John Merchant
John Merchant, farmer and stock dealer, is a native of Fayette County. He was born July 18, 1827, and reared and educated in the same county. August 16, 1846, he was married to Miss Ellen Breakfield, and has lived here thus far through life. He and his wife were educated in the same school, and reared in the same neighborhood. They had a family of ten children, of whom four sons and four daughters survive.
Mr. Merchant has a farm of nine hundred and eighty-seven acres, well improved, where he lives, situated south of Allentown. This fine farm, two hundred acres given to the children, aud at least five thousand dollars' worth of stock and implements, are the result of his own industry and good management, except less than one thousand dollars, given him by his and his wife's father, three years after their marriage.
Mrs. Merchant and the two older daughters are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Merchant is one of the corporators of the Dayton and Southeastern Railroad. He is a public-spirited man, and contributes largely to churches, schools, etc. He has paid $5,600 for the pikes of this township. He is a highly respected citizen, a good business man, and a respected neighbor.
From R. S. Dills' History of Fayette County