FREDERICK JAMES HAMILTON MERRILL

MERRILL, FREDERICK JAMES HAMILTON, Geologist and Mining Engineer, Los Angeles, California, was born in New York City, April 30, 1861, the son of Hamilton Wilcox Merrill and Louisa (Kauffman) Merrill. The family is descended from Nathaniel Merrill, who emigrated from Suffolk County, England, and settled in Newbury, Massachusetts, in 1635. A son of Nathaniel, John Merrill, migrated to Hartford County, Connecticut, and John’s great grandson, Jared Merrill, who lived at Simsbury, married Abigail Phelps, a descendant of William Phelps, whose family has been identified with the Farmington River Valley. Shortly after the Revolutionary War Jared migrated to Whitestown, Oneida County, New York, and later to Byron, Genesee County, where Hamilton Wilcox was born in 1814. He graduated with honor at the United States Military Academy, West Point, in 1838, and served in the Florida and Mexican wars, successively as Second and First Lieutenant and Captain in the Second Regiment of United States Dragoons. In the War with Mexico he was brevetted Major for gallantry at the battle of El Molino del Rey. Major Merrill was afterwards stationed at various frontier posts in Texas and in the Indian Territory, and in 1856 retired from the army to practice real estate law in New York City.

Frederick married Winifred Edgerton in New York City, September 1, 1887, and they are the parents of four children, Louise, Hamilton, Winifred and Edgerton.

Dr. Merrill received splendid educational training in his youth, having been a pupil in private schools and a student at Charlier Institute, New York City, from 1876 to 1879, after which he entered Columbia College School of Arts, where he studied from 1880 to 1883. In the latter year he entered the Columbia School of Mines, and was graduated in 1885 with the degree of Ph.B. Five years later his college conferred upon him the degree of Ph.D.

For some years after his graduation (1886-1890) Dr. Merrill was Fellow in Geology at Columbia College, and during the same period was an Assistant in the Geological Survey of the State of New Jersey. His successful work in this field caused him to be appointed Assistant State Geologist of New York, a position he held from 1890 to 1893, while at the same time he was Assistant Director of the New York State Museum. In 1894 he was appointed Director of the Museum and held this position for ten years. He also served from 1899 to 1904 as State Geologist of New York.

While in the service of his State Dr. Merrill was honored on several occasions by being selected to represent it at various expositions. In 1893 he was Director of the Scientific Exhibit of the State of New York at the World’s Columbian Exposition, Chicago, and occupied the same position at the Pan-American Exposition at Buffalo in 1901. In 1904 he was Director of the Mining Exhibit of New York State at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, St. Louis, and, upon the conclusion of his duties in this connection, resigned from the State service to devote himself to the private practice of his profession.

From 1904 to date Dr. Merrill has been in practice as Consulting Geologist and Mining Engineer, and, as such, occupies a leading position among the experts of his profession. From 1904 to 1906, he had offices in New York City and, in the latter year, moved to Nogales, Arizona, where he maintained headquarters for about four years, conducting mining operations in the State of Sonora, Mexico, and making mine examinations in the adjacent regions. In 1910 he left Nogales and opened offices in Los Angeles, where he has remained.

Since locating in the Southwest Dr. Merrill has been engaged in important mining and geological work in the copper, silver and gold deposits of Arizona, California and Nevada and of Sinaloa, Chihuahua and Sonora, Mexico, and especially in the dry placers of the latter State. He has also examined many oil properties in California, Wyoming and elsewhere. Aside from his active professional work, Dr. Merrill has been a liberal contributor to the literature of his profession. His writings include numerous reports as State Geologist of New York and Director of the New York State Museum, and many contributions to scientific periodicals. He has also prepared and published several geologic maps of New York and contributed the geology of the crystalline rocks to the New York City Folio of the United States Geological Survey. He is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Geological Society of America, and New York Academy of Sciences; member, American Institute of Mining Engineers; Mining and Metallurgical Society of America, and New England Historic Genealogical Society.

He is also a member of the Military Order of Foreign Wars; of the University Club of New York City, and of the Sierra Madre Club of Los Angeles.

Transcribed 2-11-09 Marilyn R. Pankey.

Source: Press Reference Library, Western Edition Notables of the West, Vol. I, Page 190, International News Service, New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston, Atlanta. 1913.

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