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Show ' DEATH OF APOSTLE MERRILL Apostle's Long Continued Illness Ends Rather Suddenly Tuesday Evening. The angel of death claimed Apostle M. W. Merrill Tuesday night about 10 o'clock at his home In Richmond. Tnough his health lias been shattered for some time and It was generally known thai he was declining rapidly, few except tho Immediate members of his families knew that death was so near, the news of his demiso oamo witli a decided shock to tnc friends far and near. The Apostle's death was due to complications Incident to kidney alllictlons and general debility a part of age, he being seventy-four years old. Apostle Meriill was widely known and greatly beloved. Even those who railed against his altitude hi certain church matters have glowing thin us to say of the honesty of his belief, his usefulness, his strong character and general worth to the cause and the people with whom ho came in contact. The deceased leaves a famljy of forty-six children and grandchildren that number nearly 'J00. Of his progeny, prog-eny, many occupy prominent positions before the people, and of all It may be said that they are worthy sons and daughters. The community shiceiely mourns his death and sympathizes with the family in their grief. Condensed Biography. M. W. Merrill was born n Sachvllle, New Brunswick, 18.12. In iaV2 he became be-came a convert to the "Mormon" faith, the following year coming to Salt Lake city. In November 185.1 Elder Merrill married Sarah A. Atkinson, Atkin-son, and in 1854 moved to the vicinity of Bountiful, where he made shingles Elders Benson and Hyde, pioneers of Cache, saw him Micro and advised him to come to Cache. Elder Morrill did so and In 18i0 he and otheis landed north of Richmond. Ho remained In Cache forever after and was foremost In the doxelopmenl of tho valley Made A. Bishop. In 1801, Elder Merrill was ordained Bishop of Richmond and for eighteen years he filled that oillco to tho advantage ad-vantage of his people and credit to himself. Ho was active in the construction con-struction of the Utah Northern rail-way rail-way through Utah, loaho and Montana Mon-tana and later became interested In private enterprises that wore of great service to thetpeoplc. Raised to Apostle. In 1870, Bishop Merrill went back cast to the old home on a short mission mis-sion and on liis return becamo one of of Prof. Wm. B. Preston's counselors. He occupied this position until 1881, then became picsldcnt of tho Logan Temple. In 1881) he was made one of the twelve apostles, and in 18!)! was made President of Cache stake, then comprising the present Hyrum, Ben-son Ben-son and Cache stakes. In a political way, M. W. Merrill was vai lously honored. In tho latter "0's he served two terms in the state legislatuio a repiesentatl.c and senator, sena-tor, lie was also postmaster at Richmond Rich-mond for '.'0 years, and a member of the Board of Truses of the Agricultural Agricul-tural college for four years. |