This shot was taken from the Wyuka Website. It shows the fence running east & west along "O" Street in Lincoln. This fence also represents the southern boundary for the cemetery. Originally this fence was used to keep cattle off the grounds of the University of Nebraska, Lincoln circa 1880. Wyuka was founded as a place of rest for fallen soldiers of the War of the Rebellion. Counteless ancestors from many of my lines rest inside this fence.

This is the family stone for Samuel & Martha [WISTON] Merrill. It stands just inside the south entrance for the cemetery.

Samuel Merrill was one of five children born to Joseph Merrill & his wife, Sarah Welsby. He was born in Nantwich, County Chestershire England. In 1830 he married Martha Wiston. Together this couple would have six children. From England they migrated to Painseville Ohio. From there they went north to Ontario Canada, only to return to Ohio ten years later. In 1880 they came to Lancaster County Nebraska. These fine people are a set of my 4th, paternal great grandparents.

Martha Wiston was born in Nantwich, County Chestershire England to Enoch Whiston & his wife Mary Jennings. She married Samuel Merrill in England in 1830 & together this couple had six children, the eldest of whom was my fifth great paternal grandfather, Joseph Merrill.

Wyuka Cemetery, Lincoln Nebraska

Joseph Wiston Merrill was the eldest of six children born to Samuel Merrill & his wife, Martha Wiston. He was born in Nantwich, County Chestershire England in 1832. He came with his family to Painesville Ohio, & went with them to Ontario Canada. Joseph was a Methodist Minister & in 1880 was sent to the plains of Lancaster County Nebraska. On a missionary call he went to Colorado Springs Colorado in 1896 & died there. I've no idea where exactly he's buried, nor if he even has a gravestone. This is a family picture handed down to me from my grandmother, Hazel Alice Merrill. I am now in possession of the original photograph.

Jane Elizabeth Christner was the fourth of ten children born to Solomon McKenzie Christner & his wife Elizabeth Cheavins Christner. She was born in Etobicoke, York, Ontario, Canada & came to the United States with her husband, Joseph Whiston Merrill, whom she married on 27 September 1858 in Osprey, Grey, Ontario Canada. Together this couple would have eleven children, their eldest being my 2nd great paternal grandfather, William John Whiston Merrill. Jane lies in the Merrill Family plot in Riverside Cemetery, Crete, Saline County Nebraska. Jane Elizabeth Christner's own great grandfather, Johannes Christner came to the United States in 1770 from Switzerland. They were devout Quakers & migrated to Pennsylvania on the promise they'd not have to serve in any military servce. When the War for Independence from Great Britain began, the entire family moved north to Ontario Canada. The Christner family can be traced back as far as Hans Christner, ca. 1650 in Switzerland. Hans Christner is one of my own 10th great paternal grandfathers. Jane herself is my 3rd great, paternal grandmother. This photograph is a tin-type handed down to me by my grandmother, Hazel Alice Merrill. I am in possession of the original tin-type. Those dark eyes & coal black hair have been a staple in my father's family for generations. I have a cousin, four generations removed from this woman, who could pass for her sister.

This stone is located in Riverside Cemetery, Crete, Saline County Nebraska.

Apparently the man liked both children, & cats. This is an original photograph of William John Whiston Merrill & four of his daughters. Shown left to right are: Cora, Bessie, William, Daisy, & Ruth Merrill, taken in Crete, Saline County Nebraska circa 1910. This original photograph was given to me by my grandmother Hazel Alice Merrill. I am in possession of the original photograph. William was bon in Etobicoke, York, Ontario, Canada. He married Lillian Elizabeth T. Walker in Lincoln, Lancaster County Nebraska on 10 February 1883. Together this couple would have 12 children, the third of which was my great paternal grandfather; LeRoy Charles Merrill.

This is a shot of William John Whiston Merrill & his son LeRoy Charles Merrill, taken in Crete Nebraska. The original photograph was given to me by my grandmother Hazel Alice Merrill. I am now in possession of th eoriginal photograph.

This is the simple gravestone for my 2nd great paternal grandfather, William John Whiston Merrill. It lies in the Merrill Family plot in Riverside Cemetery, Crete, Saline County Nebraska.

