Joshua M. Merrill (1828-1904)

Joshua M. Merrill (1828-1904) is a Pennsylvania historical marker in Corry, Erie County, dedicated 2008.

Between 19 and 37 N Center St. (Rt. 426), Corry

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Lead chemist and manager of Downer Oil Works, built nearby in 1862 following discovery of oil near Titusville. Merrill's refining breakthroughs included an illuminating oil safer than kerosene for use on railroads and steamships and in factories. He also developed deodorized lubricating oils for machinery, opening new world markets in the late 1860s. Merrill was an award recipient at the 1876 Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia.

TodayHistorical map

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David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries

Historical maps covering this location

1857 · Pennsylvania. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
1858 · Colton's New York (1858) (Barry Lawrence Ruderman Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
1859 · Colton's New York (1859) (Barry Lawrence Ruderman Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
1865 · Map of the Oil Region of Pennsylvania. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
1865 · County map of the State of Pennsylvania (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)

Map of the Oil Region of Pennsylvania, 1865, covering the location of Joshua M. Merrill (1828-1904), with a pin at the marker's coordinates — Map of the Oil Region of Pennsylvania, 1865, covering this location. David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries. The pin is ours, placed from the marker's coordinates.

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Marker data: Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission via data.pa.gov

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