Harrington Merrill House

Harrington Merrill House. . , Harrington, Lewis Iddings Harrington was born in 1830 in Ohio. As a young man he attended Ohio State University graduating in 1850., In 1855, Lewis met the Hutchinson Brothers. After hearing of the brothers' plan to start a town, Harrington joined them and traveled to the site of what is now Hutchinson. On November 20, 1855 the constitution for the towns of Hutchinson and Harmony was written. Lewis was to be the chief land surveyor. One month later Lewis had plotted out the design for the new towns which included parks, schools and churches., Ellen Myra Pendergast was born in 1836 in new Hampshire. Ellen taught school in New Jersey in 1854. The following year, with her brothers and sister, they traveled to Hutchinson to begin a new life., Lewis and Ellen met and then married on December 27, 1857. Their first home was in a little frame building on he northwest corner of Washington Ave and Main Street. In 1858 with Ellen expecting their first child, a decision was made to build a home on the land just north of the park on Washington Ave. The couple had two children, Marsha born in 1858 and William born in 1860., September of 1862 brought the US-Dakota War to Hutchinson. A stockade was erected in the public square. Lewis Harrington was chosen as Home Guard Captain with Ellen also joining the Home Guard. The attack lasted a day. The Dakota left after burning many of the buildings in town, but the Harrington house survived., Lewis remained busy in the following years. He was a land surveyor, civil engineer, first postmaster and hotel keeper. He served a s a state legislator from 1866-1868. Lewis died in 1884, at the age of 53 years, from an accident which occurred in Washington while surveying land. His body was returned to Hutchinson and is buried in Oakland Cemetery., After her husband's death, Ellen continued to live in the house. In 1886 her daughter Martha and Harry Merrill married and moved into the home with her. Ellen passed away in 1915 at age 78 and is buried in Oakland Cemetery., Lewis I Harrington . Ellen Pendergast Harrington . Martha Harrington . W E Harrington, , Merrill, Harry Leonard Merrill was born in 1851 in Maine. In 1882 Harry came to Hutchinson to serve as school superintendent., Martha Addie Harrington was born in 1858. She attended the University of Minnesota and was principal of Hutchinson High School when the met Harry Merrill. The couple married on June 30, 1886. The couple had one child, Lewis Harrington Merrill born in 1887., Harry Merrill had a substantial impact on education in Hutchinson. He was superintendent for 35 years. He helped implement several laws regarding state education, and brought vocational training to the area. Merrill was also a civic leader as city councilman, library board and president of the city's Electric Light Company., In 1886 Harry and Martha moved into the Harrington house with Martha's mother. They enjoyed farming and planted an apple orchard on the property. Harry passed away in 1932 and Martha in 1946, both are buried in Oakland Cemetery. After their deaths, son Lewis moved into the house., Merrill Family . Ellen and grandson Lewis Merrill . Harry Merrill, Ellen Harrington, Martha H Merrill