William H. Merritt, a highly regarded contractor and builder in Moorhead, Minnesota, was born on September 20, 1854, in Hastings, Michigan. He was the son of Alexander and Betsey Merritt, early settlers of Minnesota. William grew up in Northfield, where he received his education in common schools. A self-made man, he began his carpentry career in Northfield before moving to Helena, Montana, in 1883, where he spent eleven years constructing buildings across the region. He settled permanently in Moorhead about fifteen years ago. Merritt was active in various organizations, including the Masonic Order and the Shriners. He married Harriet E. Syron in 1882, and they had three children: Frances, Lillian, and Edna.
William H. Merritt, a contractor and builder from Moorhead, is highly regarded in his field of business and enjoys popularity within the city. He has dedicated approximately thirty years to his career as a contractor.
Born on September 20, 1854, in Hastings, Michigan, Mr. Merritt is the son of Alexander and Betsey Merritt, both of whom hail from New England. They arrived in Minnesota during its early days and settled in Goodhue County, where Mr. Merritt engaged in farming for a number of years. He passed away in Northfield, Minnesota, on March 6, 1894. Mrs. Merritt, William’s mother, died on November 11, 1885.
William H. Merritt is a self-made man who received his education in the common schools of Northfield. Despite the limitations of his formal education, his ambitious nature compensated for any deficiencies. He diligently seized every opportunity to acquire knowledge in the realm of business operations. At a young age, he commenced his journey in the carpentry trade in Northfield, eventually becoming a contractor for the past thirty years. In 1883, he relocated to Helena, Montana, where he remained for eleven years, plying his trade and constructing numerous buildings in Helena, Vancouver (British Columbia), and Puget Sound. While Mr. Merritt first arrived in Moorhead in the 1870s, he has been a permanent resident of the city for the past fifteen years.
Mr. Merritt is an esteemed member of various organizations, including the Masonic Order, Scottish Rites, and the Shriners. He is also affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America and the A. O. U. W.
On July 26, 1882, he married Harriet E. Syron, the daughter of Michael Syron, a Moorhead pioneer. Mr. and Mrs. Merritt are blessed with three children: Frances, Lillian, and Edna.
Source
C.F. Cooper & Company, History of the Red River Valley, Past And Present: Including an Account of the Counties, Cities, Towns And Villages of the Valley From the Time of Their First Settlement And Formation, volumes 1-2; Grand Forks: Herald printing company, 1909.