Obituary - Newspaper Unknown - February 16, 1956
Merritt W. Tam, 62, prominent Warren druggist, died at 2 p.m. Thursday of a heart attack at his winter home in Floral City, Fla.
Mr. Tam was born April 23, 1894, in Rock Creek township to Marcus and Ella Hough Tam. He was married March 15, 1916 to Helen Bonifield, who survives.
Other survivors include three daughters, Mrs. Margaret Stech, Fort Wayne, Mrs. Mary Emma Huffman, Warren, and Mrs. Barbara Krmaizick [Krzmarzick], Tampa, Fla.; and two sons, Robert and Roger Tam, both of Elwood.
Graduate of Purdue:
Mr. Tam was a resident of Warren nearly all of all his life, coming to the community at the age of 12. He was graduated from Warren high school in 1913 and the Purdue school of pharmacy in 1915.
After graduation, Mr. Tam operated a pharmacy in Denver, Colo., until 1917, when he accepted a position as a pharmacist in Mason, Miss. In 1919 he became a partner in the Sprowl and Tam drug store located in Warren at the present site of the Gold Seal Drug store.
Mr. Tam established the original Tam Gold Seal Drug store in 1933 in the building now occupied by the Warren Service and Supply company. The business was later moved to its present location, when Mr. Tam entered into a partnership with his brother-in-law, Harry Bonifield. Several years ago he sold his interest in the partnership to Bonifield.
Retired in 1951:
In 1951 Mr. Tam established with his sons and became president of Tams Drugs, Inc., which at one time operated drug stores in Huntington and Alexandria and currently operates stores in Elwood, Hartford City, Tipton, and Marion. He entered into semi-retirement in 1951 because of ill health.
Mr. Tam was a member of the First Methodist church and King Lodge No. 246 F and AM in Warren.
The body was moved to the Garnett funeral home in Brookville, Fla., from which it will be sent at 9 a.m. Saturday to the Grogg funeral home, Warren. Funeral arrangement are incomplete.
Merritt Tam Funeral Services Conducted
Funeral services for Merritt Tam were conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the First Methodist church in Warren, the Rev. Harold B. Bachert officiating. The Grogg funeral home in Warren was in charge of arrangements.
Pallbearers were Robert Kemper, Bob Griffy, Charles High, Lowell McQuinn, Patrick Mehling, Robert Lane, Robert Hiatt and John Reckards. Burial was in Woodlawn Cemetery.
***
Bluffton, Indiana News Banner
Friday, February 17, 1956 – P3C2
Warren Man Dies At Florida Home
Merritt W. Tam, 63, a resident of Warren most of his life and for many years operator of the Gold Seal Drug Store there, died Thursday at his winter home in Floral City, Fla. He was a native of Huntington County.
Surviving are the widow, the former Helen Bonifield; two sons, Robert and Roger of Elwood and three daughters, Mrs. Margaret Stech, Fort Wayne, Mrs. Mary Emma Huffman, Warren, and Mrs. Barbara Krzmaicick [Krzmarzick], Tampa, Fla.
The body is to be returned to Warren to the Grogg Funeral Home pending funeral arrangements.
***
[Dave Huffman's note: Merritt W. Tam's Findagrave site states his death date is 21 Feb 1956. In my file I have his daughter Barbara married name spelled as Krzmarzick.]
***
Tam Family History by Fred J. Tam
"... was the only child of Marquis M and Ella May (Hough) Tam. He was born near Warren, Indiana.... He attended schools of Warren and after high school, he went on to become a Graduate Pharmacist [at Purdue University]. He followed his profession in different cities about the country, including Colorado Springs, Colo., Macon, Miss., and others.....Merritt was too shrewd a business man to spend his life working for someone else. He was one of the few Tams who seemed to be gifted with the 'Midas Touch'. He came back to Warren and purchased the local drug store. He went on from that one to acquire a chain of several of them. At the time of his death... in 1956.... he was the owner of six stores in five different cities of North Central Indiana. He was also the owner of a good home in Warren, a winter home in Floral City, Florida, and a summer home on Portage Lake near Sturgis, Michigan."
