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MERRIAM, Amos Austin

MERRIAM, Amos Austin

Male 1880 - 1947  (66 years)

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  • Name MERRIAM, Amos Austin   [1
    Born 8 Dec 1880  Port Elgin, Bruce Co, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [2, 3
    Gender Male 
    Died 27 Jul 1947  Avonlea, Elmsthorpe, Saskatchewan, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Buried Hillcrest Cemetery, Avonlea, Elmsthorpe, Saskatchewan, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [4
    Notes 
    • Amos Austin Merriam was the 4th son of Austin and Elizabeth Dowd Merriam. He was born in Port Elgin, Ontario, CANADA, and grew up in Harriston. He played sports as a young man and was on the lacrosse team of Harriston. Amos learned the carpenter's trade from his father, Austin Anthony Merriam.

      In 1903, he married Ida Maude Bedford in Harriston, Ontario and they moved to Chatsworth, Ontario, on the corner of Hwy 10 & 6. Amos worked with his brothers, Wesley and Lavern, in construction, building several homes and a church in the area.

      In 1913, Amos and his family moved to Avonlea, Saskatchewan where he ranched and worked for the railroad, putting in spur lines. Amos homesteaded in the Crystal Hill district from 1915 - 1917, now part of John N Donison farm.

      In 1921, the family moved back to Chatsworth, and then to Santa Monica, California for Ida Maude's health. She died there in 1923 of kidney failure and the family moved home to Avonlea.

      Amos lived in Avonlea until his death. He had two more sons in his later years, Ken and Robert. The farm in Avonlea was passed on to his son, Claude Bedford Merriam. (Written by Kit Merriam Cutting)

      Source: Letters from Ida Ring Merriam, Avonlea, Saskatchewan, and grandson, David Merriam, Alberta. ----------------------------------------------------------- From Arrowheads and Wheatfields-Avonlea, Hearre & Districts, 1983

      "Amos built and repaired many houses in and around Avonlea, also many rural schools. After the Main Street fire in 1935, he rebuilt the Community Hall and McRories' store. To make things and see the result of his efforts was his Idea of a career, and he did it well. Sports held a special place in Amos's life. Curling, hockey, lacrosse and target shooting were his favorites.

      In 1919, the Merriams moved Ida Maude's father, J.B. Bedford's house into Avonlea, Saskatchewan. A living room, bedroom and upstairs were added onto it as the children came. Ida Maude and Amos had 6 children. Carl was born in 1904, died in thupidemic in 1918. The Avonlea school had been turned into a hospital. Ida Maude, Carl's mother, and two sisters were also there. When his father became ill and was taken to hospital, a neighbour was to look after Reg (aged 4) and Iolene (2), but due to a communication gap, they stayed alone at home overnight.

      (Written from facts, stories and recollections of Reg Merriam and Idella Ring Merriam)
    Person ID I1172  SEQUOIA
    Last Modified 3 Jan 2022 

