Life History

Notes

• Anny Scott's Bible Birth Entries
  [Smeary broad-nib pen makes some entries uncertain]
  James Monroe Merryman  Jan 14th, 1844
  Francis Jane Merryman Dec 2nd, 1846
  Julia Ann Merryman Jan 12th, 1947
  Mary Caroline Merryman Jan 7, 1849
  Martha Merryman  March 7, 1851
  David Merryman  Feb 15, 1853
  John Scott Merryman  June 14, 1855
  Lathan [sic: Lethiann] Amanda Merryman  July 29, 1856
  
  David ws enumerated with his children in the Choctaw 1896 census.
  
  1896 Census, Sugar Loaf County, Choctaw Naton, Indian Territory, page 478
  Merryman, David C Head  Male 43
  Merryman, Gipson V Male 18
  Merryman, Abraham Male 13
  Merryman, Mary J F Female 12
  Merryman, Wm H Male 9
  Merryman, Leo E Male 5
  
  David's son Walter is next door in his own household.
  
  Merryman, Walter G Head  Male 20
  Merryman, Jno Z Male 4
  Merryman, Zoybo C Female 18 mos
  
  Family background and connections are helpfully provided by a descendant of one of David's sons, Leo Merryman.
  
  ------------------------
  Leo Earl Merryman and Oda N. Reynolds
  
  My Great-Grandfather Leo Merryman, born in Kully Chaha (Kulli Cha ha), Sugar Loaf Co., Moshulatubbee Dist., Choctaw Nation, Ind.Ter., (near present Poteau, LeFlore Co., Oklahoma) and later married Oda N. Reynolds....
  
  My Great-Grandfather (Leo) was born in 1891 and his father before him was David C. Merryman born also in the Choctaw Nation in 1853; while his grandmother Anny Scott-Merryman (and David's mother) was born in Mississippi before the 'Trail of Tears' removal to the new Choctaw Nation there in what of course became Oklahoma (aka land of the "red people").  Other spellings in past generations on Merryman - Merriman.
  --  Russ Merryman choctawSonaol.com, Oklahoma Chahta Clan of California, accessed 19 January 2015, http://www.oklachahta.org/Smoke%20Signals.htm
  ------------------------
  
  On 1 October 1892, David was appointed Deputy Sheriff of Sugar Loaf County, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory.  Some genealogies report his middle name as Colbert.  This is a famous Choctaw-Chickasaw name.  There were several chiefs and war leaders of the Chickasaw of this Scottish-Chickasaw lineage.
  
  More details are provided on the family in their 1899 Choctaw registration, updated ontheir 1896 card.
  
