Presidents, Soldiers, Statesmen H. H. Hardesty, 1898.
Zedekiah A. Merrifield - John and Margaret (Higgenbothan) Merrifield, deceased, are the parents of our subject, who was born in Marion county, W.Va., May 30, 1845. In September, 1875, in Wetzel county, W. Va., he was married to Mary C. Wetzel, and their hearthstone has been graced with five children: James M., George W., dec., Amanda A. and Mary A. When the war broke out his heart was with the Northern cause and he entered the Federal service December, 1861, at Romney, W. Va., when only sixteen years of age. He entered the ranks of Co. H, 1st W. Va. V. I. in the spring of 1862 he was confined in hospital at Cumberland, Md., three weeks, suffering with rheumatism. In the summer of 1862 he was treated in hospital at Strausburg two months with rheumatism and heart trouble. He was honorably discharged at Williamsport, Md., December, 1862, on surgeon's certificate of disability, having taken part in the battle of Winchester and several skirmishes. He had two brothers in service, Richard served in Co. H, 1st W. Va. V. I., and John, the former was taken prisoner and died in Andersonville prison. His wife's brother Lewis served in 6th W. Va. V. I., and died in hospital at Grafton, W. Va., of fever contracted in service. Mrs. Merrifield is a descendant of the famous Indian fighter, Louis Wetzel. Comrade Merrifield follows farming as an avocation and his address is Brink, W. Va.
