Merrill family papers, 1920-1985

IIn the winter of 1918-1919, a devastating flu epidemic spread throughout the United States, affecting even rural communities like Richmond, Utah. In this small Cache Valley town, Lorin Asa Merrill was one of the first victims of the dreaded influenza. On January 26, 1919, Lorin passed away at the age of 42, leaving his wife Laura and seven children: Milton, Asa, Harold, Dean, Laura, Lorin, and Liona.

Lorin Asa Merrill was born April 4, 1876, to Marriner Wood Merrill and Almira Jane Bainbridge in Richmond, Utah. As a convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Marriner had moved from Sackville, New Brunswick, Canada to Salt Lake City, Utah in 1853. Seven years later he left Salt Lake City under assignment by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to help settle Richmond, Utah. In 1865, Marriner married Almira and she became his third wife. Marriner helped build the Logan Temple and served as its first president, and in 1889 he accepted a call to be an apostle in the Church hierarchy.

Lorin grew up on the family farm in Richmond and later attended Utah State Agricultural College (USAC). Following graduation, he worked as an assistant in the college dairy. Through associations at USAC, Lorin met his future wife Laura Liona Reese (February 6, 1876-May 13, 1963). After serving a Church mission to California, Lorin returned to Cache Valley, and in June 1900 married Laura Reese. Together the Merrills had eight children. Lorin worked in a variety of jobs, including managing a dairy in South Salt Lake and later a sawmill in Richmond. When the mill shut down, Lorin served as assistant recorder at the Logan Temple. Eventually he was hired on as a farm demonstrator in the Extension Service at USAC. From this experience, and years of personal farm management, he obtained the position of farm agent over Sevier County Utah. Lorin was active in religious and civic matters, and filled the position of Bishop and Highpriest in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served for many years as a Logan City councilman.

After Lorin's death in 1919, Laura assumed the care of her family. From profits earned by selling milk and eggs, Laura and her children were able to support themselves on their farm in Richmond. As the children grew older and reached college age, Laura sold the farm and moved to Logan. For a number of years Laura worked as the Cache County recorder and later obtained a job as librarian at the Logan Jr.-Sr. High School. Laura also served as librarian at the Topaz Internment Camp in southern Utah during World War II. She fulfilled two Church missions and served in various religious positions in the Church. The true scope and content of this collection revolves around Laura. From her experience through the challenges of life, Laura influenced not only her husband and children but the whole community as well. The love that Laura had for her family and others is expressed in family correspondence between children and friends. For more information on the Merrill children and extended family, see the Lorin A. Merrill and Laura R. Merrill and Family book (929.2 M552-M).