THE MERION FAMILY.
     In searching for the early history of the Merion family, we find that Nathaniel Merion, sr., of the town of Dorchester, Massachusetts, was married to Thankful Withrington in 1749.  The fruits of this union were two sons and and five daughters.  William, the second son, joined Washington's army during the war of Independence, was taken prisoner by the British, and died in New York city.  Nathaniel, the eldest son, married Lydia Gay, daughter of David Gay, and granddaughter of George Talbot, on the nineteenth of December, 1776.  They raised eight children, as follows: Millie, Elijah, Mary, Lydia, William, Nathaniel, Hanna, and David.
     William Merion, son of Nathaniel Merion, was born in Dorchester, Massachusetts, May 9, 1787.  His early life was passed in the home of his birth, and before he became of age, in connection with two brothers and one sister, he purchased eighteen hundred acres of land lying in the Refugee tract, in Franklin county, Ohio, to which place he emigrated in about 1808.  He first settled in Franklinton, where he followed the business of carpenter and builder for a year or two.  On Feb. 14, 1809, he was married to Sally Wait, who came, with her parents, from New York, in 1806.  They remained in Franklinton about a year after marriage, he still following his business of carpenter.  They then settled on his land, but a few rods south of the present city limits, on High street, at that time an unbroken forest.  Here, with an indomitable will and sturdy perseverance, they hewed a home out of the wilderness, and became among the first pioneers of Columbus.  To them were born seven children - three sons and four daughters of whom William Merion, of Marion township; Mrs. Reed, Mrs. Davis, and Mrs. Stewart, of Columbus, are the only survivors.
     William Marion, jr., was born in the new home, on High street, Sept. 10, 1811.  On Jan. 24, 1833, he was married to Catharine Clickenger, by whom he had nine children.  Mrs. Merion died June 20, 1857, and on the twenty-eighth of October, 1858, he was again married, to Mrs. Martha Sheldon, a daughter of James Uncles, who was an early pioneer in Columbus.  They have had three children, but one of whom is now living.  The children of William Merion now living are:  Charles, Henry, Oliver, William, Levi, James, and Edwin, all of whom reside in the vicinity, and three of them on the home farm.
     Mr. Merion, whose portrait appears on another page of this work, is a man of strong convictions and steadfast purpose, and what he believes to be right and just, be will strongly maintain.  As one of the original stockholders of the Columbus and Groveport turnpike, he was early made one of the directors, and for the past thirty years has been treasurer of the company.  While always true to the principles of the Republican party, he has never been a place-seeker, though he has been nominated by his friends for county office, and such was his known integrity of character, that he received the full party vote, though in a hopeless race.  When the township was known as Montgomery, he served a number of years as trustee, and when the name was changed he proposed to the commissioners that it be called after the name of his father, which was done without a dissenting voice, though the name
was spelled with a change of one letter, making it Marion.  He has also been a prominent member of the Franklin County Pioneer association since its organization, and for several years has been its treasurer.
Source: History of Franklin & Pickaway Counties, Ohio - Published by Williams Bros. - 1880 - Page 501