Son of Samuel Merrill and Phoebe Odell
Married Elizabeth Gardner Runyon, 1836, Utica, Macomb, Michigan
Children: Sarah Elizabeth Merrill, Samuel Adam Merrill, Prinsetta Rosetta Merrill, Ralph Teancum Merrill, Orrin Jackson Merrill, Caroline Merrill, Adelbert Owen Merrill, Elthurah Roseltha Merrill, Cynthiann Record Merrill
History - Samuel Bemis Merrill was born Jan 4, 1812 in Smithfield, New York. This was about the time that the United States was having trouble with the British over oppression and several other things. After Samuel grew up, he met a woman from New Jersey who later became his wife. Her name was Elizabeth Runyon.
Samuel had a brother living in Michigan who had become interested in the Gospel, and had joined the LDS church. He wrote to Samuel who was living in New York and told him of the wonderful religion which was established by Joseph Smith and was known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints. Samuel was very much interested in this new religion and decided to learn more about it. He had heard that there were some Mormon Elders in a neighboring town who were preaching the gospel to the people. He decided to go and learn what he could about the gospel.
While he was crossing an open prairie on his way to where the Elders were, he met a man who was traveling on foot. The man was dressed in the purest white from head to foot and his skins was so pure white as to appear almost transparent. The man was very cheerful and in passing Samuel turned to look back at him but there was no man there. As there was no place nearby where he could have hidden, Samuel was puzzled to know what had happened to him. After Mr. Merrill joined the church and studied the Book of Mormon, he decided that the man was one of the three Nephites.
After Samuel and his wife and his father joined the church they moved to Nauvoo where the main body of the church was. While they were living in Nauvoo, the prophet and his brother were killed, leaving the people as flock without a shepherd. After much controversy, it was decided that the apostles should take the responsibility of the church and Brigham young was chosen as their active leader.
Brigham Young directed the people across the plains to the country in the west known as the great Salt Lake Basin. They crossed the Mississippi on the ice in February. One of their oxen fell off of the raft and was drowned. However, Mr. Merrill was in fairly good circumstances and crossed the plains without undue hardships. They crossed the Mississippi safely and camped on the Iowa side of the river that winter then came on to Salt Lake the next summer, arriving in 1849.
Samuel Merrill, father of Samuel Bemis, and his family settled around Salt Lake remaining there the rest of his life. Samuel with his family settled at Mill Creek, Utah. They were close to other members of the church and the people were very neighborly and kind. In 1869 the Samuel Bemis family moved to Smithfield, Utah. As they were leaving Mill Creek, the family remembers a woman coming out and stopping them to give them all a drink of buttermilk.
They arrived in Smithfield in the spring of 1860 and began at once to construct dugouts which they lived in the next summer. The dugouts were made by digging a hole in the ground, preferably on a side hill, covering it with timber, then applying a thick layer of clay for a roof. The dugouts also had dirt floors, and one door and very often no windows. The men built small log houses for the winter usually two room affairs with dirt roofs. They would also fill the cracks in the walls with clay. Some of the better houses were made of logs, flat on one side, but most of them were made of round logs.
The following winter the Indians were very bad. The saints organized a company of men known as minutemen. The men in this company were ready at all times to defend the people against the marauding bands of Indians. They were required to keep a horse and saddle near at hand for instant use. At Smithfield a guard was established which guarded the town every night, but still the Indians continued their attacks.
Along with trouble and wars with Indians the grasshoppers began coming in great hordes so fast that at times the sun was almost black with them. The grasshoppers soon finished the already poor crops of the settlers. By dragging long ropes over the small patches of grain they managed to save enough to survive through the winter and have some little see to plant the next season. They continued to be so bad the next spring they had to dig ditches and grasshoppers driven into them where they were burned by the thousands. In this way many of the fields were saved. During the spring and summer the people had to exist on greens, sego roots, and other herbs that they were able to obtain.
Smithfield was selected as a town to try out the “United Order” and certain families were selected to participate. Samuel Merrill was selected and baptized into it and put in so much money. However, even in a selected group the seeds of discord and discontent were soon sown, so it was abandoned.
Mr. And Mrs. Merrill had a family of nine children.