***
Notes from Helen (Bonifield) Tam, Merritt's Wife
Merritt was born in Rockcreek Twp in Huntington County, IN. We married on March 15, 1916. In school and out of school Merritt played football, basketball, baseball, and tennis and was excellent at all of them. He also enjoyed fishing and hunting raccoons and squirrels. He was very ornery but his mother wanted him to be "Little Lord Fauntleroy". He graduated from Warren High School [IN] in 1913 and from the School of Pharmacy, Purdue University in 1915. He worked at Wells Yeager & Best Drug Company for one year. After our marriage in 1916 we moved to Colorado Springs, CO where Merritt worked at a Drug Store and where Robert was born. We lived there for two years. We then returned to Warren, IN for a few months and then moved to Macon, Mississippi where Merritt bought a Drug Store. When his mother died we returned to Warren and [after the funeral] we decided that I would stay with my parents until Margaret was born (July 14,1919), and Merritt and his father Marquis would return to Macon to sell his drug store. It sold in September 1919 and they both then returned to Warren. We lived with Marquis in Warren for several years. Merritt worked at the Sprowl Drug Store in Warren. Merritt later bought part interest in Sprowl's, and the store's name was changed to Sprowl-Tam.
[After Mary Emma was born we moved into our permanent home on St. Rt. 218, which was across the river and past river road on the north side of the road. The home was demolished to make way for the new bridge in the late 1980s.]
***
Merritt W. Tam, 62, prominent Warren druggist, died at 2 p.m. Thursday of a heart attack at his winter home in Floral City, Fla.
Mr. Tam was born April 23, 1894, in Rock Creek township to Marcus and Ella Hough Tam. He was married March 15, 1916 to Helen Bonifield, who survives.
Other survivors include three daughters, Mrs. Margaret Stech, Fort Wayne, Mrs. Mary Emma Huffman, Warren, and Mrs. Barbara Krmaizick [Krzmarzick], Tampa, Fla.; and two sons, Robert and Roger Tam, both of Elwood.
Graduate of Purdue:
Mr. Tam was a resident of Warren nearly all of all his life, coming to the community at the age of 12. He was graduated from Warren high school in 1913 and the Purdue school of pharmacy in 1915.
After graduation, Mr. Tam operated a pharmacy in Denver, Colo., until 1917, when he accepted a position as a pharmacist in Mason, Miss. In 1919 he became a partner in the Sprowl and Tam drug store located in Warren at the present site of the Gold Seal Drug store.
Mr. Tam established the original Tam Gold Seal Drug store in 1933 in the building now occupied by the Warren Service and Supply company. The business was later moved to its present location, when Mr. Tam entered into a partnership with his brother-in-law, Harry Bonifield. Several years ago he sold his interest in the partnership to Bonifield.
Retired in 1951:
In 1951 Mr. Tam established with his sons and became president of Tams Drugs, Inc., which at one time operated drug stores in Huntington and Alexandria and currently operates stores in Elwood, Hartford City, Tipton, and Marion. He entered into semi-retirement in 1951 because of ill health.
Mr. Tam was a member of the First Methodist church and King Lodge No. 246 F and AM in Warren.
The body was moved to the Garnett funeral home in Brookville, Fla., from which it will be sent at 9 a.m. Saturday to the Grogg funeral home, Warren. Funeral arrangement are incomplete.
Merritt Tam Funeral Services Conducted
Funeral services for Merritt Tam were conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the First Methodist church in Warren, the Rev. Harold B. Bachert officiating. The Grogg funeral home in Warren was in charge of arrangements.
Pallbearers were Robert Kemper, Bob Griffy, Charles High, Lowell McQuinn, Patrick Mehling, Robert Lane, Robert Hiatt and John Reckards. Burial was in Woodlawn Cemetery.
***
Bluffton, Indiana News Banner
Friday, February 17, 1956 – P3C2
Warren Man Dies At Florida Home
Merritt W. Tam, 63, a resident of Warren most of his life and for many years operator of the Gold Seal Drug Store there, died Thursday at his winter home in Floral City, Fla. He was a native of Huntington County.
Surviving are the widow, the former Helen Bonifield; two sons, Robert and Roger of Elwood and three daughters, Mrs. Margaret Stech, Fort Wayne, Mrs. Mary Emma Huffman, Warren, and Mrs. Barbara Krzmaicick [Krzmarzick], Tampa, Fla.
The body is to be returned to Warren to the Grogg Funeral Home pending funeral arrangements.
***
[Dave Huffman's note: Merritt W. Tam's Findagrave site states his death date is 21 Feb 1956. In my file I have his daughter Barbara married name spelled as Krzmarzick.]
