From History of Walworth County Wisconsin by Albert Clayton Beckwith, Vol. II, 
Publ. 1912 - Page 799-800
 
HEMAN MERENESS.  One of the careful agriculturists and respected citizens of 
Sharon township, Walworth county, is Heman MERENESS, a man whose history 
furnishes a splendid example of what may be accomplished through determined 
purpose, laudable ambition and well directed efforts.  Starting out in life a 
poor boy, he has steadily worked his way upward, winning success in his chosen 
field of endeavor and gaining the public confidence, which he has retained 
through careful "hewing to the line" in all the relations which he has 
sustained to his fellow men.  He seems to have inherited some of the winning 
traits of his sterling father, one of the early settlers of this portion of 
the county, the name MERENESS having been well known here for many decades, 
and it is a name of which any community might well be proud to include in its 
list of citizens.
 
Mr. MERENESS, of this sketch, was born on January 8, 1861, in Sharon township, 
this county.  He is the son of Edwin and Harriet MERENESS, natives of the 
state of New York, he born in the city of Rome and she in Schoharie county.  
There they grew to maturity and continued to reside until 1852, when they 
emigrated to Wisconsin.  They were married in Racine, Wisconsin, settling in 
Sharon township, buying a farm of eighty acres, which they made their home for 
about five years.  Leaving there in 1865, they moved to Iowa and bought a farm 
there, which they operated until 1873, when they returned to Sharon township, 
this county, and here Edwin MERENESS lived until his death, in 1877, after an 
honorable and well spent life.  His widow is still living, being now eighty-
four years old, and she makes her home with her son, Heman, of this sketch.
 
Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Edwin MERENESS, named a follows: Cora 
is deceased; Heman, of this review; Leslie was next in order; Dexter, Lucy and 
John, all deceased.
 
The subject grew to manhood on the home farm and there assisted with the work 
when old enough, and during the winter months he attended the common schools 
in his district.  He has devoted his life to farming and is now the owner of 
one hundred acres of fertile land in Sharon township, which he has kept well 
improved and well tilled and which lies in section 3.  He keeps a good grade 
of life stock and has a desirable home.
 
Politically, Mr. MERENESS is a Republican.  He was treasurer in 1896, and 
assessor in 1902 and 1903.  He has been township clerk for about eight years, 
still holding this office. As a public official he has discharged his duties 
in a most creditable manner.
 
Mr. MERENESS was married on September 27, 1894, to Mary Elizabeth KNAUB, 
daughter of Joseph and Susan KNAUB, an excellent family of Sharon township, 
the father being now deceased, the mother still living here.
 
To the subject and wife five children have been born, namely: Jessie 
Elizabeth, born October 6, 1895; Josephine, born June 25, 1899; Howard, born 
December 20, 1900; Dorothy, born March 28, 1902; and Edith, born November 30, 
1903.
 
Submitted by Carol