Nevada Genealogy Trails Eureka County Merrill Fletcher Biography

MERRILL FLETCHER, of the firm of Fletcher Brothers, liverymen. of Eureka, has the honor of being one of the compartively few grown men who are native sons of this town, where he was born July 3, 1876, and is also the son of a man who held a conspicuous place among the pioneers of the state and was eminent in the commercial and public life of town, county and state.

Mr. Fletcher is a member of a family which has played as honorable and useful a part in the world's affairs as has any other in history. Its antiquity dates back to the Middle Ages, and the name, which must have originated in France many centuries ago. under the form of "de la Flechier," signified an arrow-maker or one who feathers arrows. The family is known to have had its seat in England as far back as the thirteenth century, and contained members of the nobility and was honored with a coat of arms. The history of the American branch of the family begins with Robert Fletcher, who was born in England in 1592 and emigrated to the colony of Massachusetts in 1630, making settlement in Concord. His posterity now numbers over ten thousand, and many of them have held high positions of honor and trust, have been noted for their fidelity to duty and their patriotism, and the early history of Massachusetts and of other colonies contains many of their names as high in official positions. The American descendants of Robert Fletcher have published an interesting and valuable genealogical record of the family.

One branch of the Fletchers existed in Switzerland for some generations, where they were as noted as the Swiss themselves for piety and patriotism. The great Methodist divine John Fletcher was a native of that little republic, and his name was Jean de la Flechier, which in England became simple John Fletcher. In the records of the family in America it is learned that two Fletcher brothers lost their lives in the colonists' wars with the Indians; a large number of Fletchers were enrolled in the colonial militia and fought at Concord and Lexington and at Bunker Hill; Paul Fletcher died at Valley Forge, and Henry was killed at White Plains; two hundred and fifty-eight of the name fought for the Union cause in the Civil war. Three Fletchers were governors of states, ten were members of Congress, and the name is also represented in high positions on the bench. Of the daughters, Annie Fletcher became the wife of Daniel Emerson, and Grace Fletcher the wife of Daniel Webster.

Samuel Fletcher, the great-grand fallier of Merrill Fletcher, was born in Chesterford, Vermont, about the year 1750, and was a soldier in the Revolution, so that by this record his descendants can have membership in the patriotic order of Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution. Arad Fletcher, the grandfather of Merrill Fletcher, was born in Waterford, Vermont, September 27, 1799, and his son, Granville A. Fletcher, the Nevada pioneer mentioned above, was born in Barnston, Province of Quebec, April 18, 1840. He came to California by way of the Isthmus of Panama in 1859, and in the following year arrived in what afterward became the state of Nevada. He was engaged in various mining and milling enterprises, and built the Norton mill in Mountain City. He was in business in Elko for some time, and from there came to Eureka in 1870, where he at first had a hay and grain business below the depot. In 1889 he bought the property on which his sons have built the livery barn, and he himself was engaged in the livery business from 1880 till the time of his death, which occurred on the 24th of October, 1899. He was a Republican in politics, but supported the cause of silver. His county elected him county commissioner, and in 1890 sent him to.the state legislature. In every position of life to which he was called he acquitted himself honorably and creditably, and the record which he left behind is one of capable service to his family and town, county and state.

In 1874 Granville Fletcher was married to Miss Permelia McCowen, a native of the state of Ohio. His wife and two sons survive him, and make their home in one of the nice residences of Eureka. Granville A. Jr., and Merrill built their present livery barn in 1900. and have been successfully carrying on the business which their honored father established. Theirs is the leading establishment of the kind in town, and they have a large patronage and are esteemed in business and in social circles. Merrill is Master Workman of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and is also a member of the Knights of Pythias.

Source:
A History of the State of Nevada: Its Resources and People
By Thomas Wren, Lewis Publishing Company
Published by The Lewis publishing company, 1904