On Sunday, May 25, 2025 at the Merrill Cemetery in Dallas, Dallas County, Texas the Craig Austin Rowley Chapter, The Society of the War of 1812 in the State of Texas, the John Cavet Chapter of the United States Daughters of 1812 and the Collin McKinney Chapter of Daughters of the Republic of Texas honored Eli Merrell (1787-1849) for his service in the War of 1812.
Biography of Eli Merrell:
Eli Merrell, a War of 1812 veteran, made quite a journey. He was the son of Benjamin Merrill, a Revolutionary War veteran born in New Jersey, and Penelope Merrell, a cousin born in North Carolina. Raised in the Carolinas, Eli married Nancy McCrary in 1811.
In 1827 Eli, along with his immediate family and some siblings, left North Carolina and headed to Marion County, Missouri. There, he set up a ferry on the North Fabius River and even founded a settlement called Merrellville.
The couple was living there when Nancy died in 1830. In 1837, Eli married Mary Ann McCoy/McKay. After they lived in Missouri several more years, Eli and his family moved with other Merrell relatives to Texas, deciding to settle in Dallas County in 1844. He operated a farm and allocated land that is now known as the Merrell Cemetery. He was able to acquire and secure title to a section of land for his family before his death in 1849.
The Merrill family acreage remained undeveloped for many years but now has been converted to residential or commercial use. The last section to change was the acreage surrounding the cemetery. Eli’s is the oldest known grave in the cemetery. Currently twenty-six graves bear the family name. Records note that his grave was honored in 1935 by the John Cavet Chapter of the United States Daughters of 1812. Any such marker had disappeared over the years until the above mentioned groups worked together to honor Mr. Merrell in this service.
Get future posts by email.