***
Tam Family History by Fred J. Tam
"... was the only child of Marquis M and Ella May (Hough) Tam. He was born near Warren, Indiana.... He attended schools of Warren and after high school, he went on to become a Graduate Pharmacist [at Purdue University]. He followed his profession in different cities about the country, including Colorado Springs, Colo., Macon, Miss., and others.....Merritt was too shrewd a business man to spend his life working for someone else. He was one of the few Tams who seemed to be gifted with the 'Midas Touch'. He came back to Warren and purchased the local drug store. He went on from that one to acquire a chain of several of them. At the time of his death... in 1956.... he was the owner of six stores in five different cities of North Central Indiana. He was also the owner of a good home in Warren, a winter home in Floral City, Florida, and a summer home on Portage Lake near Sturgis, Michigan."
***
Notes from Helen (Bonifield) Tam, Merritt's Wife
Merritt was born in Rockcreek Twp in Huntington County, IN. We married on March 15, 1916. In school and out of school Merritt played football, basketball, baseball, and tennis and was excellent at all of them. He also enjoyed fishing and hunting raccoons and squirrels. He was very ornery but his mother wanted him to be "Little Lord Fauntleroy". He graduated from Warren High School [IN] in 1913 and from the School of Pharmacy, Purdue University in 1915. He worked at Wells Yeager & Best Drug Company for one year. After our marriage in 1916 we moved to Colorado Springs, CO where Merritt worked at a Drug Store and where Robert was born. We lived there for two years. We then returned to Warren, IN for a few months and then moved to Macon, Mississippi where Merritt bought a Drug Store. When his mother died we returned to Warren and [after the funeral] we decided that I would stay with my parents until Margaret was born (July 14,1919), and Merritt and his father Marquis would return to Macon to sell his drug store. It sold in September 1919 and they both then returned to Warren. We lived with Marquis in Warren for several years. Merritt worked at the Sprowl Drug Store in Warren. Merritt later bought part interest in Sprowl's, and the store's name was changed to Sprowl-Tam.
[After Mary Emma was born we moved into our permanent home on St. Rt. 218, which was across the river and past river road on the north side of the road. The home was demolished to make way for the new bridge in the late 1980s.]
***
Obituary - Newspaper Unknown - February 16, 1956
Merritt W. Tam, 62, prominent Warren druggist, died at 2 p.m. Thursday of a heart attack at his winter home in Floral City, Fla.
Mr. Tam was born April 23, 1894, in Rock Creek township to Marcus and Ella Hough Tam. He was married March 15, 1916 to Helen Bonifield, who survives.
Other survivors include three daughters, Mrs. Margaret Stech, Fort Wayne, Mrs. Mary Emma Huffman, Warren, and Mrs. Barbara Krmaizick [Krzmarzick], Tampa, Fla.; and two sons, Robert and Roger Tam, both of Elwood.
Graduate of Purdue:
Mr. Tam was a resident of Warren nearly all of all his life, coming to the community at the age of 12. He was graduated from Warren high school in 1913 and the Purdue school of pharmacy in 1915.
After graduation, Mr. Tam operated a pharmacy in Denver, Colo., until 1917, when he accepted a position as a pharmacist in Mason, Miss. In 1919 he became a partner in the Sprowl and Tam drug store located in Warren at the present site of the Gold Seal Drug store.
Mr. Tam established the original Tam Gold Seal Drug store in 1933 in the building now occupied by the Warren Service and Supply company. The business was later moved to its present location, when Mr. Tam entered into a partnership with his brother-in-law, Harry Bonifield. Several years ago he sold his interest in the partnership to Bonifield.
Retired in 1951:
In 1951 Mr. Tam established with his sons and became president of Tams Drugs, Inc., which at one time operated drug stores in Huntington and Alexandria and currently operates stores in Elwood, Hartford City, Tipton, and Marion. He entered into semi-retirement in 1951 because of ill health.
Mr. Tam was a member of the First Methodist church and King Lodge No. 246 F and AM in Warren.
The body was moved to the Garnett funeral home in Brookville, Fla., from which it will be sent at 9 a.m. Saturday to the Grogg funeral home, Warren. Funeral arrangement are incomplete.
Merritt Tam Funeral Services Conducted
Funeral services for Merritt Tam were conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the First Methodist church in Warren, the Rev. Harold B. Bachert officiating. The Grogg funeral home in Warren was in charge of arrangements.
