Charles Merrill (businessman)

Charles Merrill was born in Falmouth, Massachusetts, on January 3, 1792 (the area became part of Maine in 1820).^[1] He was the seventh of the children of James Merrill - who was one of the principal citizens of Falmouth. Merrill spent his earlier years on his father's farm and obtained an education attending the common school during the winter.^[2]

When he became of age, he moved to nearby Portland, Massachusetts, and in partnership with his brother and a man with the last name of Scott engaged in mercantile business under the firm of S & C Merrill & Company. The business proved unsuccessful and heavy debts were incurred. Once the firm was dissolved, Merrill moved to Virginia, where he took a subcontract on a railroad leading from Petersburg, which was then in progress of construction. He was successful in this new business venture and made enough money to pay off the debts he had incurred in his previous business in Portland. After returning to Portland, he took a contract building a military road from Lincoln to Houlton. The building of this road, and the familiarity it gave him with lands and localities, caused him to become a large investor in the area's real estate from 1835 to 1840.^[2]

His company subsequently pushed their enterprises to Michigan. Beginning in 1836, he made large investments in Michigan with then ex-Governor Abner Coburn. Their purchases were located on the Black River in St. Clair County. When the panic of 1837 came, his Maine partners proposed to withdraw from the joint ownership of lands on condition that Merrill would assume and pay all the indebtedness upon them. He accepted and in order to facilitate his care of these lands, he moved from Portland to Lincoln. For eleven years he was engaged in lumbering his lands.^[2]

By 1848, the lumbering potential of Michigan began to attract increasing attention and Merrill moved to Detroit in order to begin the lumbering of the lands he had purchased there in 1836. In subsequent years he purchased extensive tracts of pine lands in various parts of Michigan and soon became one of the largest pine lands lumberers. He built sawmills in Saginaw and Muskegon, and at Falmouth in Missaukee County.^[2]

In 1858, he built the Merrill Block on the corner of Woodward and Jefferson Avenues - at the time it was considered the finest business building in Detroit. In 1863, Merrill added a business partner, Thomas W. Palmer.^[2]

He married Frances Pitts, daughter of Major Thomas Pitts of Charlestown, Massachusetts, in December 1836. His only child, Elizabeth "Lizzie" Merrill, married his business partner, Thomas W. Palmer.^[2]

Merrill was a man of great physical endurance and indomitable energy. He was careful and methodical in all his habits. Merrill was an ardent advocate of temperance and was always ready to give his countenance and support to temperance movements. In political affairs he was a Whig until the organization of the Republican party and thereafter acknowledged allegiance to that party. His retiring disposition kept him from political prominence.^[2]

He frequently provided financing for his business associates. Merrill was considered helpful and thoughtful of those who were in distress, and people in trouble could always appeal to his sympathy. He was a prominent supporter of the Unitarian Church, being one of the founders of Detroit's Unitarian Society.^[3] He contributed largely to the erection of the Unitarian Church's first building in Detroit and was a trustee of the church from its inception until his death.^[2]