  U.S. Native American Enrollment Cards for the Five Civilized Tribes, 1898-1914
  1899, Sugar Loaf County, Choctaw Nation, P O Bengal, Card (Field) #2879
  1 Dawes' Roll #8455, Merryman, 49 (in 1899) David C, Age 46 Male, Birth Abt 1850, 1/8, 1896 Sugar Loaf Co #14560;  Fath W P Merryman Dead Non Citz, Moth Annie Merryman Dead Skullyville
  2 Dawes' Roll #W.915 Merryman, Cordelia E, 45 [sic] (in 1899) Wife, Age 38 [sic], Female, Birth Abt 1858, Intermarried White, 1896 Sugar Loaf Co #14806;  Fath John W Blair Dead Non Citz, Moth Mary Revard 1896 Non-Citz
  3 Dawes' Roll #8456, Merryman, Abraham, 18 (in 1899) Son Age 15, M Birth Abt 1881, 1/16, 1896 Sugar Loaf Co #8519, Fath #1, Moth #2
  4 Dawes' Roll #8457, Merryman, Mary J F, 16 (in 1899) Dau Age 13, F Birth Abt 1883, 1/16, 1896 Sugar Loaf Co #8520, Fath #1, Moth #2
  5 Dawes' Roll #8458, Merryman, William H, 14 (in 1899) Son Age 11, F Birth Abt 1885, 1/16, 1896 Sugar Loaf Co #8521, Fath No 1, Moth No 2
  6 Dawes' Roll #8459, Merryman, Leo E, 11 (in 1899) Dau [sic; Son] Age 8, F [sic; Male] Birth Abt 1891, 1/16, 1896 Sugar Loaf Co #8522, Fath No 1, Moth No 2
  7 W.1314, Merryman, Ora, 16 [in 1899] Wife of No 3, Age 16, F IW Birth Abt 1883; [no prior registration] Fath John Graham Non Citz, Moth Orminda Graham Non Citz
  ___________
  Notes:
  Record as to enrollment of No 7 forwarded Department, Mar 14, 1906; Record returned.  See opinion of Assistant Attiorney General of March 15, 1906 in case of Omer R Nicholson
  No 2 on 1896 roll as Cordelia Merryman
  No 4 on 1896 roll as Mary
  No 5 on 1896 roll as Wm H
  No 3 is now the husband of Ora Merryman on Choctaw card #S807 Sept 24, 1902
  On Aug 10, 1902 No 7 was married to No 3
  No 7 originally listed for enrollment on Choctaw Card D807 sept 24, 1902:  transferred to this card Feb 1, 1905.  See decision of Jan 16, 1905
  For child of Nos 3 & 7, see NB (Mar 3-05) Card #137
  For child of Nos 4, see NB (Mar 3-05) Card #589
  Enrollment of No 2 hereon approved by the Sec of the interior Aug 3, 1904
  Enrollment of Nos 1,3,4,5,6 hereon approved by the Sec of the interior Jan 17, 1903
  Enrollment of No 7 hereon approved by the Sec of the interior Mar 14, 1905
  No 7 P O LeFlore, IT
  Date of application for enrollment 6/19/99 #1 to 6
  
  1900 Federal Census, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory, 7 June, Township 4, District 94, Page 16B, House/Family #4
  Merryman, David C  Head Indian Male Feb 1853 47  Married 26 years  Ind Terr Tenn Miss Farmer Owns Farm
  Merryman, Cordellia Wife W F Aug 1858  41  Married 26 years  4 children/2 living IL IL IL
  Merryman, Abel Son Ind M Aug 1883  16 Single Ind Terr Ind Terr Illinois Farm Laborer
  Merryman, Mary Dau Ind F Feb 1886  14  Single Ind Terr Ind Terr Illinois
  Merryman, Henry Son Ind M Apr 1888  12 Single Ind Terr Ind Terr Illinois Farm Laborer
  Merryman, Leo Son Ind M Mar 1891  9 Single Ind Terr Ind Terr Illinois
  Merryman, Izora Niece [granddaughter?] Ind F Jan 1900 4mos Single Ind Terr Ind Terr Texas
  
  The family next door is David and Cordelia's son Walter Green Merryman.  Walter's wife is his newly-wed after the death of his first wife Lula Poteet in childbirth with their daughter Izora on 18 January 1900.  Izora is reported in her grandparents household.  But 4-month-old Izora is reported as their niece rather than their granddaughter.  Walter's wife Mary Millus Andrews Lewis, had been widowed twice.  Walter and Mary married on 25 February 1900 in Talihina, Choctaw Nation.
  
  1900 Federal Census, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory, 7 June, Township 4 (Sugar Loaf County), District 94, Page 16B, Hse/Fam #5
  Merryman, Walter G  Head Indian Male Sept 1874 25  Married 6 years  MO TN TN Farmer  Rents Farm
  Merryman, Mary Wife Ind [should be White] F Sept 1873  46  Married 6 years  4 children/2 living Ind Terr Ind Terr Illinois
  Merryman, John Son Ind M Aug 1894 5 Single Ind Terr Ind Terr Missouri/Texas
  Merryman, Zado Dau Ind F Oct 1897  2 Single Ind Terr Ind Terr Missouri/Texas
  Andrews, Perry Step-son W M Nov 1891  8 Single Ind Terr Ind Terr Missouri
  Lewis, Jesse Step-son W M Nov 1897  2 Single Ind Terr Ind Terr Missouri
  
  David and his family were listed on the final rolls of Choctaw by Blood.
  
