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John Grant Merritt
Carroll County
Senator from Sac, Greene and Carroll counties, was born at Findlay, Ohio, September 29, 1870, moving with his parents to Glidden, Carroll county, March 17, 1880, and thence to a near-by farm where he made his home for forty years. He moved into Glidden six years ago, but continues to operate the home farm known as Maplehurst Farm. Was married January 19, 1898, to Laura B. Elwood, daughter of Dr. Thomas Elwood, first resident physician of Carroll county. He has been active in business affairs, particularly insurance, as well as farming. Was elected state secretary of the Farmers Cooperative Elevator Mutual Insurance association and is now serving his seventeenth year as secretary of the Farmers Mutual Fire and Lightning Insurance association of Carroll county. Has been on the board of the Glidden Farmers Elevator company since its organization in 1905, and for fifteen years its president. Is now president of the Farmers Grain Dealers association of Iowa, vice president of the Farmers National Grain Dealers association and president of the North Glidden electric line. Has served his local school district both as director and treasurer, was city councilman and since 1919 has been a member of the Carroll county board of education. Was vice president of the county farm bureau, director of the Red Cross and for six years republican county chairman. Elected state representative in 1924 and state senator in 1926.