Mormon Pioneer Overland Travel, Company Unknown (1850); Age at Departure: 37
Married Elizabeth Gardner Runyon, 1836, Utica, Macomb, Michigan
Children: Sarah Elizabeth Merrill, Samuel Adam Merrill, Prinsetta Rosetta Merrill, Ralph Teancum Merrill, Orrin Jackson Merrill, Caroline Merrill, Adelbert Owen Merrill, Elthurah Roseltha Merrill, Cynthiann Record Merrill
History - Samuel Bemis Merrill was born Jan 4, 1812 in Smithfield, New York. This was about the time that the United States was having trouble with the British over oppression and several other things. After Samuel grew up, he met a woman from New Jersey who later became his wife. Her name was Elizabeth Runyon.
Samuel had a brother living in Michigan who had become interested in the Gospel, and had joined the LDS church. He wrote to Samuel who was living in New York and told him of the wonderful religion which was established by Joseph Smith and was known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints. Samuel was very much interested in this new religion and decided to learn more about it. He had heard that there were some Mormon Elders in a neighboring town who were preaching the gospel to the people. He decided to go and learn what he could about the gospel.
While he was crossing an open prairie on his way to where the Elders were, he met a man who was traveling on foot. The man was dressed in the purest white from head to foot and his skins was so pure white as to appear almost transparent. The man was very cheerful and in passing Samuel turned to look back at him but there was no man there. As there was no place nearby where he could have hidden, Samuel was puzzled to know what had happened to him. After Mr. Merrill joined the church and studied the Book of Mormon, he decided that the man was one of the three Nephites.
After Samuel and his wife and his father joined the church they moved to Nauvoo where the main body of the church was. While they were living in Nauvoo, the prophet and his brother were killed, leaving the people as flock without a shepherd. After much controversy, it was decided that the apostles should take the responsibility of the church and Brigham young was chosen as their active leader.
Brigham Young directed the people across the plains to the country in the west known as the great Salt Lake Basin. They crossed the Mississippi on the ice in February. One of their oxen fell off of the raft and was drowned. However, Mr. Merrill was in fairly good circumstances and crossed the plains without undue hardships. They crossed the Mississippi safely and camped on the Iowa side of the river that winter then came on to Salt Lake the next summer, arriving in 1849.
Samuel Merrill, father of Samuel Bemis, and his family settled around Salt Lake remaining there the rest of his life. Samuel with his family settled at Mill Creek, Utah. They were close to other members of the church and the people were very neighborly and kind. In 1869 the Samuel Bemis family moved to Smithfield, Utah. As they were leaving Mill Creek, the family remembers a woman coming out and stopping them to give them all a drink of buttermilk.
They arrived in Smithfield in the spring of 1860 and began at once to construct dugouts which they lived in the next summer. The dugouts were made by digging a hole in the ground, preferably on a side hill, covering it with timber, then applying a thick layer of clay for a roof. The dugouts also had dirt floors, and one door and very often no windows. The men built small log houses for the winter usually two room affairs with dirt roofs. They would also fill the cracks in the walls with clay. Some of the better houses were made of logs, flat on one side, but most of them were made of round logs.
The following winter the Indians were very bad. The saints organized a company of men known as minutemen. The men in this company were ready at all times to defend the people against the marauding bands of Indians. They were required to keep a horse and saddle near at hand for instant use. At Smithfield a guard was established which guarded the town every night, but still the Indians continued their attacks.
Along with trouble and wars with Indians the grasshoppers began coming in great hordes so fast that at times the sun was almost black with them. The grasshoppers soon finished the already poor crops of the settlers. By dragging long ropes over the small patches of grain they managed to save enough to survive through the winter and have some little see to plant the next season. They continued to be so bad the next spring they had to dig ditches and grasshoppers driven into them where they were burned by the thousands. In this way many of the fields were saved. During the spring and summer the people had to exist on greens, sego roots, and other herbs that they were able to obtain.
Smithfield was selected as a town to try out the “United Order” and certain families were selected to participate. Samuel Merrill was selected and baptized into it and put in so much money. However, even in a selected group the seeds of discord and discontent were soon sown, so it was abandoned.
Mr. And Mrs. Merrill had a family of nine children.
