Correction to my earlier post. Harry Punderson Merriman was Harvey Harrison Merriman's uncle, not his brother. Both were born in Stanstead County, Quebec, Canada. Several of the Canadian Merrimans came down to McLean and DeWitt County. The first to arrive was Amasa Jay Merriman, who was also Harry's nephew and Harvey's cousin, in 1839. He came to McLean County, followed by other brothers, uncles, nephews and cousins in 1843. Their parents and grandparents had come to Canada from New Haven, Connecticut.

Harvey H. Merriman, who ran the boarding house, came to McLean County in 1843, when he was about 12, along with his father Harvey C. Merriman and his 8-year-old sister Mary. The father may have become ill shortly after because Harvey H. Merriman's obituary says he went to live with his youngest uncle Ira Mooney Merriman, a hotelkeeper in Clinton. Perhaps both Ira and his older brother Harry P. kept the hotel with John Warner. Harvey C., the father, died in Bloomington, McLean County, IL in 1846. He was a brother to Harry P. and Ira.

Grandma Merriman from the photo was born Mary M. Beedle. They had three children, Mrs. Clara Bell, wife of W.E. Bell, living in Peoria at the time of her father's death in 1901, Lucius H. Merriman, living in Clinton in 1901, and Blanche Smith, wife of Dr. D.W. Smith, who died in 1897 in Colorado, where she had gone for her health. The Smiths were living in Cisco, Piatt Countyy, IL before that.

Harvey Merriman ran the boarding house from 1878 to his death in 1901, and his widow may have continued following his death.

I would be glad to share more about this group of Merrimans if anyone is interested. Charles P. Merriman, brother of Harvey C. and Ira, also settled in Bloomington, McLean County.