Merritt Herrington was a farmer of the town of Pittstown, Rensselaer county, New York. He married Catherine Snyder; children:
- Elizabeth;
- Silas, of whom further;
- Anna J., married Peter Eyclesheimer; children:
- Clarence;
- Hattie, married Charles Greenwood; children: Anna and Ami;
- Harriet M., married George Penoyar; child, Edith.
(II) Silas, eldest son of Merritt and Catherine (Snyder) Herrington, was born in Pittstown, Rensselaer county, New York, November 2, 1844, died December 10, 1909. He was educated in the public school and spent his boyhood on the home farm. He later became a farmer on his own account, following that occupation for several years. Then he located in the village of Valley Falls, where he established a lumber and coal business, conducting it alone for four years, then admitted Henry J. Herrington as a partner, under the firm name of Herrington & Company. Henry J. died in 1908, and Silas sold his interests and retired from active life. He did not long enjoy his release from business cares, dying the following year. He was a capable, energetic man of affairs, and bore an unblemished reputation. He was devoted to the Methodist church and served as trustee. In politics he was a Republican, and always bore an active part in town affairs. For many years he was road commissioner; he served two terms as supervisor, being re-elected without opposition. He was a member of the Masonic order. He married, January 3, 1900, Elizabeth M. Kewley, born October 31, 1860, only child of John Kewley, and granddaughter of Thomas and Margaret (Quayle) Kewley, natives of the Isle of Man. They had children:
- Margaret;
- Catherine, married Harvey Hunter;
- Thomas, married Hannah Rednor;
- John, of whom further;
- Patrick.
John Kewley, born on the Isle of Man, came in 1828 to the United States with his parents, who settled at Valley Falls, New York. He learned the tailor's trade, and, after working as a journeyman, established a merchant tailoring establishment in Albany, in 1870, where he continued in business nineteen years. He then disposed of his interests in Albany, returned to Valley Falls, where he lived a retired life until his death. He was a useful, earnest Christian; a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He was intensely musical, as were his children. For over twenty years he led the choir, largely composed of his own family, and known as the "Kewley Choir." He was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and a Republican. Elizabeth M. (Kewley) Herrington was greatly interested in her husband's public and political life, and in political affairs generally. She attended conventions with her husband and often entertained party leaders at her home. On one occasion twenty prominent politicians of the county and state were entertained at her hospitable home. She was of great assistance to him, and it is largely to her counsel that he is remembered as the "best supervisor the town ever had." She was also greatly interested in his business and may justly be considered the mainspring of his very successful business career. She survives her husband, a resident of Valley Falls, New York.