Mormon Pioneer Overland Travel, Company Unknown (1850); Age at Departure: 37
Son of Samuel Merrill and Phoebe Odell
Married Elizabeth Gardner Runyon, 1836, Utica, Macomb, Michigan
Children: Sarah Elizabeth Merrill, Samuel Adam Merrill, Prinsetta Rosetta Merrill, Ralph Teancum Merrill, Orrin Jackson Merrill, Caroline Merrill, Adelbert Owen Merrill, Elthurah Roseltha Merrill, Cynthiann Record Merrill
History - Samuel Bemis Merrill was born Jan 4, 1812 in Smithfield, New York. This was about the time that the United States was having trouble with the British over oppression and several other things. After Samuel grew up, he met a woman from New Jersey who later became his wife. Her name was Elizabeth Runyon.
Samuel had a brother living in Michigan who had become interested in the Gospel, and had joined the LDS church. He wrote to Samuel who was living in New York and told him of the wonderful religion which was established by Joseph Smith and was known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints. Samuel was very much interested in this new religion and decided to learn more about it. He had heard that there were some Mormon Elders in a neighboring town who were preaching the gospel to the people. He decided to go and learn what he could about the gospel.
While he was crossing an open prairie on his way to where the Elders were, he met a man who was traveling on foot. The man was dressed in the purest white from head to foot and his skins was so pure white as to appear almost transparent. The man was very cheerful and in passing Samuel turned to look back at him but there was no man there. As there was no place nearby where he could have hidden, Samuel was puzzled to know what had happened to him. After Mr. Merrill joined the church and studied the Book of Mormon, he decided that the man was one of the three Nephites.
After Samuel and his wife and his father joined the church they moved to Nauvoo where the main body of the church was. While they were living in Nauvoo, the prophet and his brother were killed, leaving the people as flock without a shepherd. After much controversy, it was decided that the apostles should take the responsibility of the church and Brigham young was chosen as their active leader.
Brigham Young directed the people across the plains to the country in the west known as the great Salt Lake Basin. They crossed the Mississippi on the ice in February. One of their oxen fell off of the raft and was drowned. However, Mr. Merrill was in fairly good circumstances and crossed the plains without undue hardships. They crossed the Mississippi safely and camped on the Iowa side of the river that winter then came on to Salt Lake the next summer, arriving in 1849.
Samuel Merrill, father of Samuel Bemis, and his family settled around Salt Lake remaining there the rest of his life. Samuel with his family settled at Mill Creek, Utah. They were close to other members of the church and the people were very neighborly and kind. In 1869 the Samuel Bemis family moved to Smithfield, Utah. As they were leaving Mill Creek, the family remembers a woman coming out and stopping them to give them all a drink of buttermilk.
They arrived in Smithfield in the spring of 1860 and began at once to construct dugouts which they lived in the next summer. The dugouts were made by digging a hole in the ground, preferably on a side hill, covering it with timber, then applying a thick layer of clay for a roof. The dugouts also had dirt floors, and one door and very often no windows. The men built small log houses for the winter usually two room affairs with dirt roofs. They would also fill the cracks in the walls with clay. Some of the better houses were made of logs, flat on one side, but most of them were made of round logs.
The following winter the Indians were very bad. The saints organized a company of men known as minutemen. The men in this company were ready at all times to defend the people against the marauding bands of Indians. They were required to keep a horse and saddle near at hand for instant use. At Smithfield a guard was established which guarded the town every night, but still the Indians continued their attacks.
Along with trouble and wars with Indians the grasshoppers began coming in great hordes so fast that at times the sun was almost black with them. The grasshoppers soon finished the already poor crops of the settlers. By dragging long ropes over the small patches of grain they managed to save enough to survive through the winter and have some little see to plant the next season. They continued to be so bad the next spring they had to dig ditches and grasshoppers driven into them where they were burned by the thousands. In this way many of the fields were saved. During the spring and summer the people had to exist on greens, sego roots, and other herbs that they were able to obtain.
Smithfield was selected as a town to try out the “United Order” and certain families were selected to participate. Samuel Merrill was selected and baptized into it and put in so much money. However, even in a selected group the seeds of discord and discontent were soon sown, so it was abandoned.
Mr. And Mrs. Merrill had a family of nine children.
