James H. Merriman is a native of Wayne County, born in 1834, sonof Eli and Rachel (Tankersley) Merriman. The father was born in Tennessee, and was a farmer by occupation and a whig in politics. He came to Wayne County in 1816, and lived until his death in 1851. The mother is yet residing in the district, and is seventy-six years of age. After the father’s death our subject resided with his mother until thirty-four years of age, when he began farming for himself. In 1861 he enlisted in the Confederate service and served throughout the war, not receiving a wound during his entire service. He returned home in May, 1865. In 1869 he purchased his present farm, consisting of 320 acres. he is a Democrat in his political views, and belongs to the Masonic fraternity, Lodge No. 127. In 1868 he married Frances E. A. Shields, daughter of J. T. and Martha D. (Olds) Shields. She was born in Tennessee in 1850, and became the mother of eleven children: Martha E., James R., Joseph E. (who died in 1881), Thomas F., John C., Rachel C., David H., Virginia A., Walter N., Cynthia R., and Clare B. Mr. Shields is a member of the Christian Church, and his wife of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.