Merlin A. West Obituary, 1942

Merlin A. West Obituary, 1942

Typed and Contributed by Linda Carpenter
©2004

Merlin A. West died at his home on January 15, 1942, following an illness of several months. He was born at Lafayette, Tenn., May 26, 1881, son of Jesse and Sarah Huddleston West. His father was a farmer and one of the early county officials of Macon County, occupying the position of Trustee at the time of his death in 1892. His grandfather, Miles F. West, was one of the founders of the first Baptist church established in Macon County and was active in the establishment of Macon County and the County seat of Lafayette, Tenn. Merlin A. West finished his education in the public schools of Macon County in 1889. He was a member of the Baptist church and affiliated with the Knights of Phythias and the I. O. O. F. Mr. West was in the United States Posta1 Service for more than 30 years in the capacity of a rural letter carrier out of Lafayette Post Office, having retired in 1935. After his retirement from the postal service, he was elected to the State Senate in 1936, serving a term of two years. Incidentally, his father, Miles F. West, was elected a member of the Legislature exactly 50 years prior to the election of his son. Surviving are his wife, Eunice Wakefield West; two children, Maurine West Johnson, wife of the present Postmaster, Henry C. Johnson, of Lafayette, Tenn.; and Lois West Chamberlain, wile of J. M. Chamberlain, Attorney and Clerk and Master of Lafayette. Grandchildren, Stephen Henry Johnson, Billie, Jack, James West and Joseph Faust Chamberlain, all of Lafayette, Tenn. Also surviving him is one sister, Mrs. M. H. Allen, of Lafayette, Tenn. After his retirement from the Postal Service, Mr. West was actively engaged in matters political and was a close friend of our present Secretary of State, Cordell Hull, and of the Senators and Representatives who are now serving our State. Mr. West was very active in promoting the early development of Macon County's highway system and especially in getting one of the first sections of the Austin Peay Highway surfaced from Westmoreland to Red Boiling Springs. Mr. West was very proud of his over 30 years' active service with the Postal Department, having begun his route with the establishing of rural mail service in Macon County in 1905. He really knew the meaning of the "horse and buggy days." His chief contribution to Macon County was the promotion and improvement of our highway system.


Sumner County, Tennessee Obituary Index

Genealogist's Companion to Research in Sumner County, Tennessee