Was C. Hart Merriam, biologist, friend of Teddy Roosevelt & John Muir; and Harry Merriam, Alaska biologist, related? Harry died in February 2005 at age 79 and worked as a NPS ranger with Adolph Murie in 1955 at Mt. McKinley, wrote a classic Coronati

Was C. Hart Merriam, biologist, friend of Teddy Roosevelt & John Muir; and Harry Merriam, Alaska biologist, related? Harry died in February 2005 at age 79 and worked as a NPS ranger with Adolph Murie in 1955 at Mt. McKinley, wrote a classic Coronation Island Wolf Study scientific paper and was born in Nooksack Washington. He also worked for the F&W Service and the US Forest Service.

Parents
  • Harry Merriam was not a direct descendant of C. Hart Merriam. Harry's line is: Charles Earl Merriam (1885-1973), Elias Merriam (1855-1936), then Jesse Merriam (c. 1810-). Clinton Hart Merriam's line is Clinton Levi Merriam (1824-1900), Ela Merriam (1794-1873.)

    It's possible that they share a distant Merriam ancestor, but, again, they are not directly related.

Reply
  • Harry Merriam was not a direct descendant of C. Hart Merriam. Harry's line is: Charles Earl Merriam (1885-1973), Elias Merriam (1855-1936), then Jesse Merriam (c. 1810-). Clinton Hart Merriam's line is Clinton Levi Merriam (1824-1900), Ela Merriam (1794-1873.)

    It's possible that they share a distant Merriam ancestor, but, again, they are not directly related.

Children
  • There was also a John C. Merriam--a geologist/paleontologist--who worked on the Sinnott Museum project at Crater Lake in 1934 and prior to that La Brea Tar Pits.  I just wrote a book on the history of the WPA era and the NPS poster series and the name Merriam came up several times.  All were associated with national parks.  I bought my log cabin in Alaska from Harry Merriam's widow--Harry went missing in 2005--they found his boat several miles washed up on the beach.  I met Harry several times--and he told me about his work with Adolph Murie (whose brother was Olaus).  C. Hart Merriam participated in the Harriman expedition to Alaska with John Muir and other leading scientists.  They motored up the Wrangell Narrows where my house is located at Buoy 54.  Always thought it would be great conversation piece if these Merriam's were related.  Thanks!!