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C. Henry Merrick Letters

 Collection
Identifier: Ms-1994-038

Scope and Contents

This collection contains five letters received by C. (Cyrus) Henry Merrick, a resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, during the American Civil War. Among the letters are three from Merrick's brother Spencer, written at Lancaster and Worcester, Massachusetts. On September 14, 1862, Spencer Merrick expresses regret for being in comfort at home during the war, discusses the war's significance to future generations, and comments on the prospect of Confederate troops invading Pennsylvania. On January 11, 1864, he writes of local communities meeting their Union Army recruitment quotas and expresses hope that the war would soon end. In his letter of February 26, 1864, Merrick boasts of Lancaster's record in supporting the war with recruits, donations of supplies and money, and bounties. Writing while on picket (probably near Hagerstown, Maryland) on October 10, 1862, Edward E. Clapp (Company F, 155th Pennsylvania Infantry) mentions such incidents of camp life as lice and military drills. He recounts the means by which he hired a cook--an "octroon," according to Clapp--for his mess and writes at length about food and drink. Clapp mentions the camp sutler and lists the many goods available for purchase, then provides news of several individuals in his company. A letter from Sarah E. Whittier, written while visiting friends in North Vienna, Maine, on July 31, 1864, thanks Merrick for details relating to the recent battlefield death of her brother (probably Edward E. Clapp, who was killed at the Battle of Spotsylvania on May 8). Each letter is accompanied by an envelope.

Dates

  • 1862 - 1864

Creator

Language of Materials

The materials in the collection are in English.

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open to research.

Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use

The copyright status of this collection is unknown. Copyright restrictions may apply. Contact Special Collections and University Archives for assistance in determining the use of these materials. Reproduction or digitization of materials for personal or research use can be requested using our reproduction/digitization form: http://bit.ly/scuareproduction. Reproduction or digitization of materials for publication or exhibit use can be requested using our publication/exhibition form: http://bit.ly/scuapublication. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives (specref@vt.edu or 540-231-6308) if you need assistance with forms or to submit a completed form.

Biographical / Historical

Cyrus Henry Merrick, son of Cyrus and Elizabeth Henshaw Merrick, was born in Sturbridge (Worcester County), Massachusetts, on September 26, 1829. In the 1850 federal census, he appears as a 20-year-old farmer, living in the Lancaster (Worcester County) home of his parents. In 1851, Merrick moved to Burlington, Iowa, where he was intitially employed by the lumber company E. D. Rand & Company, and later by the banking firm Green, Thomas & Company, becoming the manager of their Fort Madison branch. In 1853, Merrick married Harriet E. Lang (1827-1855); following her death, he returned to Massachusetts, where he farmed, then operated a shoe manufacturing business in Sturbridge. In the winter of 1860/1861, he moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and operated a paper manufacturing business. During the American Civil War, Merrick helped to organize the 155th Pennsylvania Infantry. Returning to Burlington in 1868, Merrick worked for a succession of businesses. He married Harriet Olivia Sherfey (1847-1926) in Bloomington, Illinois, in 1877; the couple would have three children. By 1881, Merrick was working for Whitebreast Fuel Company in Ottumwa, Iowa; the following year, he became secretary-treasurer of Eldon Coal & Mining Company. In 1889, he assumed operation of O. M. Ladd's farm loan business. He purchased the company in 1895, and in 1893, entered into partnership with several others, incorporating it as the Phoenix Trust Compaany, of which he served as president until his death on December 27, 1914. He was buried in Ottumwa Cemetery.

Extent

0.1 Cubic Feet (1 folder)

Abstract

Five letters to C. (Cyrus) Henry Merrick, a resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, during the American Civil War, from Spencer Merrick, Edward E. Clapp, and Sarah E. Whittier.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The C. Henry Merrick Letters were donated to Special Collections and University Archives in 1994.

Rights Statement for Archival Description

The guide to the C. Henry Merrick Letters by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 (https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/).

Processing Information

The processing and description of the C. Henry Merrick Letters commenced and was completed in October, 2023.

Title
C. Henry Merrick Letters, 1862-1864
Status
Completed
Author
John M. Jackson
Date
2023 (CC0 1.0)
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Revision Statements

  • 2020-09-23: Finding aid notes updated to new department standards. juliags

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech Repository

Contact:
Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries (0434)
560 Drillfield Drive
Newman Library, Virginia Tech
Blacksburg Virginia 24061 US
540-231-6308