Pallbearers were Robert Kemper, Bob Griffy, Charles High, Lowell McQuinn, Patrick Mehling, Robert Lane, Robert Hiatt and John Reckards. Burial was in Woodlawn Cemetery.
***
Bluffton, Indiana News Banner
Friday, February 17, 1956 – P3C2
Warren Man Dies At Florida Home
Merritt W. Tam, 63, a resident of Warren most of his life and for many years operator of the Gold Seal Drug Store there, died Thursday at his winter home in Floral City, Fla. He was a native of Huntington County.
Surviving are the widow, the former Helen Bonifield; two sons, Robert and Roger of Elwood and three daughters, Mrs. Margaret Stech, Fort Wayne, Mrs. Mary Emma Huffman, Warren, and Mrs. Barbara Krzmaicick [Krzmarzick], Tampa, Fla.
The body is to be returned to Warren to the Grogg Funeral Home pending funeral arrangements.
***
[Dave Huffman's note: Merritt W. Tam's Findagrave site states his death date is 21 Feb 1956. In my file I have his daughter Barbara married name spelled as Krzmarzick.]
***
Tam Family History by Fred J. Tam
"... was the only child of Marquis M and Ella May (Hough) Tam. He was born near Warren, Indiana.... He attended schools of Warren and after high school, he went on to become a Graduate Pharmacist [at Purdue University]. He followed his profession in different cities about the country, including Colorado Springs, Colo., Macon, Miss., and others.....Merritt was too shrewd a business man to spend his life working for someone else. He was one of the few Tams who seemed to be gifted with the 'Midas Touch'. He came back to Warren and purchased the local drug store. He went on from that one to acquire a chain of several of them. At the time of his death... in 1956.... he was the owner of six stores in five different cities of North Central Indiana. He was also the owner of a good home in Warren, a winter home in Floral City, Florida, and a summer home on Portage Lake near Sturgis, Michigan."
***
Notes from Helen (Bonifield) Tam, Merritt's Wife
Merritt was born in Rockcreek Twp in Huntington County, IN. We married on March 15, 1916. In school and out of school Merritt played football, basketball, baseball, and tennis and was excellent at all of them. He also enjoyed fishing and hunting raccoons and squirrels. He was very ornery but his mother wanted him to be "Little Lord Fauntleroy". He graduated from Warren High School [IN] in 1913 and from the School of Pharmacy, Purdue University in 1915. He worked at Wells Yeager & Best Drug Company for one year. After our marriage in 1916 we moved to Colorado Springs, CO where Merritt worked at a Drug Store and where Robert was born. We lived there for two years. We then returned to Warren, IN for a few months and then moved to Macon, Mississippi where Merritt bought a Drug Store. When his mother died we returned to Warren and [after the funeral] we decided that I would stay with my parents until Margaret was born (July 14,1919), and Merritt and his father Marquis would return to Macon to sell his drug store. It sold in September 1919 and they both then returned to Warren. We lived with Marquis in Warren for several years. Merritt worked at the Sprowl Drug Store in Warren. Merritt later bought part interest in Sprowl's, and the store's name was changed to Sprowl-Tam.
[After Mary Emma was born we moved into our permanent home on St. Rt. 218, which was across the river and past river road on the north side of the road. The home was demolished to make way for the new bridge in the late 1980s.]
***
Merritt W. Tam, 62, prominent Warren druggist, died at 2 p.m. Thursday of a heart attack at his winter home in Floral City, Fla.
Mr. Tam was born April 23, 1894, in Rock Creek township to Marcus and Ella Hough Tam. He was married March 15, 1916 to Helen Bonifield, who survives.
Other survivors include three daughters, Mrs. Margaret Stech, Fort Wayne, Mrs. Mary Emma Huffman, Warren, and Mrs. Barbara Krmaizick [Krzmarzick], Tampa, Fla.; and two sons, Robert and Roger Tam, both of Elwood.
Graduate of Purdue:
Mr. Tam was a resident of Warren nearly all of all his life, coming to the community at the age of 12. He was graduated from Warren high school in 1913 and the Purdue school of pharmacy in 1915.
After graduation, Mr. Tam operated a pharmacy in Denver, Colo., until 1917, when he accepted a position as a pharmacist in Mason, Miss. In 1919 he became a partner in the Sprowl and Tam drug store located in Warren at the present site of the Gold Seal Drug store.
