(III) Adelbert Clinton, eldest child of William Harrison and Olive M. (Allyn) Merritt, was born at the family homestead in Penfield, April 8, 1847. He was educated in the public schools of his district and the Penfield Academy. For a period of fifteen years he worked with his father as a millwright, then, in 1870, went to Rochester, New York, where he was employed in the meat market business. adding groceries to his stock the following year, and at the expiration of two years sold out. returned to Penfield, where he took up his former occupation and also engaged in farming. He removed to Marion in 1887 and there commenced the raising of stock and the cultivation of a fruit farm, and was thus occupied until 1900, when he removed to Manchester Center, where he is now (1910) engaged in the milling business, and in conjunction has a grocery store and crate factory. He is energetic and enterprising in his business methods, keeping well abreast of the times, and has acquired a large and growing trade.
Mr. Merritt married, 1878, Mary E., daughter of Oliver Chapin Merritt, of Penfield. Children: Harry, born at Penfield, deceased; Arthur C., Lewis Allen and May.