A man of wide experience in the ways of life and who has wrought with wisdom and energy in the occupations of his hand and is now one of the substantial and respected citizens of Melrose, it is consistent with the province of this work to incorporate the salient points of his career in its pages.
Dexter D. Merritt was born in Warren County, Pennsylvania, on June 10, 1848, being the son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Jewett) Merritt. The father was born in Connecticut in 1787, settled in western New York in 1807 and died in 1870. The mother of our subject was born in New York in 1814 and died in 1851.
When eleven years old Dexter went from the parental roof for the stern duties of life. He was educated in New York after this and then came to Iowa when he was fifteen. He settled in Clayton County, and farmed until 1873, then came a migratory journey to Colorado and for ten years he delved in the mines of that state, working in Clear Creek, Lake, and Boulder counties, where also he did carpentering work. Then he journeyed to Idaho and wrought at his trade for a year or more, after which he came again to Colorado and farmed in Rio Grande County.
In 1891 he came to Cassia and Freeman counties, in Idaho, and wrought for a couple of years, also operated a general merchandise store there for a time, at Rock Creek. In 1899 Mr. Merritt came to Lewiston and wrought for Small and Emory in the lumber business, and in September, 1902. He came to Melrose and took the position of bookkeeper in the concern of Snyder & Company, where he is engaged at the present time. Mr. Merritt is a man of excellent qualities and has won the approbation and confidence of all. He has ten brothers and sisters and nine half brothers and half sisters. Politically Mr. Merritt is allied with the Republicans. His brother, Charles C, was a captain in Company A, One Hundred and Forty-fifth Pennsylvania Regiment in the Civil war and for nine months languished in a war prison of the enemy. Another brother, Barton M., who died at Folly Island before Charleston, was in the One Hundred and Twenty-fifth New York Regiment.
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Source: An Illustrated History of Northern Idaho, Embracing Nez Perce, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone Counties, Western Historical Publishing Company, 1903
Dexter Delano Merritt was married in 1907 to Jennie Deland, who died in 1908.
Dexter is buried at the Moscow City Cemetery, Moscow, Idaho. His sister, Mrs. Elizabeth (Merritt) Cole is buried near him at the Moscow City Cemetery.