Mrs. Artenecia Riddle Merriman, sister of G. W. and Abner Riddle, of this place, died at Medford January 9 [sic 10] at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Samuel Bennet [sic Bennett], at the age of 88 years. Funeral services were held yesterday at the Jacksonville cemetery, where her husband, William H. Merriman, was buried in 1877.

Mrs. Merriman had been ill with uremic poisoning and bedfast for three months. For a time she was at the Good Samaritan Hospital, at Portland. Mrs. Merriman was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and was married in Illinois to John W. Chapman, who died in that state. After his death she crossed the plains to Oregon in the same train as Mr. Merriman.

In 1856 Mrs. Merriman, with her husband, moved to Jackson County and settled two miles north of Medford, the old family home, which is now held by Isaac Merriman, one of her sons.

Mrs. Merriman was the mother of 16 children, nearly all of whom are living.

Source: Oregonian, The (Portland, OR), 13 Jan 1917
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One of Southern Oregon's noted pioneers, Mrs. Artimeeria [sic] Merriman, who died January 10, at the home of her daughter in Medford, Mrs. S. L. Bennett, was born at West Liberty, O., October 11, 1830.

At the age of 18 she was married to John Chapman, and for a few years made her home at Springfield, Ill. In 1851 her parents made preparations to leave Illinois for Oregon, and but a few days before their departure John Chapman died, leaving his widow with a child, John Chapman, and the young woman accompanied her parents to Oregon, coming by the southern trail, where they suffered from the usual Indian attacks, and settled finally at their future home on the Umpqua River, the town of Riddle being named for Mrs. Meriman's father.

On February 10, 1853, she married William H. Merriman, who was a member of the party crossing the plains with her, and in 1857 the family removed to Jackson County, where the Merriman farm on the Pacific Highway, southeast of Central Point, is still in possession of the family.

Mrs. Merriman was the mother of 16 children, of whom 11 are still living. A daughter of her husband by a prior marriage, Mrs. Lettie Harvey, of Ashland, also survives. John Chapman, the eldest son, lives at Red Lodge, Mont., and with his wife had the privilege of being with his mother at the end.

Mrs. Lucinda J. Prather, the next in age, lives at Big Timber, Mont.; Laura A. Bradley, at Washington, D. C.; Mrs. Marie Bennett, Mrs. Annie Clark and I. A. Merriman, in Medford; Mrs. Mollie Houston, in Portland, Or.; Mrs. Isabel Frank in Minneapolis, Minn.; Mrs. Effie Hill and Mrs. Josephine Beek in Seattle; Will Merriman in Oakland, Cal. Five children are now deceased: George Merriman, Charles, Walter, Prudence and Winnifred. Mrs. R. V. Beall, of Central Point, is a sister. George and Abner Riddle, of Riddle, in Douglas County, and also Stilly Riddle, of Hardin, Mont., brothers, also are living.

Thirty-seven grandchildren and a number of the fourth generation do her honor.

Source: Oregonian, The (Portland, OR), 21 Jan 1917
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Submitted by: Martin Burrell, #46932334

Artie spent the first part of her life at West Liberty, Ohio. In 1836, when she was nearly 6 years old, the family moved out west to Sangamon County, Illinois. Here, Artie spent the remainder of her childhood and adolescence. Her family were successful corn farmers and were also faithful adherents to the Baptist denomination. In 1849, when she was 18 years old, Artie married a local man named James Chapman. They lived together in the nearby city of Springfield, Illinois and had one child named John. In 1851, her parents decided to move to Oregon and Artie and her husband made the decision to go with them. Sadly, her husband James died shortly before the wagon train was scheduled to leave.

Despite the sudden death, Artie and her infant son left Illinois with her family in a covered wagon over the Oregon Trail. At one point during the trek, Artie was called upon to remove a bullet from the wound of a man who had been shot. The train arrived in southern Oregon in September of 1851. Artie settled with her parents on their land claim in the Cow Creek Valley in Douglas County, Oregon. In 1852, a young widower named William Merriman arrived in the area. He was also from Sangamon County, Illinois and probably knew Artie from her youth. He courted her for several months until they were eventually married in February 1853. After the marriage, William and Artinecia settled a land claim of 320 acres in the Cow Creek Valley near her parents. On this farm, Artie had 2 children: Lucinda and George. It was while living in Douglas County that the Rogue River Indian War took place and Artie served as Interpreter between Indians and whites in the area. She and her husband did not remain in Douglas County long and in 1857, sold their land claim and moved to Jackson County, Oregon, where they purchased a 120-acre ranch a few miles northeast of Jacksonville, Oregon (it is now mostly within the city limits of Medford, Oregon).

