GEORGE M. MERRITT
From Centennial History of Columbus and Franklin County,
Ohio. By William Alexander Taylor, The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago-Columbus,
1909. Vol. II, pages 756-757.
What the world demands today is not that men shall be capable but that
they shall do the things of which they are capable and Mr. Merritt has
met the world’s demands in every particular. He has worked his way steadily
upward by his earnest effort and is recognized as one of the forceful factors
in business circles in Columbus, accomplishing what he undertakes and recognizing
his own powers and capacities so that he never undertakes that which would
be impossible to accomplish. He is a native son of Ohio, born in Vinton
county, July 2, 1858. His paternal grandfather, William Merritt, was of
English lineage but the family was founded in America during colonial days
shortly prior to the Revolutionary war. Imbed with the desire to aid the
country in her struggle for liberty William Merritt joined the Colonial
army. William C. Merritt, father of our subject, was born in New Hampshire
September 22, 1822, and on his removal westward to Ohio settled in Athens
where he engaged in contracting and building. He became one of the contractors
of the Hocking Valley lines and was prominently identified with many important
building interests. He voted with the democracy by never took an active
part in political work nor sought office as a reward for party fealty.
He married Cynthia Sisson, a native of Linton county, who was born in 1822.
Her family was from Massachusetts and came to Ohio at an early day in the
development of the state. Her mother was a Fuller and belonged to the same
family as Chief Justice Fuller of the United States supreme court. George
M. Merritt was educated in the public schools of Lancaster, Ohio, passing
through consecutive grades until he graduated from the high school with
the class of 1875. On putting aside his text books he entered business
life as a representative of the Hocking Valley Railroad Company, remaining
in that employ for thirteen years during which time he was promoted from
one position of responsibility to another until he became chief clerk of
the shops. He left that service to become connected with the traffic association
of western Ohio and eastern Pennsylvania and was secretary of this organization,
serving for thirteen years. In 1902 he severed his connection with that
company and began dealing in coal lands. He has since handled large contracts
of this class of property in Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia and has
also operated coal mines extensively. No citizen of Columbus has a more
comprehensive or accurate knowledge of business affairs of this character
than has Mr. Merritt. He has made a close study of the coal resources of
the state and has thus been enabled to carry on his business interests
in a manner that has brought him gratifying success.
On the 28th of May, 1878, Mr. Merritt was united in marriage
to Miss Katharine Schory and their children are: Will, Mary, Lillabridge
and Gladys. On the 7th of November, 1891, Mr. Merritt was again
married, his second union being with Katharine Wood and to them have been
born three children: Kathleen, George and Donally, They make their home
in the Bryden apartments and Mr. And Mrs. Merritt have many warm friends
in the city. Prospering in his undertakings Mr. Merritt has become identified
with numerous important interests which have not only benefited by his
financial investment but by his sound judgment and keen discrimination.
He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and of the Presbyterian church—associations
which indicate much of the interests which govern his life and the principles
which control his actions. His political views are in harmony with the
principles of the republican party and his influence at all times is on
the side of justice, truth and right, of municipal progress and of civic
virtue. He stands today as one of the prosperous men of Columbus not by
reason of the fact that fortune has favored him above his fellows but because
he has labored diligently, neglected no opportunity and used every chance
that has come to him to the best advantage. His judgment is sound and he
has always possessed the courage, which many men lack, of taking a forward
step where favoring opportunity has offered.
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