Albert Walter Merrick (December 24, 1840 – February 26, 1902) was an American journalist who published the first newspaper in

Deadwood, South Dakota Deadwood (Lakota: ''Owáyasuta''; "To approve or confirm things") is a city that serves as county seat of Lawrence County, South Dakota, United States. It was named by early settlers after the dead trees found in its gulch. The city had it ...

, the '' Black Hills Weekly Pioneer'', along with W. A. Laughlin. The newspaper continues to be published today, but has moved its offices to

Spearfish, South Dakota Spearfish (Lakota: ''Hočhápȟe'') is a city in Lawrence County, South Dakota. The population was 12,193 at the time of the 2020 census. History Before the Black Hills Gold Rush of 1876, the area was used by Native Americans (primarily bands ...

Personal

Merrick was born in

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

in 1839 and served in the Civil War, rising to the rank of sergeant.''U.S., Civil War Pension Index: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934'' Census records indicate that Merrick was living in Deadwood in 1880, when his occupation was listed as editor. Merrick was married to Rachel Margaret Davis (1845–1924), known as "Ray" Merrick, who was born in Tredegar,

Monmouthshire Monmouthshire ( cy, Sir Fynwy) is a county in the south-east of Wales. The name derives from the historic county of the same name; the modern county covers the eastern three-fifths of the historic county. The largest town is Abergavenny, with ...

, Wales.''1920 United States Federal Census'' She immigrated to the United States in 1864.''1910 United States Federal Census'' The Merricks had at least five children. In 1880, they had two children; Walter M. Merrick (1872–1880), who died in Deadwood after the census was taken, and Marie Blanche Merrick (b. 1876 Colorado). Albert and Rachel also had a daughter, Louise May Merrick, born in

Butte, Montana Butte ( ) is a consolidated city-county and the county seat of Silver Bow County, Montana, United States. In 1977, the city and county governments consolidated to form the sole entity of Butte-Silver Bow. The city covers , and, according to the ...

around 1881; another son, Albert Wilbur Merrick, born in Deadwood in 1882; and another daughter, Zeta Marguerite Merrick, born in Deadwood in 1888. Albert Wilbur Merrick also entered the newspaper industry and became a printer. In 1899, Merrick was listed as an invalid in veteran pension records. He died in 1902 and was buried at Mount Moriah Cemetery in Deadwood.

Career

Merrick created the ''Black Hills Weekly Pioneer'' in Deadwood in May 1876. The first paper was published on June 8, 1876, and is still printed today as the ''Black Hills Pioneer.''

In popular culture

Merrick is portrayed by actor

Jeffrey Jones Jeffrey Duncan Jones (born September 28, 1946) is an American character actor, best known for his roles as Emperor Joseph II in ''Amadeus'' (1984), Edward R. Rooney in ''Ferris Bueller's Day Off'' (1986), Charles Deetz in ''Beetlejuice'' (1988) ...

in the television series '' Deadwood'' (2004–2006) and the film continuation '' Deadwood: The Movie'' (2019).

References

External links

* People of the American Old West Businesspeople from Denver Black Hills American male journalists 1839 births 1902 deaths 19th-century American businesspeople {{US-journalist-19thC-stub