    Father MERRIAM, Austin Anthony,   b. 20 Dec 1852, Haldimand Twp, Northumberland Co, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 9 Feb 1924, Chatsworth, Grey Co, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 71 years) 
    Mother DOWD, Elizabeth Jane,   b. 22 Nov 1854, Sullivan Twp, Grey Co, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 7 Apr 1912, Toronto, York Co/Metro Toronto , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 57 years) 
    Married 24 Sep 1872  Owen Sound, Grey Co, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F387  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 1 ZIOLA, Bertha,   b. 30 Dec 1902, , , , Germany Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 3 Jan 1966, New Westminster, Metro Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 63 years) 
    Married Type: Common Law 
    • Bertha ZIOLA moved to Avonlea SK with her two sons Elmer age 3 and Edwin Walter age 1 about 1926 to house keep and take care of the Merriam children for Amos MERRIAM.
      Later She and Amos has two sons Ken and Robert who go by their mothers surname.
      Ida (Ring) Merriam said " Bob looked more like Amos than Amos did and Ken could behave been Reg's twin."
    _STAT Common Law 
    Children 
     1. MERRIAM, Ken
     2. MERRIAM, Robert
    Last Modified 11 May 2021 
    Family ID F422  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 2 BEDFORD, Ida Maud,   b. 9 Oct 1883, Harriston, Wellington Co, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 13 Dec 1923, Santa Monica, Los Angeles Co, California, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 40 years) 
    Married 5 Aug 1903  Harriston, Wellington Co, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [5
    Children 
     1. MERRIAM, Carlyle Benard,   b. 14 Jul 1904, Chatsworth, Grey Co, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 29 Nov 1918, Avonlea, Elmsthorpe, Saskatchewan, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 14 years)
     2. MERRIAM, Amos,   b. 9 Apr 1905, Chatsworth, Grey Co, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 9 Apr 1908, Chatsworth, Grey Co, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 3 years)
     3. MERRIAM, Given Name ? (Daughter Of Amos And Ida),   b. 24 Jul 1906, Chatsworth, Grey Co, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 24 Jul 1906, Chatsworth, Grey Co, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 0 years)
    +4. MERRIAM, Amy Elizabeth Jean,   b. 8 Sep 1909, Chatsworth, Grey Co, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 8 Nov 1990, Trail, , British Columbia, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 81 years)
    +5. MERRIAM, Pauline Eva Maud,   b. 17 Aug 1911, Chatsworth, Grey Co, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 29 Jul 1984, Rossland, , British Columbia, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 72 years)
    +6. MERRIAM, Amos Austin Reginald,   b. 16 Aug 1914, Avonlea, Elmsthorpe, Saskatchewan, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 2 Mar 1988, Kelowna, Central Okanagan, British Columbia, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 73 years)
     7. MERRIAM, Mamie Iolene,   b. 1916, Avonlea, Elmsthorpe, Saskatchewan, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1935, Avonlea, Elmsthorpe, Saskatchewan, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 19 years)
     8. MERRIAM, Claude Bedford,   b. 10 Mar 1920, Avonlea, Elmsthorpe, Saskatchewan, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 29 Jul 1967, Avonlea, Elmsthorpe, Saskatchewan, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 47 years)
    Last Modified 30 Sep 2012 
    Family ID F421  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBorn - 8 Dec 1880 - Port Elgin, Bruce Co, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarried - 5 Aug 1903 - Harriston, Wellington Co, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDied - 27 Jul 1947 - Avonlea, Elmsthorpe, Saskatchewan, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBuried - - Hillcrest Cemetery, Avonlea, Elmsthorpe, Saskatchewan, Canada Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 

  • Photos
    PHOTO: MERRIAM, Austin Anthony, b 20 December, 1852; DOWD,Elizabeth Jane, b 22 November 1854; MERRIAM,Lavern David b 02 March 1878; MERRIAM, Gertrude Elizabeth b 22 November 1854; MERRIAM, Wesley George, b 19 July 1873; MERRIAM, Ida Eliza, b 22 March 1884
    PHOTO: MERRIAM, Austin Anthony, b 20 December, 1852; DOWD,Elizabeth Jane, b 22 November 1854; MERRIAM,Lavern David b 02 March 1878; MERRIAM, Gertrude Elizabeth b 22 November 1854; MERRIAM, Wesley George, b 19 July 1873; MERRIAM, Ida Eliza, b 22 March 1884
    Back row Lavern, Gertude, Wesley, Ida, Amos
    Seated Austin, Elizabeth
    Front Arthur

  • Sources 
    1. [S287] 1901 CENSUS: Ontario, CANADA, (1901 census of Canada. RG 31. Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa, Ontario.), Wellington Twp, Ontario, family Name listed as Amos A Merriam. (Reliability: 3).

    2. [S287] 1901 CENSUS: Ontario, CANADA, (1901 census of Canada. RG 31. Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa, Ontario.), Wellington Twp, Ontario, family Shows 8 Dec 1880. (Reliability: 3).

    3. [S425] 1911 CENSUS: Ontario, CANADA, (1911 census of Canada. RG 31. Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa, Ontario.), family Shows Dec 1887 ??? (Reliability: 3).

    4. [S142] WEBSITE: Find a Grave, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/191003574/amos-austen-merriam (Reliability: 2).

    5. [S393] LDS: Family Search, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, ((http://www.familysearch.org)), ). (Reliability: 3).