Mr. Tam established the original Tam Gold Seal Drug store in 1933 in the building now occupied by the Warren Service and Supply company. The business was later moved to its present location, when Mr. Tam entered into a partnership with his brother-in-law, Harry Bonifield. Several years ago he sold his interest in the partnership to Bonifield.
Retired in 1951:
In 1951 Mr. Tam established with his sons and became president of Tams Drugs, Inc., which at one time operated drug stores in Huntington and Alexandria and currently operates stores in Elwood, Hartford City, Tipton, and Marion. He entered into semi-retirement in 1951 because of ill health.
Mr. Tam was a member of the First Methodist church and King Lodge No. 246 F and AM in Warren.
The body was moved to the Garnett funeral home in Brookville, Fla., from which it will be sent at 9 a.m. Saturday to the Grogg funeral home, Warren. Funeral arrangement are incomplete.
Merritt Tam Funeral Services Conducted
Funeral services for Merritt Tam were conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the First Methodist church in Warren, the Rev. Harold B. Bachert officiating. The Grogg funeral home in Warren was in charge of arrangements.
Pallbearers were Robert Kemper, Bob Griffy, Charles High, Lowell McQuinn, Patrick Mehling, Robert Lane, Robert Hiatt and John Reckards. Burial was in Woodlawn Cemetery.
***
Bluffton, Indiana News Banner
Friday, February 17, 1956 – P3C2
Warren Man Dies At Florida Home
Merritt W. Tam, 63, a resident of Warren most of his life and for many years operator of the Gold Seal Drug Store there, died Thursday at his winter home in Floral City, Fla. He was a native of Huntington County.
Surviving are the widow, the former Helen Bonifield; two sons, Robert and Roger of Elwood and three daughters, Mrs. Margaret Stech, Fort Wayne, Mrs. Mary Emma Huffman, Warren, and Mrs. Barbara Krzmaicick [Krzmarzick], Tampa, Fla.
The body is to be returned to Warren to the Grogg Funeral Home pending funeral arrangements.
***
[Dave Huffman's note: Merritt W. Tam's Findagrave site states his death date is 21 Feb 1956. In my file I have his daughter Barbara married name spelled as Krzmarzick.]
***
Tam Family History by Fred J. Tam
"... was the only child of Marquis M and Ella May (Hough) Tam. He was born near Warren, Indiana.... He attended schools of Warren and after high school, he went on to become a Graduate Pharmacist [at Purdue University]. He followed his profession in different cities about the country, including Colorado Springs, Colo., Macon, Miss., and others.....Merritt was too shrewd a business man to spend his life working for someone else. He was one of the few Tams who seemed to be gifted with the 'Midas Touch'. He came back to Warren and purchased the local drug store. He went on from that one to acquire a chain of several of them. At the time of his death... in 1956.... he was the owner of six stores in five different cities of North Central Indiana. He was also the owner of a good home in Warren, a winter home in Floral City, Florida, and a summer home on Portage Lake near Sturgis, Michigan."
***
Notes from Helen (Bonifield) Tam, Merritt's Wife
Merritt was born in Rockcreek Twp in Huntington County, IN. We married on March 15, 1916. In school and out of school Merritt played football, basketball, baseball, and tennis and was excellent at all of them. He also enjoyed fishing and hunting raccoons and squirrels. He was very ornery but his mother wanted him to be "Little Lord Fauntleroy". He graduated from Warren High School [IN] in 1913 and from the School of Pharmacy, Purdue University in 1915. He worked at Wells Yeager & Best Drug Company for one year. After our marriage in 1916 we moved to Colorado Springs, CO where Merritt worked at a Drug Store and where Robert was born. We lived there for two years. We then returned to Warren, IN for a few months and then moved to Macon, Mississippi where Merritt bought a Drug Store. When his mother died we returned to Warren and [after the funeral] we decided that I would stay with my parents until Margaret was born (July 14,1919), and Merritt and his father Marquis would return to Macon to sell his drug store. It sold in September 1919 and they both then returned to Warren. We lived with Marquis in Warren for several years. Merritt worked at the Sprowl Drug Store in Warren. Merritt later bought part interest in Sprowl's, and the store's name was changed to Sprowl-Tam.
[After Mary Emma was born we moved into our permanent home on St. Rt. 218, which was across the river and past river road on the north side of the road. The home was demolished to make way for the new bridge in the late 1980s.]
***
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