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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Lee County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1890.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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T. C. Merwin is a successful general merchant of Marianna, Ark., and is an example of the success attending hard work and honest dealing. He was born in Louisville, Ky., December 25, 1845, and is a son of A. W. and Anna L. (Chartres) Merwin, the former of whom died when our subject was small. He was a carriage dealer in Louisville, and died there in 1852, followed by his wife in 1864, her death occurring in the State of Mississippi. Of six children born to them, four lived to be grown, but T. C. Merwin is the only one now living. He and his mother moved to Mississippi in 1860, and were residing near Austin at the time of the latter’s death. Mr. Merwin was educated at South Hanover College, Kentucky, and when the war broke out he joined the Confederate forces and was a member of Maj. Corley’s cavalry. Shortly after he was discharged on account of physical disability, but about six weeks later he joined another command, the company being raised by Capt. Nail, of Missouri, and with this he remained until the close of the war, serving in the capacity of lieutenant, and operating in Missouri and Arkansas. On October 19, 1864, he and his men were captured by a force of Federals under McNeal, and the following morning one of his men was hanged by McNeal, at Lexington, Mo. They remained captives of war until June 18, 1865. After the war he began farming in Arkansas, and for eleven years continued to till the soil along the Mississippi River. After moving to Marianna he served as collector of taxes for two years, and was then elected circuit court clerk, and ex officio clerk of all other courts, serving by re-election until 1884. In the fall of 1885 he was appointed clerk of the State land office at Little Rock, and was installed in January, 1886, and held the position until November 1, 1889. He then resigned, and returned to Marianna, and opened his present establishment, which is proving a paying investment. He is a Democrat, a Royal Arch Mason, a K. of L, a member of the K. & L. of H., and also belongs to the R. A. He was married December 20, 1874, to Miss Laura Campbell, who was born in Woodford County, Ky., in 1852, and died June 18, 1877, leaving one child, Olie. His second wife was a Miss Emmie Govan, a niece of Gen. D. C. Govan, and a daughter of E. P. Govan, the latter a prominent planter before the war. Mr. Merwin and his present wife have had three children: Mary, Govan (who died in 1844, aged two years) and Willie. The family worship in the Episcopal Church.

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This family biography is one of 104 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Lee County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Lee County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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