[GOPcapitalist]

In 1864, John Merryman fathered a male child, who died in infancy. The child's name was Roger Brooke Taney Merryman.

It was common practice in the day to name your children after political leaders, the chief justice of the supreme court being no exception. Given that Taney attempted to help Merryman when he was being persecuted by Saint Abe, it is understandable that Merryman sought to honor Taney. That still doesn't make Merryman neighbors with Taney any more than my ggg-something grandpa became neighbors with Patrick Henry after naming one of his kids after him.

[4CJ]

It was common practice in the day to name your children after political leaders, the chief justice of the supreme court being no exception.

I have ancestors named "George Washington", "Thomas Jefferson", and "Alexander Stephens" to name a few.

[Gianni]

It was common practice in the day to name your children after political leaders, the chief justice of the supreme court being no exception.

I had no idea that my great-grandfather knew both Calvin Coolidge and Warren Harding personally. Nor did I know that both former presidents lived in Strawberry Point, IA.