state; pomological society. 135 



Merrill were the parents of True M. Merrill, and here in this 

 pleasant home he was born February 14, 1850, and here he 

 spent his life among those who knew him best and loved him 

 most. 



He married Annette Cook and they had two daughters. In 

 1889 the beloved mother died, and later he married Harriet 

 Rhino, and their home was blessed by three more children. He 

 was an affectionate husband and a kind father, and here they 

 lived useful and happy lives. 



More than all this he was a good neighbor and citizen, always 

 loyal to the interests of the community in which he lived. To 

 him and others the town owes much for the excellence of its 

 schools and highways, and for all that goes to make New 

 Gloucester one of the best rural towns in the State. That his 

 townsmen appreciated the man is shown in the fact that they 

 made him one of their selectmen and chose him to represent 

 them in the legislature ; later also choosing him a member of the 

 school board. 



He was a farmer by occupation, a progressive farmer, too. 

 One who believed in thought and study in connection with the 

 work of the farm. He was interested in every feature of agri- 

 culture — stock breeding, crop growing, especially fruit grow- 

 ing. He identified himself with the organizations representing 

 agricultural interests, being a member of the local grange and a 

 life member of the Maine State Pomological Society. Repeat- 

 edly he has shown his active interest in the affairs of the latter 

 and attended many of its meetings. Being a fruit-grower him- 

 self and a member of this society he sought the best markets for 

 his fruit and in doing so became a solicitor for a foreign market 

 and during the later years of his life did a large business. 



Mr. Merrill was also a member of the Masonic fraternity and 

 the Eastern Star, and was buried by Cumberland Lodge, No. 12, 

 F. and A. M., with Masonic honors. 



The secretary feels his death as a personal loss, for in many 

 ways he has been a friend and an active assistant in the work of 

 the Pomological Society. He improved, apparently, every 

 opportunity to advance the society's interests, and the assurance 

 that he was "always with us" has often been an incentive to do 

 the best work. 