  Chickasaw Roll Citizens by Blood, 9 May 1904 (birthdates as of 1899 census)
  #8455 Merryman, David C Age 49 [Birth abt 1850] Male Blood 1/8 Census Card #2879
  #8456 Merryman, Abraham Age 18 [Birth abt 1871] Male Blood 1/16 Census Card #2879
  #8457 Merryman, Mary J F Age 16 [Birth abt 1873] Female Blood 1/16 Census Card #2879
  #8458 Merryman, William H Age 14 [Birth abt 1875] Male Blood 1/16 Census Card #2879
  #8458 Merryman, Leo E Age 11 [Birth abt 1878] Female [error brought forward from 1899] Blood 1/16 Census Card #2879
  --  Choctaw Roll, up to 1907, U S Dept of the Interior Printed edition 1961
  
  Chickasaw Roll Citizens by Marriage, 9 May 1904 (birthdates as of 1899 census)
  #8460 Merryman, Walter G Age 26 [Birth abt 1863] Male Blood 1/16 Census Card #2880
  #8461 Merryman, John D Age 7 [Birth abt 1892] Male Blood 1/32 Census Card #2880
  #8462 Merryman, Zado C Age 5 [Birth abt 1894] Female Blood 1/32 Census Card #2880
  #8463 Merryman, Izora Lula Age 3 [Birth abt 1896] Female Blood 1/32 Census Card #2880
  #8464 Merryman, Gabe Age 2 [Birth abt 1897] Male Blood 1/32 Census Card #2880
  --  Choctaw Roll, Citizens by Blood, up to 1907, U S Dept of the Interior Printed edition 1961
  
  Cordelia died in March 1906.  Choctaw Nation Marriage Records indicate David remarried in 1906, marrying widow Claribel Stoker.
  
  MERRYMAN, DAVID C 52 STOKER, S CLARIBEL MRS 24 16 AUG 1906 BENGAL LF©C©305
  MERRYMAN, HENRY 19 WENTON, NOLA 19 8 SEP 1907 WILBURTON/FAME WIL©
  MERRYMAN, JACKSON 22 CLARK, MOLLIE 19 10 DEC 1901 LEHIGH AT2©38
  --  Kinard Choctaw Marriage Records 1890-1907, http://www.okgenweb.org/~okgarvin/kinard/chockmmarr.htm
  
  Claribel must have died soon after, because David married again in 1907.
  
  Arkansas, County Marriages Index, 1837-1957
  David C Merryman
  Age 53, Birth Year abt 1854
  Residence Bergal, Choc Nation, Indian Terr
  Spouse's Name Sarah L Dittmore
  Spouse's Age 48
  Spouse's Residence Gillman, Illinois
  Marriage 24 May 1907  Sebastian County
  Marriage License Date 24 May 1907
  
  ---------------------
  David Colbert Merryman is the great-great-grandfather of Russ D. Merryman, (whose great-grandfather was Leo E. Merryman, grandmother Rudeen R. Merryman). David is the son of William P. Merryman & Anny Scott. He was born February 15, 1853 in Skullyville, Skullyville County, Choctaw Nation (now in Oklahoma). David died March 12, 1909 and is buried in Bengal, Oklahoma. The descendants of David, and especially of his parents are many today!
  
