Learning About Samuel Bemis Merrill through United States Censuses

              Samuel Bemis Merrill was born in New York State on January 4, 1814. He was an early member and pioneer of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and migrated to Utah in 1850. While doing an extensive search in the United States Census Collection, I discovered some interesting tidbits concerning Samuel Bemis. In the 1880 census, he suffered from Rheumatism and he was crippled as a result of that illness. I also discovered in the 1880 census that Samuel’s son and grandchildren lived with him and helped him with his farm.[1]

 Another interesting detail is that while I was searching in the 1870 Census I could not locate Samuel Bemis anywhere. Finally, I searched for his wife Elizabeth Gardner and found her and her children with a Thomas Merrill. Through analysis, I concluded that the census taker made a mistake and incorrectly recorded Samuel Bemis as Thomas.[2]

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[1] 1880 U.S. census, Smithfield, Cache County, Utah Territory, population schedule (1st enumeration), enumeration district (ED) 12, p. 209C (stamped), p. 12 (penned), family 110, Samuel B Merrill; digital image, Ancestry.com (http:www.ancestry.com : accessed 21 Feb 2015) citing National Archives microfilm publication T9 roll 1336.

[2] 1870 U.S. census, Smithfield, Cache County, Utah Territory, population schedule, p. 166 (stamped) front, dwelling 45, family 44, Thomas Merrill; digital image, Ancestry.com (http:www.ancestry.com : accessed 21 February 2015); citing National Archives microfilm publication M593, roll 1610.