LIFE HISTORY OF SARAH ELIZABETH BLACK MERRELL - WRITTEN JULY 1935

She was called Grandma Merrell by the family. Sarah was born in Hempstead County, Arkansas on 
September 28, 1841. She was the daughter of Jonathan Black and Melinda (Whetton) Black. In 1842, 
they moved to Sevier County, Arkansas. In 1849, the family moved to Texas and settled in Jasper 
County. Sarah was the youngest of eight children and the last survivor. There were four brothers 
and three sisters.

Sarah married Alexander Merrell on November 29, 1857 and she and Mr. Merrell moved to Hill County 
in 1870 where they settled just below the Salem Church. Grandma professed religion at home around 
the family alter in prayer, then joined the church at 15 in Jasper County. This was at a time of 
a three week camp meeting. The Methodist minister was Billy Sansom whom she joined under. The 
Baptist minister was Wen, the Presbyterian minister was Goble. During that time thirty were 
baptized. Brother Sansom was the father of Wesley Sansom, who became pastor of the Salem Church 
43 years ago. Grandmother Merrell was a charter memory of the Salem Irene Methodist Church, 
organized in 1873 in a little log cabin house that is now known as the Salem Cemetery. 
Grandfather Merrell professed religion in the town of Jasper in 1860.

Grandmother lived through two wars. After the Civil War, she paid $5.00 for one ounce of quinine, 
$15.00 for a sack of flour and 25 cents for a calico dress.

Grandmother Merrell went to a boarding school in Woodville, Jasper County, Texas. She is 
enumerated on the Jasper County, Texas census of October 15, 1850. Their family is #168. Her
father Jonathan is listed as a farmer. She is annotated as having been enrolled in school the 
prior year (1849). Her age at time of 1850 census is listed as being 9.