Everett Brooks Merriam, president of the Merriam Mortgage Company, of Topeka, was born at Johnson, Vt., June 30, 1835, son of Samuel Merriam, a prominent man in Vermont in his day, a member of the state legislature, probate judge, state prison director, and a leading merchant of Johnson, Vt., for forty years. Samuel Merriam was born in Mason, N. H., and his wife, Hannah French, was born at Grafton, Vt. Both parents are dead. They had a family of eight children, of whom are living—three sons and three daughters. Two of the sons live in Topeka, Kan. They are Everett B. and Charles Wentworth, both whom are officers of the Merriam Mortgage Company. The Merriam family is of English descent, having originally come from Hadlow, Kent county, England. The American branch of the family is descended from Joseph Merriam, who, together with his brothers—Samuel and Robert—crossed the ocean and located at Concord, Mass. As far back as there is any record it has been a family of merchants, both in America and in England.

The direct line of descent from Joseph Merriam, the immigrant, down to Everett B., who belongs to the eighth generation in America, is as follows: Joseph was the father of John, born in 1641, who married Mary Cooper; he died Feb. 27, 1724, aged eighty-three years. John was the father of Joseph, born Aug. 15, 1677, married Dorothy Brooks, March 24, 1705, and died Dec. 10, 1750. Joseph was the father of Nathan, born May 12, 1720, married Abigail Wheeler, Jan. 11, 1743, and died Nov. 11, 1782. Nathan was the father of Joseph, born Jan. 26, 1744, married Mary Brooks, Jan. 14, 1768, and died Nov. 6, 1826. Joseph was the father of Samuel, born Oct. 14, 1773, married Lucy Wheeler, June 1, 1797, and died April 26, 1823. Samuel was the father of Samuel, Jr., born April 9, 1798; married Hannah French, Oct. 19, 1825, and died Sept. 12, 1879. Samuel, Jr., was the father of Everett B.

Everett B. Merriam was reared in his native state, and followed mercantile pursuits in Johnson, Morrisville, St. Johnsbury, Vt., up to 1888, when he removed to Topeka. He soon became identified there with the business which now receives his attention, the Merriam Mortgage Company, one of the foremost companies of its kind in the West. He has been president of this company since its organization and incorporation, in 1892, but for many years prior to that time had been a partner in the business of T. E. Bowman & Company, which had been organized in 1878, and was the predecessor of the Merriam Mortgage Company. Upon the death of Mr. Bowman, Mr. Merriam, together with his two sons—Frank D. and Carroll B.—took over his business and organized the Merriam Mortgage Company, with Carroll B. as treasurer, Frank D. as vice-president, and Charles W. Merriam as a member of the board of directors.

Mr. Merriam was married, Jan. 25, 1859, to Sarah Patridge Dillingham, a native of Waterbury, Vt., born March 10, 1835. She is a first cousin of William P. Dillingham, formerly governor of Vermont and now United States senator from that state. Mr. and Mrs. Merriam have two sons and one daughter: Frank D. and Carroll B. (see sketches), and Mary Ellen, who is the wife of the Rev. Charles M. Sheldon, of Topeka. Mr. Merriam is a director of the Central National Bank of Topeka, and he is a member of the Congregational church in that place.