July 4, 1859 - August 8, 1954

WILLIAM HENRY MERRITT by Eldon, Dot, Clinton and Virginia Merritt

     William Henry "Bill" Merritt was born the second son of Marion and Elizabeth White Merritt on July 4, 1859, in Covington County, Alabama, which is near Red Level. The other children of this family were John Thomas - 1858, Nancy Jane.- 1860, Sara Ann - 1862, Marion Lafayette - 1863, James G. - 1865, Mary Ann - 1867 and Issac David - 1870. 
     John Thomas and Bill have told the story of their father Marion's return home from the Civil War. They were sent to the edge of the woods to gather firewood, which they placed on a cow hide, so that it could be dragged home. This is when the children saw their father. They did not know him due to his run down condition and lice infested body. 
     In about 1380 or 1881, William Henry married Syvel Dreading, who is believed to have been the daughter of James and Susanna Dreading of Covington County, Alabama. To this union were born nine children whom were as follows: Della - 1882, Amanda (Mandy) - 1883, Ellen - 1887, James Marion (Jim) - 1888, William Henry (William) - 1889, Thomas Jefferson - 1891, John Samuel - 1895, Mary - 1896 and Effie - 1902. 
     On November 27, 1887, Bill was granted homestead land of 153.26 acres near his father's homestead at Brooks, Alabama. The family remained there for some years, until the land was abandoned and the family moved to Rose Hill and Cedar Grove area. About this time the family started to split off and start families of their own. There was Della marrying Dan Sasser, Mandy married Charles Moody, Ellen married Robert (Bob) Moody, James Marion,(Jim) married Annie Bell Hendrix, William H. (William) married Florence Jackson, Thomas Jefferson (Tom) married Louise Davis, John Samuel married Mattie Lee Roberson, Mary married Dan Jackson and Effie married Jim Dillard. From these marriages were born fifty three grandchildren which includes one child who was born out of wed-lock to John Samuel and Annie Harris. This child grew up and used the name R.D. Harris. 
     "Pa Bill" or Grandpa made his living first from farming then he turned to woodworking which was during the time he was living at Rose Hill and Caryville, Florida. He was employed as a saw mill carpenter. His duties included keeping up the saw mill buildings, tool handles and making ox yokes which he continued until 1929 when he moved to the Samson, Geneva County area, near his younger son, John Samuel, who had gone there to marry Mattie Lee Roberson. When Pa Bill moved he brought his wife, Syvel, son Tom and daughter Effie with him. While living near Elton Church, west of Samson, on  March 4, 1930, Syvel became sick and died. She was buried at Early Town Church of Christ Cemetery, which is also located west of Samson. Her grave was later marked by her son Tom, who on August 1, 1989, was  buried near her. 
     "Pa Bill" continued to live in the Samson area until Effie married Jim Dillard. On April 10, 1937, he married Mrs. L.A. Smith in Geneva, Alabama. This lady had a granddaughter whom she was raising and this caused  trouble, which finished off this marriage in a very short time.   Moving back to the Cedar Grove community "Pa Bill" lived with his daughter, Della and son-in-law, Dan Sasser, where he then joined the Cedar Grove Baptist Church. He continued to do wood work, making hammer, ax and other tool handles, which he sold to local retail dealers. When he had supplied all the local stores with his product, he would go back to Samson and do the same thing. He also spent a lot of time in Panama City, Florida, with Effie and Jim Dillard.     "Grandpa" never had a car or truck. We believe he did his traveling on the train, bus or mail truck.   I have known him to walk from Opp to Samson and carry his little brown suitcase with him. He was never without his old hickory walking cane, even though I don't think that he needed it, as he could walk most young men down. 
     "Grandpa" was a grand old man, who pretty well looked after himself. I have known him to drink at times. He did this by pouring his whiskey in his coffee. I understand that he never drank when he was near any of his daughters. 
     In the late 40's or early 50's he stopped his travels, and he pretty much stayed near Aunt Della's house, where he suffered a broken hip. On August 8, 1954, he died and was buried in his home cemetery of Cedar Grove Baptist Church. His grave is marked with a small marble marker and slab. He is located near his son William and his wife, Florene and Della and Dan Sasser. Serving as pallbearers were Jessie Jackson, Herbert Moody, Oscar Sasser, Curt Mitchell, Luther Bass and Toby (Willie Jefferson) Merritt, with the Rev. Will Sasser officiating. 
     In closing, we would like to say that William Henry used his old family names to name his children. Research shows that James Marion was named after Bill's father Marion and Uncle James, Tom after Thomas Jefferson who lived in Henry County, Alabama, William after himself William Henry, John Samuel after John Merritt of Brooks, Alabama and Mary was named in honor of Mary Merritt who was "Pa Bill's" only aunt. 

The Merritts