Title	Mr.
Last Name	Merrill
First Name	Allen
Middle Name	A.
Maiden Name
Nick Name
Place of Birth	Dexter, ME
Date of Birth	1822-06-17
Place of Death	Dexter, ME
Date of Death	1909-09-24
Publication	E. Gazette 9-30-09,p5/EG 11-19-1944p3
Obituary	Allen A. Merrill Allen A. Merrill, one of the oldest and best-known residents of Dexter, passed away Friday afternoon at his home at the corner of Main and Spring streets after an illness of a few days. The sudden death of Mr. Merrill came as a shock to his many friends, a majority of whom were unaware that he was seriously ill. Mr. Merrill was born in Dexter about 89 years ago, a son of Asa and Betsey Merrill. He was one of a family of several children and has passed practically his entire life as a resident of this town. For many years the deceased was town collector, and has also held the position of deputy sheriff. In early life he learned the trade of shoemaker. He worked at this trade in his younger years, but during latter years forsook it for business along other lines. He was at one time proprietor of the old Dexter house, then one of the chief hostelries in this section of the county. He also entered the livery business, conducting the stable on Main street, of which he was still the owner at the time of his death. In late years he has lived the life of a man retired from active business, and has devoted himself to passing the last years of his life in quiet and happiness at his home. Mr. Merrill was a man well-read, a very pleasant man to meet and an interesting , conversationalist. He kept a wonderful grip upon his mental faculties and was able to walk about town with the sprightliness of a man of half his years. He was generally respected and his death is deeply regretted. He is survived by a widow, three sons, Dr. Arthur Merrill of St. Johns, N. B., Warren Merrill of this town and Morton Merrill who resides in the West, besides a daughter, Mrs. Nellie Reed of Auburn. The deceased also is survived by a brother, I. B. Merrill, of this town and a sister, Mrs. S. A. Cummings, of Lewiston. Throughout his life Mr. Merrill has been a constant attendant at the First Universalist church. He was very prominent in the affairs of the church. He was also a member of Penobscot lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, and a member of the Eastern Star. The funeral was held at 2 30 Monday afternoon from the Universalist church, Rev. Stanley Gates Spear, pastor of the church, officiating. The services were largely attended by friends and: neighbors. The floral offerings were profuse and beautiful. Interment was at Mount Pleasant. ALLEN H. MERRILL Allen H. Merrill was born in Dexter June 17, 1822, the son of Asa and Betsey (Emerson) Merrill. Mr. Merrill was three times married. First, in 1842, to Lucy Ann Haseltine, daughter of William and Hannah (Sturtevant) Haseltine, who lived in the northerly part of the town at what was known as "Haseltine's Corner." They had one daughter Ellen who married and lived in Belgrade. Lucy Ann died in 1844 and in 1846 Allen Merrill married her sister Hannah Haseltine. They had a number of children but none grew up to be married. Hannah died in 1858 and 1859 Mr. Merrill married Ann J. Hersey, of whom we will write later. Allen Merrill was an honest and upright man and respected by all. He held many offices of trust in his native town and was for a time deputy sheriff. He made his living in a variety of ways. He had an acute sense of humor and often told stories on himself. Here is one of them. In the days when farmer folk used to dry strings and strings of apple every fall Mr. Merrill got the idea he could make a goo d profit if he went about buying up all the dried apple be could at a low price and selling again when it it was in demand. He called at one farm home and was met by the lady of the house. He told her his errand and the price he would pay. She said they had plenty of dried apples and it was good, but she would, sit up nights to eat it before she would sell at his price!! "In 1884 Allen H. Merrill purchased from Gilbert D. Parshley the old building on the northwest corner of Main and Spring Streets, owned in the '50's by Dr. Alpheus Proctor, and proceeded to build over and enlarge it for a dwelling house. He retained, however, the basement store." This property also covered a stable attached. Mr. Merrill took up his residence in the renovated house and for a time had a livery stable here. He rented the store and a few years later the stable also. These buildings stood on a part of the lot now occupied by the Post Office. Mr. Merrill made this house his home for the rest of his life. He died there on September 24, 1909, aged, 81 years 3 months and 7 days. Mr. and Mrs. Merrill had observed their fiftieth wedding anniversary in May of that year. The Eastern Gazette 11-9-1944, p.3 (LHC)