Thomas Merwin
Thomas Merwin, local minister, Nelson, was born in Onondaga County, N. Y., July 16, 1816, son of Jesse and Lydia (Ewers) Merwin, natives of New England, and who came to Ohio in 1822, settling in Nelson Township, this county, where the former was the first physician to practice. Our subject received a common school education and began life as a farmer. In 1853 he was ordained a minister of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, in Stark County, Ohio, October 17, and appointed to preach at Nelson, McClintocksburg, Southington and Middlefield. He was obliged to retire, however, on account of his wife's precarious health. He was also called to the pulpit at Pierpont, Ohio, but declined, and at the following annual conference he withdrew from the itinerancy, and since then has held a local membership. He has since given his attention somewhat to his farming interests. Mr. Merwin was twice married. His first wife was Lucy M. Messenger, a native of Windham Township, this county, who died November 17, 1854, aged thirty-four years and four months,-leaving two children to his care: Matthew A. and Wealtha Almina. His second wife was Mary A. Palm, born in Austintown, Mahoning Co., Ohio, by whom he has one son—John P.
From History of Portage County, Ohio, Warner, Beers & Co., Chicago, 1885