William and Artinecia were influential citizens. They ran a successful ranch and also a blacksmith shop out of their home. They identified with the Republican party in politics and were faithful Baptists. Artinecia had 13 more children while living in Jackson County: Laura, Marie, Ann, Isaac, Charles, Mary, Walter, Isabel, Prudence, Effie, Marjorie, William and Winnifred. In total, Artie and her husband raised 13 children to adulthood. In 1877, Artie's husband died after a short illness and she continued to run the family ranch (they raised stock - pigs, chickens, cows). In the mid to late 1890's, Artie left the ranch with her son Isaac and moved herself into a house at an unknown location in the city of Medford, Oregon. In about 1908, old age probably compelled her to move in with her daughter Marie Bennett, who also lived in a house in Medford. Artie spent her last days at her daughters house on Riverside Avenue in Medford, where she died on January 10, 1917, at the age of 87.

Artinecia married first to James B. Chapman on February 22, 1849 in Springfield, Sangamon Co., Illinois . He was born circa 1827 in Kentucky. He died about March 1851 in Sangamon Co., Illinois.

They had the following child:

John William Chapman was born on June 15, 1850 in Springfield, Sangamon Co., Illinois 18. He died on December 18, 1933 in Red Lodge, Carbon Co., Montana. He married Alphia Chapman on April 20, 1881 in Douglas Co., Oregon. (She was born in September 1861 in Oregon and died in 1950 in Red Lodge, Carbon Co., Montana.)
They had no children.

Artinecia married second William Harrison Merriman on February 10, 1853 in Riddle, Douglas Co., Oregon.

[Nore - William married first Mary Ann Lewis on September 30, 1847 in Sangamon Co., Illinois 18. She was born on April 19, 1824 in New Jersey 32. She died in April 1852 on the Oregon Trail, probably in Kansas.]

They [Artie] had the following children:

1 Lucinda Jane Merriman was born on May 22, 1852 in Riddle, Douglas Co., Oregon. She died on June 9, 1919 in Seattle, King Co., Washington. She is buried in the Mountain View Cemetery, Big Timber, Sweet Grass Co., Montana. She married Thomas Theodore Prather on February 22, 1872 in Medford, Jackson Co., Oregon.

2 George Francis Merriman was born on September 16, 1855 in the Cow Creek Valley, Douglas County, Oregon. He died on November 6, 1915 in Medford, Jackson Co., Oregon. He is buried in the Eastwood I.O.O.F. Cemetery, Medford, Jackson Co., Oregon.

3 Laura Alice Merriman was born on July 8, 1857 in Medford, Jackson Co., Oregon. She died on November 24, 1938 in Washington, District of Columbia. She is buried in the Eastwood I.O.O.F. Cemetery, Medford, Jackson Co., Oregon.

4 Marie (Maria) Elizabeth Merriman was born on December 9, 1858 in Medford, Jackson Co., Oregon. She died on July 5, 1943 in Medford, Jackson Co., Oregon. She is buried in the Eastwood I.O.O.F. Cemetery, Medford, Jackson Co., Oregon. She married Samuel Louis Bennett on November 23, 1881 in Medford, Jackson Co., Oregon.

5 Ann (Anna) Adelaide Merriman was born on March 28, 1860 in Medford, Jackson Co., Oregon. She died on May 16, 1935 in Medford, Jackson Co., Oregon. She is buried in the Siskiyou Memorial Park, Medford, Jackson Co., Oregon.
She married Joseph Cicero Clark on November 23, 1881 in Medford, Jackson Co., Oregon.

6 Isaac (Ike) Albert Merriman was born on September 11, 1861 in Medford, Jackson Co., Oregon. He died on December 18, 1922 in Medford, Jackson Co., Oregon. He is buried in the Jacksonville Cemetery, Jacksonville, Jackson Co., Oregon. He married Emma Leora Bellinger on April 27, 1887 in Jacksonville, Jackson Co., Oregon. She was born on May 10, 1868 in Jacksonville, Jackson Co., Oregon and died on June 15, 1950 in Lakeport, Lake Co., California.

7 Charles (Charlie) Harrison Merriman was born on March 29, 1863 in Medford, Jackson Co., Oregon. He died on September 19, 1865 in Medford, Jackson Co., Oregon. He is buried in the Jacksonville Cemetery, Jacksonville, Jackson Co., Oregon. He died from blood poisoning.

