Dwight F. Merrill

Dwight F. Merrill was born on March 14, 1841, in New York, the son of Abram (or Hiram) and Almira (Giles).

Massachussetts native Abram or Hiram married Vermont-born Almira. Dwight came to Michigan, probably from New York sometime before 1864.

He was 22 years old and probably working as a farmer living in Orangeville, Barry County when he enlisted in Company E on January 2, 1864, at Grand Rapids for 3 years, crediting Orangeville, was mustered on January 5. He joined the Regiment on March 10, and was hospitalized (reasons unknown) on June 2.

He was still absent sick in the hospital when he was transferred to Company E, Fifth Michigan infantry upon consolidation of the Third and Fifth Michigan Regiments on June 10, 1864. He remained absent sick until he was transferred to the Veterans’ Reserve Corps on May 22, 1865, near Washington, DC. Dwight was discharged on September 28, 1865, from the Thirty-ninth company, Second Battalion, VRC, at Washington.

After the war Dwight returned to western Michigan, eventually settling in Newaygo County where he worked as a farmer for many years. He was living in Troy or Home, Newaygo County in 1890.

Dwight was married, probably to one Eula Lee in Detroit on March 14, 1893.

In any case, he was married a second time to Canadian native Elizabeth (b. 1866,); she had immigrated to the U.S. in 1869.

By 1920 Dwight and his second wife were living in Wilcox, Newaygo County.

In 1879 Dwight applied for and received a pension (no. 248569).

He was possibly living in White Cloud, Newaygo County where he died of chronic bronchitis on June 8, 1921, and was buried in Whipple cemetery, Newaygo County.

The week after Dwight died Elizabeth, who was still living in Michigan, applied for and received a pension (no. 910,572).