Lillian Elizabeth T. Walker was one of three children born to Samuel Walker & his wife, Hannah Anne Hoak, in Lancaster County Pennsylvania. On 10 Februray 1883 in Lincoln, Lancaster County Nebraska, she married William John Whiston Merrill. Together this couple would have twelve children. The original photograph shown was given to me by my grandmother, Hazel Alice Merrill. I am in possession of it still.

"Bessie", as she was known, was the eldest of twelve children born to William John Whiston Merrill & his wife, Lillian Elizabeth T. Walker. On 24 March 1904 in Nebraska she married John Lester Behrens. Together this couple would have eight children. The original photograph shown was given to me by my grandmother, Hazel Alice Merrill. I am in possession of it still.

Cora Belle Merrill was the second of twelves children born to William John Whiston Merrill & his wife, Lillian Elizabeth T. Walker Merrill. On 05 February 1927 in Crete, Saline County Nebraska, she married Axel Pearson. To my knowledge, this couple had no children.

I've no idea when this shot was taken, or what was being consumed in order to think it was a good idea to even take this picture? Over-alls with a gardner's hat doens't actually inspire me to think of John Wayne. You?

Dorothy Mae Bishop was fifth of six children born to Alvah Rado Bishop & his wife, Elizabeth Jane Cook. On 10 August 1915 in Rockwell, Calhoun County Iowa, she married LeRoy Charles Merrill. Together this couple had three children. The original photograph shown was given to me by my grandmother, Hazel Alice Merrill. I am in possession of it still.

Roy Merrill was one of my paternal great grandfathers. He was also head custodian at the Nebraska Capitol Building for almost forty years. Here in this photograph we can see him shaking hands with then President Ike Eisenhower. Standing right is the then Nebraska Governor, Val Peterson. The original photograph shown was given to me by my grandmother, Hazel Alice Merrill. I am in possession of it still. This original photograph has Ike's signature attached in marker.

My great grandfather lies in the Merrill Family plot in Lincoln's Memorial Park.

My great paternal grandmother Dorothy Mae Bishop Merrill lies in Lincoln's Memorial Park.

Shown are three of the Merrill children born to, LeRoy Charles Merrill & his wife, Dorothy Mae [Bishop] Merrill. Shown left from right are Dorothy Mae Merrill, unknown childhood friend, Hazel Alice Merrill & their brother, Verne Floyd Merrill

Shown above are Dorothy Mae Merrill, Verne Floyd Merrill & Hazel Alice Merrill.

Hazel Alice Merrill was the eldest of three children born to LeRoy Charles Merrill & his wife, Dorothy Mae Bishop Merrill. On 13 June 1934 in Manhatten, Riley County Kansas she married Robert Thomas Mann. Together this couple would have two children. The original photograph shown was given to me by my grandmother, Hazel Alice Merrill. I am in possession of it still.

My paternal grandmother.

Taken as a young woman. The original photograph shown was given to me by my grandmother, Hazel Alice Merrill. I am in possession of it still.

Here we see a picture of Dorothy Mae Bishop Merrill with her daughter, my grandmother, Hazel Alice Merrill. The original photograph shown was given to me by my grandmother, Hazel Alice Merrill. I am in possession of it still.

The original photograph shown was given to me by my grandmother, Hazel Alice Merrill. I am in possession of it still.

This is Roy with his daughter, my grandmother, Hazel Alice Merrill Mann Riley, in Burbank California around 1965.

My paternal grandmother lies in the Merrill Family plot in Lincoln's Memorial Park. She was my mother figure, my "mom". She was a Saint & I loved her so.

LeRoy Charles Merrill was the third of twelve children born to William John Whiston Merrill & his wife, Lillian Elizabeth T. Walker Merrill. I'm not actually sure what his name order was. I've seen it recorded on official documents as Charles LeRoy, & LeRoy Charles. He was known by simply, "Roy". On 10 August 1915, LeRoy Charles Merrill married Dorothy Mae Bishop, in Rockwell, Calhoun County Iowa. Together this couple would have three children. In this picture Roy is swinging his daughter Dorothy. The original photograph shown was given to me by my grandmother, Hazel Alice Merrill. I am in possession of it still.