  He was the Husband of Cordelia "Delia" as she was called. Her maiden name was Blair. They married in Ark., in 1874. Their children were:
  Walter Green Merryman
  Gipson Van (known as VAN)
  Mary D. (died young)
  Abraham A. H.
  Mary J. F.
  Wm. Henry
  Lavena (died as a baby)
  LEO EARL
  A Baby Boy Merryman (died young)
  
  David's parents are buried in the Indian Cemetery called "Skullyville" in LeFlore Co., OK. See here for more information on them:  http://www.skullyville.com/239.html [See Below]
  --  Lawmen and Outlaws, http://marti.rootsweb.ancestry.com/law/pic/dcmerryman.htm
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  William P. Merryman
  He was born in 1820, in Tennessee. His ancestry is not known, but he is thought to have been mostly French. He lived in Kentucky and Georgia for a time, came to Indian Territory in 1844. Following the death of his first wife, Anny Scott, William Merryman married Caroline Krebs, a daughter of Stephen (Etienne) Krebs, brother of Placide Krebs. He died at Skullyville, Choctaw Nation, January 27, 1881, and was buried in Skullyville Cemetery
  
  Anny Scott Merryman
  She was born in the Choctaw lands in Mississippi in 1821. She was the daughter of John Scott, a white man, and a Choctaw woman, whose name is not known. Family tradition has it that Anny's Choctaw mother died during the trek to Indian territory, in 1832, when Anny was but 10. Anny Scott Merryman died Dec. 19, 1866, and was buried in Skullyville Cemetery.
  
  Anny Scott and William Merryman were married in Parson, Texas, and moved to Indian territory in 1844. [No source has turned up any reference to a town or unincorporated community in Texas by that name.]
  
  Their children were:
  1. James Monroe
  2. Francis Jane
  3. Julia Ann
  4. Mary Caroline
  5. Martha S. (she died young)
  6. David C.
  7. John S. Merryman (Buried in Skullyville Cemetery, #117)
  8. Leathiann Amanda
  --  Skullyville, http://www.skullyville.com/239.html
  ---------------------
  
  "Sherman Lee Merryman - Tom: I do think that my husband Jesse Merryman may be related. His father was Sherman Lee Merryman, Choctaw Indian Rolls, was born in Oklahoma. His mother was Pearl Cunnings Merryman born in Garland County, Arkansas. Shermans father was Gibson V. Merryman, husband of Parilee Merryman. If my records are correct, Gibson's father was David C. Merryman and his wife was Cordelia E. Merryman. I believe I have information regarding a Anna Scott. Sherman Lee Merryman and Pearl May Cummings Merryman had four children, one daughter who died very young, then Mary Florence Merryman, Leota Merryman Carter and then Jesse. I understand that Sherman had a brother Bryan Jennings Merryman who married Kate (Katherine Merryman."
  --  Judy Merryman, Comment on Ancestry discussion list, 17 Jul 2001

Sources

• 1. 1900 Federal Census, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory
  • 7 June, Township 4, District 94, Page 16B, House/Family #4
• 2. Kinard Choctaw Marriage Records 1890-1907
• 3. Oklahoma Chahta Clan of California
• 4. Lawmen and Outlaws, RootsWeb
  • Name: Name: http://marti.rootsweb,com/law/pic/lterry.htm;;
• 5. Arkansas, County Marriages Index, 1837-1957
• 6. Anny Scott's Bible Birth Entries
• 7. U.S. Native American Enrollment Cards for the Five Civilized Tribes, 1898-1914
• 8. Skullyville
• 9. 1920 Federal Census, Latimer County, Oklahoma
  • 5 January, Damon Township, District 87, Page 1B, Hse/Fam #13
• 10. Find a Grave Memorial Registry
• 11. Ancestry Trees
• 12. 1900 Federal Census, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory
  • 7 June, Township 4 (Sugar Loaf County), District 94, Page 16B, House/Family #5
• 13. 1896 Census, Sugar Loaf County, Choctaw Naton, Indian Territory
  • no date, page 478
• 14. California, Death Index, 1940-1997
• 15. U.S., Native American Enrollment Cards for the Five Civilized Tribes, 1898-1914
• 16. U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918
• 17. U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942
• 18. U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014