"An Illustrated History of the Big Bend Country; Embracing Lincoln, Douglas, 
Adams  and Franklin Counties; State of Washington". Spokane, Western Historical
Publishing  Company, Publishers, 1904. pp. 848-849.

JUDSON J. MERRIMAN, an extensive farmer and the postmaster at Lind, was born in
Applecreek, Wayne county, Ohio, June 16, 1856. He was the son of John M. and
Harriet (Geddis) Merriman, natives of Pennsylvania. They removed to Ohio about
1814, and there lived until 1888, when they came west to Lind. Here the father
died on March 18, 1903, but the mother still lives here aged seventy-seven
years. The brothers and sisters of Mr. Merriman are, Rollin G., Abner W., Mary
E., Martha, Walker, Dorcas, Hattie, Eddie, and Quimby, and he is the fifth.
     The first twenty-two years of our subjectís life were spent at home with
his parents, during which time he acquired a good common school education. Then
he took up farming for himself in his native county and was thus occupied until
1886, when he came to Lind, Washington. The first year here was spent in
different occupations, and then he engaged in the stock business, and followed
it until 1898. In that year he sold his stock interests and built the first
house in Lind. In fact, he was one of the promoters of the town and was the
second postmaster here, his appointment being in 1898, since which time he has
been the incumbent of the office. Its yearly receipts were one hundred and
forty-four dollars at the time he took charge and now they run as high as thirty
thousand dollars.
     Mr. Merriman has four hundred and eighty acres of excellent agricultural
land near Lind, all well improved and under cultivation, besides having some
valuable improvements in the town.
     On August 11, 1876, Mr. Merriman married Miss Charlotte Good, a native of
Knox county, Ohio. She died on November 6, 1899. On February 27, 1901, Mr.
Merriman contracted a second marriage, Miss Maggie Higgins becoming his bride.
She is a native of Virginia and her parents were born in Pennsylvania and are
now residing in Knox county, Ohio.
     Politically, Mr. Merriman is a Republican and an active party man. He has
served in the conventions, county and state, and is well informed on the issues
of the day. In fraternal affiliations, he is identified with the I. O. O. F.,
Lind Lodge, No. 184, and the Rebekahs, while in religious persuasions, he is a
member of the Methodist church.
     By way of reminiscence, it is interesting to note the trials of the
pioneers and in this connection it will be quite in place to recount some items
from Mr. Merrimanís life. Upon arriving in Lind, he found that the entire
capital he and his wife could make up was ninety dollars. They cast about for
something to do and soon had charge of the railroad boarding house. In addition
to boarding the hands, they fed the passengers, the trains stopping for meals,
and in six months they had cleared eight hundred dollars in cash. This amount
was all invested in three year old heifers and shortly Mr. Merriman was
operating a large dairy, receiving forty cents per pound for all the butter he
could produce. He soon took his place as one of the leading men of the country
and has maintained it since, having the confidence of the people. Mr. Merriman
and his wife landed here on May 17, 1886, and from that time until October, of
the same year, they cooked their meals on a camp fire. Their furniture was made
from empty boxes and their nearest neighbor was five miles distant.
     Referring to a history of the Merriman family, we find that while the
colonies were young, two Merriman brothers came to cast their lot in the new
world. One was lost to descendants, but the other, William Merriman, settled in
Baltimore, and from him descended the family of Merrimans, which is now one of
the large ones of the United States. Upon recent reunions hundreds have gathered
together, all tracing their lineage back to the gentleman mentioned. To this
William Merriman, four sons and two daughters were born, William, George,
Delilah, Kesiah, Nicholas, and Micaiah. It is believed others were in the
family, but the records shows only those mentioned. To William, who is
designated as the second, and who is the immediate great-grandfather of our
subject, eight children were born, John, Daniel, William, known as the third,
Elijah, Micaiah, Elisha, Sarah, and Elizabeth. William, the second, was born in
Baltimore, in 1756 and died in Wayne county, Ohio, in 1844. He had married
Elizabeth Goodin and went to Uniontown, Pennsylvania, where he was widely known
as a wise money maker. Later, about 1815, he took his family to Wayne county,
Ohio. He was a vigorous man until his death. Elijah Merriman, the son of William
the Second, and the grandfather of our subject, married Miss Mary McCoy, and
they became the parents of eleven children, Mahalah, Sarah, James M., William
B., John M., Thomas, (Note; there is an incorrect line inserted here and the
rest of the children have been omitted - georgia). John M., the father of Judson
J. Merriman, married Harriet Geddis and their children are mentioned in the
earlier portion of this article. Harriet Geddis came from a strong Scotch family
and her father served in the Mexican war. The Merriman family has always been
one of farmers and mechanics and professional men. None have sought public life
of personal preferment in politics, but they are known as stanch and substantial
people of worth and integrity. Our subject has followed in the lines of his
ancestors and is a pioneer, having assisted materially in opening this part of
Washington. He has good repute of all and is a descendant of the old Merriman
stock of which all may be proud, and has kept untarnished the name of his
forefathers as they bequeathed it to him.


Submitted by: Georgia Harter Williams, georgiahw@earthlink.net