Person:John Mervin (2)

JOHN MERVIN, one of the early settlers at the site of the present to wn of Risingsun, is a highly respected resident of that place. Like ma ny of the prosperous and influential men of the day, he has made his w ay to success through adverse circumstances, and his well-won competence r eflects credit upon him.

He is of English birth, having entered upon his mortal career in Leicester shire, January 1I, 1824. His father, Thomas Mervin, was a butcher by trad e. Our subject was reared upon a farm, near a small village, enjoying on ly the limited advantages of the common schools. He showed ability in t he management and care of horses, and at an early age found employme nt in that work; but the opportunities for advancement seemed to him ve ry discouraging, and he determined to come to America. Leaving his young w ife, formerly Miss Elizabeth Riley, he sailed from Liverpool, in April, 18 49, in the ship " Joseph Badger," and after a voyage of four weeks land ed in NY. The trip to Albany was made by river, from Albany to Buffa lo by rail, and from Buffalo he came by lake to Sandusky, where he took t he Mad River railroad, then the only one in this region. His destination w as Avon Twp Lorain CO but by mistake he went to New Haven, Huron CO. On le arning his error he started on foot for Lorain CO but while en route he w as taken very ill in Greenfield Twp Huron CO and was cared for by some fri endly English people. On his recovery he had but fifty cents left of the s um which he had saved from his earnings for his journey, and a new sta rt in life. This money was spent for wine to stimulate his impaired energi es, and, instead of going on, he decided to remain there and rent a farm.

In the spring of 1850 his wife rejoined him. She had a difficult voyage, s pending four months on the way, and being shipwrecked three times. They li ved there for several years, renting different farms in the locality, b ut in the fall of 1863 they came to Wood CO driving through in a wagon. M r. Mervin purchased sixty acres of land in Section 36, Montgomery Twp whe re the village of Risingsun now stands. At that time the land was partial ly improved in the dry portion, and a plank house stood near his present h ome. The swampy part of the farm had to be cleared, however, and there w as no small amount of hard work to be done in the first years of his sta y; but the rapid development of the locality brought prosperity. He sti ll owns seventy acres of land in the vicinity, and also has ten acres in J ackson Twp Seneca CO. In 1877 he built a fine residence in Risingsun, whi ch he has since occupied. Mrs. Mervin's death, December 9, 1888, brought d eep sorrow to this pleasant home. Her remains are interred in Trinity ceme tery, Scott Twp Sandusky CO. They had nine children, all of whom are livin g: Sarah, Mrs. George Young, of Seneca CO; Mary, Mrs. Adam Graber, of Risi ngsun; George, a farmer in Perry Twp; Elizabeth, Mrs. Frank Blonde, of Per ry Twp; Eliza and Lucy, who are at home; Frances, Mrs. Benjamin Bate s, of Risingsun; Anna, Mrs. Courtland Essex, of the same town, and Hatti e, Mrs. Russell Hoover, of Montgomery Twp.

Mr. Mervin's parents came to the United States in 1855 or '56, and locat ed in Greenwich Twp Huron CO where his father died at the age of seventy-t hree years. His mother afterward made her home in Wood CO with her childre n, but died in Richland CO at ninety years of age. Mr. Mervin is the elde st of six children, all living, Thomas resides in Rising sun; George, in L ongley; Elizabeth is the widow of James Brinson, of Huron CO; Hannah marri ed John Thompson, of Richland CO and Emma married first the late John Jenn ey, and second John Winder, of New Orleans, Louisiana.

Mr. Mervin possessed in youth a powerful physique, and is still well-prese rved, his strictly temperate habits being, in his favor. Fond of readin g, he has intelligent views on the questions of the time, and his intere st in the education of the rising generation has led to several years of a ble service as school director. In principle he is a Democrat, but is n ot bound by partisan ties in the choice of suitable men for local office s. He is a leading member of the M E Church.

1. ↑ Commemorative, historical and biographical records of Wood County, Ohio: its past, present, early settlement and development, biographies and portraits of early settlers and representative citizens, etc. (Chicago : J.H. Beer, 1897.).
2. ↑ ^2.0 2.1 Find A Grave.