Dudley Y. Merrill

This photo was e-mailed from the collection of Karen Childs. She included the following information:

Dudley Y. Merrill

b.14 Sept. 1814, Vermont
d. 8 July 1890, Merrillville, Lake Co., IN
buried Merrillville Cemetery
Son of Oliver & Elizabeth (Fellows) Merrill of VT/NH.
Occupation: farmer; country store merchant; land owner; pioneer of Merrillville.

1st wife:Julia Ann Peters,

b. 28 August 1818 d. 4 June 1852 (may have d. during childbirth) and buried Merrillville Cemetery, married 1 Jan 1840.

Children:
Oliver W. b. 1 Feb 1841 Merrillville as all of the children.
John P. b. 13 Oct 1842
Elizabeth Jane b. 1845
James b. 1848
Charles L. b. 1850

2nd wife: Emeline Allen

b. 25 Aug 1827, d. 13 Nov 1853 and buried Merrillville Cemetery. No children. Married 12 Dec 1852.

3rd wife: Roxelana L. (Pierce) Mrs. Daniel Towl

b. 3 April 1817 Hamburg, NY, raised Canada, d. 4 April 1875 Ross Twp. and buried Merrillville Cemetery. Married 12 Feb 1854.

Two sons born:
Andrew J. 1857 and died same year.
William born & died 1861.
Both are buried in the Merrill family plot along with their parents and all the other wives of Dudley.

4th wife: Caroline Campbell (his sister in law)

born 8 July 1822 PA, d. 24 March 1889 and is buried Merrillville Cemetery next to her first husband, Dudley's brother William. Married 3 July 1875. No children.

Dudley bought a claim which had been made by Amsi L. Ball or his son John Ball settlers of 1836 located on Deep River south of Miller's Mill. He obtained land at Wiggins Point and made that their permanent home. This Merrill family were responsible for much of the leadership, building and progress of the town renamed Merrillville. Dudley built a cheese factory, a general store, a hotel, a farm, homes and many other buildings. His two-story home at 12 W. 73rd Ave. was still in existence in 1996.

Sources:

A Merrill Memorial, p 119 by......Merrillville;
History of Lake County, chapt. VII.....
personal hands on visit to area both Merrillville & Ross Twp.

Dudley married my gg-grandmother Roxelana. Her children by 1st husband Daniel K. Towl were Edgar D., b. 1836; Mary Jane, b. 1838; and Harriet, b. 1843, whom Dudley helped raise.....................