Dorothy Mae Merrill was the second child & the second daughter born to, LeRoy Charles Merrill & his wife, Dorothy Mae [Bishop] Merrill.

Shown above is an article printed in the Lincoln paper, celebrating the fifteenth birthday of Dorothy Mae Merrill. It was printed 18 October 1933.

Dorothy Mae Merrill, as a young woman.

This is a shot of my grandmother's sister, standing outside of her childhood home at 658 South 19th Street, Lincoln Nebraska. Now it serves as the location of a multilevel apartment building.

Shown above is a shot of my grand aunt standing outside the Merrill family home. I believe this picture was taken shortly before her marriage to Jack Schrader.

Shown above is the wedding announcement, printed in the Lincoln paper, 30 October 1940.

Shown above is the wedding photo printed in the Lincoln paper, 21 October 1940. Dorothy Mae Merrill married Jack Charles Schrader on 12 October 1940, in Lincoln. Together this couple sixty five years of marriage and one child.

Shown above is LeRoy Charles Merrill and his only son, Verne Floyd Merrill.

Verne was the youngest of three children born to LeRoy Charles Merrill & his wife, Dorothy Mae Bishop Merrill. On 16 June 1940 in Lincoln, Lancaster County Nebraska, he married Joyce Gannon. Together this couple would have one child, who died of polio at the age of five. Verne was a decorated Veteran of World War II, being wounded twice. The original photograph shown was given to me by my grandmother, Hazel Alice Merrill. I am in possession of it still.

Shown above are Verne Floyd Merrill & his wife, Joyce Y. [Gannon] Merrill.

Shown above is Sergeant V.F. Merrill, while serving on Cabu Island, Phillipines during World War II.

Shown above is Sergeant Verne Floyd Merrill, while serving in Okanawa Nippon (Japan) after World War II.

Shown above are Joyce Y. [Gannon] Merrill and her only child, Danny Floyd Merrill.

This is a shot of Verne Merrill with his son Danny Floyd Merrill & his nephew, my father, Richard Lee Mann. It was taken in Los Angeles California around 1945. Danny later died of Polio. The original photograph shown was given to me by my grandmother, Hazel Alice Merrill. I am in possession of it still.

Danny was the only child born to, Verne Floyd Merrill and his wife, Joyce Y. [Gannon] Merrill. Danny went with his folks to California in the early 1940's as his father was there with the United States Army. Danny contracted polio and died in Los Angeles California, 02 November 1948.

My granduncle Verne lies in the Merrill Family plot in Lincon's Memorial Park.

John Martin Merrill was the fifth of twelve children born to William John Whiston Merrill & his wife, Lillian Elizabeth T. Walker Merrill. To my knowledge, this man never married nor had any children. He's buried in the Merrill Family plot in Riverside Cemetery, Crete, Saline County Nebraska.

Joseph Merrill was the seventh of twelve children born to William John Whiston Merrill & his wife, Lillian Elizabeth T. Wallker Merrill. He married, Bird Bell. Together this couple had one child that I know about. Joseph died in Chicago, Cook County Illinois in July of 1978. The original photograph shown was given to me by my grandmother, Hazel Alice Merrill. I am in possession of it still.

Here we see a photograph of Bird Bell Merrill & her daughter. Bird died in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County California in 1974. The original photograph shown was given to me by my grandmother, Hazel Alice Merrill. I am in possession of it still.

The original photograph shown was given to me by my grandmother, Hazel Alice Merrill. I am in possession of it still.

Daisy Hannah Merrill was the eighth of twelve children born to William John Whiston Merrill & his wife, Lillian Elizabeth T. Walker Merrill. She married twice. First she married Edward Machacek in Saline County Nebraska. She married second in September 1956 to James Diederich. The original photograph shown was given to me by my grandmother, Hazel Alice Merrill. I am in possession of it still.

The original photograph shown was given to me by my grandmother, Hazel Alice Merrill. I am in possession of the original.

Ruth Elizabeth Merrill was the ninth of twelve children born to William John Whiston Merrill & his wife, Lillian Elizabeth T. Walker Merrill. In Saline County Nebraska, she married Charles Henry Finley. The original photograph shown was given to me by my grandmother, Hazel Alice Merrill. I am in possession of the original.

