Bernice Pamelia Merrill* By Alice Dangburg.

Bernice Pamelia Merrill was born in Woodfords, Ca. on May 28, 1887 and died at the age of 81 on August 26, 1968 at the Carson-Tahoe Hospital in Carson City, Nevada. She was the daughter of Willis Perry Merrill and his second wife, Mary Pamelia O'Niel.

Her marriage in 1914 united her with George Ferris Dangberg, son of Heinrick Frederick Dangberg and Margaret Gale Ferris, who were engaged in vast holdings of stock raising and agriculture in Minden, Nevada. To this marriage came a son George Ferris Dangberg, Jr., born on May 2 1917 in San Francisco, California. George and Bernice were later divorced and she never remarried.

Bernice spent her entire life at Woodfords where her father, Willis Perry Merrill came in 1854, Establishing a trading post in the house in which she made her home for 14 years. After a devastating fire, Mrs. Mary Merrill rebuilt the store at Woodfords in 1928 and for many years Bernice was active with her mother and Brother Grant in operation the Woodfords Hotel and Store.

In 1930 Bernice became a member of the Alpine County Board of Supervisors and during her 37 years on the board she served 15 consecutive years as Chairman. She served on numerous committees vital to Alpine County, including fire and prevention, forestry, fish and game, recreation, public land and health and hospitals. for many years she was instrumental in entering the exhibits for Alpine county at the California state fair held in Sacramento, Ca.

Bernice was nominated in 1958, to "Who is who" in California and "who's Who in America" in 1966. On June 16, 1965, Bernice was awarded a resolution by Assemblyman Eugene Chappie, (California legislature) honoring her as the County Supervisor serving the longest period of time on any board in the State of California.

Due to illness Bernice resigned from the county board of Supervisors in January 1968 and died the following August"

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   Bernice Merrill Dangberg    George Dangberg                                    Woodfords Store 1939

                     Bernice Merrill                                                                  Grant & Angie Merrill           

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