (Shook) Gilbert, 05 Jan 1868, no other information.

"Marriage Records, Steuben County, Indiana, 1837-1899."
"History of Steuben County, Indiana, 1885," pages 612, 
613,biography of uncle, John Headley.
Steuben Republican, 25 Aug 1897, "Old Settlers" death list, 
Mary Headley Merritt Gilbert.
Steuben Republican, 30 Jun 1897, p.4, c.4, obituary of 
mother, Mary (Headley) Merritt Gilbert.
Steuben Republican, 16 Mar 1904, p.1, c.6, obituary of uncle, 
Whelan Headley.
"Cemeteries of Steuben County, Indiana, 1990," by Audree 
Seibel Lewis, Vol. 1, pages 720, 723, 725, 863; Vol. 2, page 
1252.
www.famkilysearch.org: 
   Individual Record for Erford E. Merritt, Mary A. Headley, 
Daniel Merritt.
   Family Group Record for Thomas J. Merritt, Daniel Merritt, 
Charles M. Gilbert, Levi Daniel Merritt, Erford E. Merritt, 
Floyd Merritt.
   1880 United States Census, Levi Merritt.
Submitted by Mona Hilden-Beckwith
e-mail:  hilbeck123@att.net