Merritts
buried in the
Old
Muscogee Cemetery
Also see the
page under
Families on this web site.
Martin Owens Merrick
Alias: Oran (Orrin) Martin Merritt
29 Nov 1859 - 1
Aug 1944
Martin Owens Merrick circa 1875 KY
Oran Martin
Merrick circa 1895
Catherine
(Katie) Florence Finney Merritt
26 Nov 1863 -
21 Sep 1922
Digitally
Colorized Photo
of
Kate Finney
Merritt
In 1922 she took a trip with Orrin and
her grandson, Herman, up to Alabama to visit her daughter Minnie. Sixty years later Herman would write a short
story called Two Way Trip about this
journey. Before the year was out Kate
began experiencing stomach problems. In
August she was diagnosed with stomach cancer by Dr. V.R.
Nobles in Pensacola. Her daughter, Jennie,
cared for her through her illness. She
stayed in Pensacola with her sister Hattie Brown at 405 North 6th Ave during
the final days, however. There was no
attempt to operate. Kate just grew
weaker until she finally died at 11 AM on the 21st of September. All of the children and grandchildren
gathered and kept a watch throughout the night.
Kate in her
Summer White
Circa 1920
Muscogee, FL
Myrtle Katie
Merritt
12 Sep 1883 –
6 Apr 1900
Sources from Minnie Merritt Bowman's
family indicate Minnie said Myrtle Katie died of pneumonia. Minnie and Myrtle had previously discussed death
and Myrtle had asked Minnie to hold a mirror over her nose if she died to make
sure she was really dead before they buried her. Other family lore has Myrtle Katie drowning
in a creek at Muscogee. One letter
written by Myrt survives today.
This is the only known picture of Myrtle Katie and it was taken at least 14 years before her death:
Myrt’s Epitaph
Mamma and Papa’s
Dear Girl.
Jesus saved her.