Mormon Pioneer Overland Travel, Company Unknown (1850); Age at Departure: 37
Married Elizabeth Gardner Runyon, 1836, Utica, Macomb, Michigan
Children: Sarah Elizabeth Merrill, Samuel Adam Merrill, Prinsetta Rosetta Merrill, Ralph Teancum Merrill, Orrin Jackson Merrill, Caroline Merrill, Adelbert Owen Merrill, Elthurah Roseltha Merrill, Cynthiann Record Merrill
History - Samuel Bemis Merrill was born Jan 4, 1812 in Smithfield, New York. This was about the time that the United States was having trouble with the British over oppression and several other things. After Samuel grew up, he met a woman from New Jersey who later became his wife. Her name was Elizabeth Runyon.
Samuel had a brother living in Michigan who had become interested in the Gospel, and had joined the LDS church. He wrote to Samuel who was living in New York and told him of the wonderful religion which was established by Joseph Smith and was known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints. Samuel was very much interested in this new religion and decided to learn more about it. He had heard that there were some Mormon Elders in a neighboring town who were preaching the gospel to the people. He decided to go and learn what he could about the gospel.
While he was crossing an open prairie on his way to where the Elders were, he met a man who was traveling on foot. The man was dressed in the purest white from head to foot and his skins was so pure white as to appear almost transparent. The man was very cheerful and in passing Samuel turned to look back at him but there was no man there. As there was no place nearby where he could have hidden, Samuel was puzzled to know what had happened to him. After Mr. Merrill joined the church and studied the Book of Mormon, he decided that the man was one of the three Nephites.
After Samuel and his wife and his father joined the church they moved to Nauvoo where the main body of the church was. While they were living in Nauvoo, the prophet and his brother were killed, leaving the people as flock without a shepherd. After much controversy, it was decided that the apostles should take the responsibility of the church and Brigham young was chosen as their active leader.
Brigham Young directed the people across the plains to the country in the west known as the great Salt Lake Basin. They crossed the Mississippi on the ice in February. One of their oxen fell off of the raft and was drowned. However, Mr. Merrill was in fairly good circumstances and crossed the plains without undue hardships. They crossed the Mississippi safely and camped on the Iowa side of the river that winter then came on to Salt Lake the next summer, arriving in 1849.
Samuel Merrill, father of Samuel Bemis, and his family settled around Salt Lake remaining there the rest of his life. Samuel with his family settled at Mill Creek, Utah. They were close to other members of the church and the people were very neighborly and kind. In 1869 the Samuel Bemis family moved to Smithfield, Utah. As they were leaving Mill Creek, the family remembers a woman coming out and stopping them to give them all a drink of buttermilk.
They arrived in Smithfield in the spring of 1860 and began at once to construct dugouts which they lived in the next summer. The dugouts were made by digging a hole in the ground, preferably on a side hill, covering it with timber, then applying a thick layer of clay for a roof. The dugouts also had dirt floors, and one door and very often no windows. The men built small log houses for the winter usually two room affairs with dirt roofs. They would also fill the cracks in the walls with clay. Some of the better houses were made of logs, flat on one side, but most of them were made of round logs.
The following winter the Indians were very bad. The saints organized a company of men known as minutemen. The men in this company were ready at all times to defend the people against the marauding bands of Indians. They were required to keep a horse and saddle near at hand for instant use. At Smithfield a guard was established which guarded the town every night, but still the Indians continued their attacks.
Along with trouble and wars with Indians the grasshoppers began coming in great hordes so fast that at times the sun was almost black with them. The grasshoppers soon finished the already poor crops of the settlers. By dragging long ropes over the small patches of grain they managed to save enough to survive through the winter and have some little see to plant the next season. They continued to be so bad the next spring they had to dig ditches and grasshoppers driven into them where they were burned by the thousands. In this way many of the fields were saved. During the spring and summer the people had to exist on greens, sego roots, and other herbs that they were able to obtain.
Smithfield was selected as a town to try out the “United Order” and certain families were selected to participate. Samuel Merrill was selected and baptized into it and put in so much money. However, even in a selected group the seeds of discord and discontent were soon sown, so it was abandoned.
Mr. And Mrs. Merrill had a family of nine children.
Mormon Pioneer Overland Travel, Company Unknown (1850); Age at Departure: 37
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