Moses Merrill, 1803-1840 [RG2242.AM]

NEBRASKA STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY MANUSCRIPT FINDING AID



RG2242.AM:  Moses Merrill, 1803-1840



Papers:  1832-1937

Bellevue, Douglas County, Neb.:  Missionary

Size:  0.5 cu.ft.; 1 box and 1 reel of microfilm



BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE



Moses Merrill was born on December 15, 1803. His parents, Daniel and Susannah, lived in Sedgwick, Maine, where his father served as pastor of the Baptist church. Most of Moses’ young manhood was spent in teaching in Sedgwick and, in April of 1829, he was licensed to preach.



In October of that year Merrill moved to Michigan Territory where, with his brother, he taught, studied and preached preparatory to entering the mission field. On June 1, 1830, he married Miss Eliza Wilcox and two years later they were appointed missionaries at Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. From there the missionary family went briefly to Shawnee Mission, Kansas, and in October of 1833, to Bellevue, Indian Territory (now Nebraska).



At Bellevue they established a school for Indian children and offered the natives medical as well as spiritual treatment. In 1835 the Oto moved to a new location six miles from the mouth of the Platte River on its northern bank. The mission family moved that same year to remain with the Oto Indians. By 1839 Merrill, who had been physically frail from boyhood, contracted tuberculosis. After slightly more than six years at Bellevue, Moses Merrill died on February 6, 1840.



SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE



This collection consists of one manuscript box of diaries, correspondence, reports and clippings arranged in six series: 1) Diaries, 1832-1841; 2) Correspondence, 1832-1842, 1886, 1892, 1913; 3) Addresses to the Indians by Moses Merrill, 1839; 4) Historical & biographical material; 5) Scrapbook, 1912, 1937; and 6) Miscellany.



The bulk of this collection relates to the missionary and personal affairs of Moses and Eliza Merrill, 1832-1842. Series 1 is comprised of diaries kept by them, in both original and typescript form, which detail their experience with the Oto Indians in the 1830s at Bellevue. Series 2 contains correspondence & reports relating to their designation as missionaries and the eventual operation of the Oto mission. In addition to correspondence to and from Moses and Eliza, there are letters from Peter Zweible and John Bates relating to twentieth century use of the Merrill Mission. Series 3 consists of two addresses by Merrill to the Oto in 1839. Series 4 and Series 5 contain later-day biographical material. Series 6 holds contemporary fragmentary material relating to Mrs. Merrill.



Selected documents have been microfilmed and the film can be found in the Reference Room under MS0432. Microfilmed material is marked with an asterisk on the inventory.



DESCRIPTION



Series 1 – Diaries, 1832-1841



Box 1

Folder




    1. Diaries (Merrill), Nov. 29, 1832 – May 14, 1834 (Original)* (also on microfilm)

    1. Diary (Merrill), Nov. 29, 1832 – Sept. 14, 1839 (Typescript)

    1. Name Index to diary, Nov. 29, 1832 – Sept. 14, 1839

    1. Diary, Eliza Wilcox Merrill, May 20, 1832 – July 13, 1841 (Original)* (also on microfilm)

    1. Diary, Eliza Wilcox Merrill, 1832-1841 (Typescript)



Series 2 – Correspondence and Reports, 1832-1913




    1. Moses Merrill – letters, papers, reports, 1832-1842, and 1886 (Original)* (also on microfilm)

    1. General correspondence and reports, 1832-1842; 1886 (Typescript)

    1. Moses & Eliza Merrill to Thomas Merrill, 1883-1838

    1. John Dougherty to Moses Merrill, 1834-1837 (Original)* (also on microfilm)

    1. John Dougherty to Moses Merrill, 1834-1837 (Typescript)

    1. Eliza Wilcox Merrill to Moses Merrill, June 1839* (Typescript)* (also on microfilm)

    1. Peter Zwiebel & John Bates, 1913



Series 3 – Addresses by Moses Merrill to the Indians




    1. Addresses given in August and September, 1839 (copies)



Series 4 – Historical and Biographical Material




    1. Obituary, M. Merrill

      Merrill Mission narrative accounts

      Brief genealogy

      Memorial to the Merrills* (also on microfilm)



Series 5 – Scrapbook, 1912, 1937




    1. Clippings about the Merrills



Series 6 – Miscellany




    1. Fragmentary correspondence & account, “Traditions of the Otoes,” by Mrs. Merrill (Original)



 



ADDED ENTRIES:



Bellevue (Neb.) — History

Dougherty, John, 1791-1860

Indians of North America — Missions

Indians of North America — Religion and mythology

Merrill Family

Merrill, Eliza Wilcox

Merrill, Moses, 1803-1840

Missionaries — Nebraska

Oto Indians — Religion and mythology



 



Revised 05-17-2008   TMM

Become a Member!

Our members make history happen.

Join Now

You May Also Enjoy

The Massacre Canyon Oral History and Archeology Project

The Massacre Canyon Oral History and Archeology Project

Lest We Forget:  The Lynching of Will Brown, Omaha’s 1919 Race Riot

Lest We Forget: The Lynching of Will Brown, Omaha’s 1919 Race Riot

Portraits of Omaha’s 1898 Indian Congress

Portraits of Omaha’s 1898 Indian Congress

About History Nebraska
History Nebraska was founded in 1878 as the Nebraska State Historical Society by citizens who recognized Nebraska was going through great changes and they sought to record the stories of both indigenous and immigrant peoples. It was designated a state institution and began receiving funds from the legislature in 1883. Legislation in 1994 changed History Nebraska from a state institution to a state agency. The division is headed by Interim Director and CEO Jill Dolberg. They are assisted by an administrative staff responsible for financial and personnel functions, museum store services, security, and facilities maintenance for History Nebraska.
Explore Nebraska
Discover the real places and people of our past at these History Nebraska sites.

Upcoming Events

View our new and upcoming events to see how you can get involved.

Become a Member

The work we do to discover, preserve, and share Nebraska's history wouldn't be possible without the support of History Nebraska members.

Latest Hall of Fame Inductee

The Nebraska Hall of Fame was established in 1961 to officially recognize prominent Nebraskans.

Become a Member

The work we do to discover, preserve, and share Nebraska's history wouldn't be possible without the support of History Nebraska members.
Nebraska Collections

History Nebraska's mission is to collect, preserve, and open our shared history to all Nebraskans.

Our YouTube Video Collection

Get a closer look at Nebraska's history through your own eyes, with our extensive video collections.

Additional Research Resources

History Nebraska Research and Reference Services help connect you to the material we collect and preserve.

Support History Nebraska
Make a cash donation to help us acquire, preserve, and interpret Nebraska’s history. Gifts to History Nebraska help leave a legacy and may help your taxes, too! Support the work of History Nebraska by donating to the History Nebraska Foundation today.

Volunteers are the heroes of History Nebraska. So much history, so little time! Your work helps us share access to Nebraska’s stories at our museums and sites, the reference room, and online.