Merritt Crawford Wilcox, whose birthplace was in Alabama, came to Canandaigua with his parents at fourteen. His father, Lucius Wilcox, married Frances A., born in Demopolis, Alabama, daughter of Andrew Jackson Crawford, a southern planter, and a minister of the Methodist Church South.
Merritt C. Wilcox was born in Demopolis, Alabama, June 6, 1842. He acquired his education in the public schools of Canandaigua and in the Canandaigua Academy. He married, in Canandaigua, in 1867, Caroline Frances, born in Cortland county, New York, daughter of William rod Caroline O. (Heaton) Richardson, who came to Canandaigua from Cortland county. His father, Mr. Lucius Wilcox, served for many years as president of the First National Bank of Canandaigua, and devoted a great part of his time to farming. The land covered by his farm was located in the village and Woodlawn Cemetery now (1910) occupies a portion of it. Mr. and Mrs. Wilcox have had three children: Lucius William, Mabel Merritt, Crawford Richardson.