8 Mary (Mollie) Bell Merriman was born on August 4, 1864 in Medford, Jackson Co., Oregon. She died on July 23, 1926 in Portland, Multnomah Co., Oregon. She is buried in the Riverview Cemetery, Portland, Multnomah Co., Oregon. She married Joseph Gatch Houston on April 6, 1891 in Portland, Multnomah Co., Oregon. He was born on November 13, 1861 in New Richmond, Clermont Co., Ohio and died on November 24, 1930 in Portland, Multnomah Co., Oregon. He is buried in the Riverview Cemetery, Portland, Multnomah Co., Oregon.

9 Walter Thomas Merriman was born on February 26, 1866 in Medford, Jackson Co., Oregon. He died on May 15, 1866 in Medford, Jackson Co., Oregon. He is buried in the Jacksonville Cemetery, Jacksonville, Jackson Co., Oregon. He died from an abscess of the brain.

10 Isabel (Belle) Merriman was born on June 28, 1867 in Medford, Jackson Co., Oregon. She died on December 19, 1953 in Portland, Multnomah Co., Oregon. She is buried in the Riverside Cemetery, Albany, Linn Co., Oregon. She married Charles K. Fronk on December 30, 1885 in Medford, Jackson Co., Oregon. He was born on June 24, 1857 in Yuba City, Yuba Co., California and died on December 15, 1918. He is buried in the Riverside Cemetery, Albany, Linn Co., Oregon.

11 Prudence Merriman was born on November 22, 1868 in Medford, Jackson Co., Oregon. She died on December 30, 1870 in Medford, Jackson Co., Oregon. She is buried in the Jacksonville Cemetery, Jacksonville, Jackson Co., Oregon. Prudence died from "congestion of the stomach."

12 Effie (Bess) Merriman was born on March 25, 1870 in Medford, Jackson Co., Oregon. She died on February 7, 1960 in Seattle, King Co., Washington. She is buried in the Acacia Memorial Park, Seattle, King Co., Washington. She married first John H. Bellinger on September 28, 1887 in Medford, Jackson Co., Oregon. He was born on February 4, 1866 in Jackson Co., Oregon and died on December 14, 1918 in Jackson Co., Oregon. He is buried in the Jacksonville Cemetery, Jacksonville, Jackson Co., Oregon. They divorced sometime between 1887-1899

She married second Joseph Crosby Hill circa 1899 in Oregon or Washington. He was born on October 16, 1866 in Smithfield, Cache Co., Utah and died on February 28, 1945 in Seattle, King Co., Washington. He is buried in the Acacia Memorial Park, Seattle, King Co., Washington.

13 Marjorie Josephine Merriman was born on June 4, 1871 in Medford, Jackson Co., Oregon. She died on January 6, 1940 in Seattle, King Co., Washington. She is buried in the Acacia Memorial Park, Seattle, King Co., Washington. She married John Beek on December 21, 1892 in Medford, Jackson Co., Oregon. He was born on May 16, 1866 in Cowlitz Co., Washington and died on January 24, 1953 in Seattle, King Co., Washington. He is buried in the Acacia Memorial Park, Seattle, King Co., Washington.

14 William (Will) Harrison Merriman was born on July 7, 1872 in Medford, Jackson Co., Oregon. He died on May 28, 1942 in Berkeley, Alameda Co., California. He married first, Rose M. Luy on July 29, 1894 in Jacksonville, Jackson Co., Oregon. She was born in November 1875 in Jacksonville, Jackson Co., Oregon and died on January 20, 1932 in Alameda Co., California. He married second, Minnie Mae Stephens, widow of a Mr. Finch, circa 1935 in California. She was born on December 31, 1899 in Arkansas and died on January 17, 1994 in San Diego Co., California.

15 Winnifred (Winnie) Merriman was born on November 30, 1874 in Medford, Jackson Co., Oregon. She died on January 14, 1875 in Medford, Jackson Co., Oregon. She is buried in the Jacksonville Cemetery, Jacksonville, Jackson Co., Oregon. She died from strangulation of the bowels.

Source: www.ryanwadleigh.com, Ryan Wadleigh the information contained herein is being used with the permission of the said compiler and author of who we wish to thank.
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Illinois, Compiled Marriages, 1791-1850
Name: Artemia Riddle
Spouse: James Chapman
Marriage Date: 22 Feb 1849
Marriage County: Sangamon

1850 United States Federal Census Sangamon Co., IL
Name: James B Chapman
Age: 23
Birth Year: abt 1827
Birthplace: Kentucky
Home in 1850: Sangamon, Illinois, USA
Gender: Male
Family Number: 870
Household Members: Name Age
James B Chapman 23
Arlanissa Chapman 20 [sic Artinecia]
John Chapman 0 [sic 1/12)