William Merrill was the youngest of twelve children born to William John Whiston Merrill & his wife, Lillian Elizabeth T. Wallker Merrill. He caught pneumonia while working in a grain elevator in Crete & died at home, shortly thereafter. The original photograph shown was given to me by my grandmother, Hazel Alice Merrill. I am in possession of the original.

Norman is a 2nd great grandson to, Samuel Merrill and his wife, Martha [WISTON] Merrill. He graciously allowed us to post this picture and we're glad to have it. If any Merrill's out there would like to trade genealogical information or have their families included in our database, please contact us. Norman's great grandfather, William H. Merrill was Samuel & Martha's 3rd child & 2nd son. He married, Mary Ann Christner, sister to his brother Joseph's wife, Jane Elizabeth, shown below.

John H. Merrill was the youngest of six children born to Samuel Merrill & his wife, Martha Whiston Merrill. He was born in Nantwich, County Chestershire England & came with his family to the United States. He eventually settled in Pleasant Dale Nebraska where he served as both prominent merchant & Mayor. This photograph was taken from the History of Seward County Nebraska.

This photograph was scanned from the History of Seward County Nebraska.

This is a shot of the inside of Merrill's General Store in POleasant Dale Nebraska, circa 1900. I took this photograph from the history of Seward County Nebraska.

John H. Merrill died in Pleasant Dale Nebraska following a failed surgery. He is buried in Wyuka Cemetery, Lincoln, Lancaster County Nebraska. On 22 June in Meaford Canada John H. Merrill married Catherine Anne Shields. She died 15 October 1881 & is buried in Wyuka Cemetery, Lincoln Nebraska. Together this couple had four children. On 14 September 1886 he married Lucille Ann Carruthers. Together this couple had three children. She died 06 December 1894 & is buried in Pleasant Dale, Lancaster County Nebraska. On 22 January 1896 he married Belle Carruthers. Together this couple had two children. Belle died 14 January 1946 & is buried in Pleasant Dale, Lancaster County Nebraska.

Catherine Anne Shields married John H. Merrill 22 June in Meaford Canada. Together this couple had four children. Catherine is buried in the Merrill Family Plot in Wyuka Cemetery, Lincoln, Lancaster County Nebraska.

John Edgar Samuel Merrill was the third of four children born to John H. Merrill & his wife, Catherine Anne Shields. He married Mabelle Gertrude Perkins. He's buried in Wyuka Cemetery, Lincoln, Lancaster County Nebraska.

John Wilber Shields Merrill was the youngest of four children born to John H. Merrill & his wife, Catherine Anne Shields. He married Anna Mae White & together this couple had one known child. They're all buried in Pleasant Dale Cemetery, Pleasant Dale, Lancaster County Nebraska.

Belle Carruthers Merrill was the second child of four born to John Carruthers & his wife, Ann Wallace. She married John H. Merrill 22 January 1896 in Pleasant Dale, Lancaster County Nebraska. Together this couple would have two children. Belle rests in Wyuka Cemetery, Lincoln Nebraska.

Arthur Whiston Merrill was the eldest of two children born to John H. Merrill & his wife, Belle Carruthers Merrill. He married Elaine Abel and together this couple woudl have two children. Arthur Whiston Merrill lies in Wyuka Cemetery, Lincoln Nebraska.

Elaine Abel Merrill married Arthur Whiston Merrill and together this couple had two children. Elaine is buried in the Merrill Family Plot in Wyuka Cemetery, Lincoln Nebraska. This shot looks downright odd, and there's a reason. The sun was shining so brightly, I shot it upside down & then turned it in editing so that you could read the name.

D. Whiston Merrill (Yes, the name on the tombstone seems to be mis-spelled) was the second of two children born to John H. Merrill & his wife, Belle Carruthers Merrill. He married Amy I Ferguron. They lie together in Pleasant Dale Cemetery, Pleasant Dale, Lancaster County Nebraska.

John Carruthers Merrill was the youngest of two children born to Arthur Whiston Merrill & his wife, Elaine Abel Merrill. On 07 April 1940 he married Darthula M. Null. Together this couple had four children. They rest together in Wyuka Cemetery, Lincoln Nebraska.

Pleasant Dale, Lancaster County Nebraska