Early Life and Origins
I often wonder about the unsung heroes who change fortunes without being noticed. Ella Letitia Merriweather fits that template wonderfully. In the bustling yet modest town of Springfield, Illinois, she was born on September 18, 1852, into a Civil War-era environment. John Hood Merriweather (1808-1863) and Elizabeth Hummel (1813-around 1868) raised her in a humble Midwestern home. Ella was 11 when John, a local worker whose trade is unknown, died. Elizabeth followed a few years later, leaving Ella to face grief and adolescence.
She was descended from Nicholas Merriweather and Elizabeth Hood, her paternal grandparents. Details faded like ink on old ledgers. One of her siblings, Mary Elizabeth Hood Merriweather, married Fackler. Life in 1860s Illinois was a survival patchwork. She was “Ellen L. Merriwether,” a young girl from a humble home, in the 1860 U.S. Census. Long musings followed short days. Ella met ambition in her early 20s.
Marriage to C.W. Post and Family Foundations
Consider a union a seed sown in fertile soil that will grow an empire. Ella married Charles William Post, a 20-year-old Springfield salesman with prairie-sized dreams, on November 4, 1874, in Pawnee, Sangamon County, Illinois. C.W., born in 1854, suffered from nervous breakdowns that forced the couple to move to Battle Creek, Michigan, in 1891. At Battle Creek Sanitarium, Ella was his rock in times of trouble.
March 15, 1887 brought Marjorie Merriweather Post, their only surviving child. The daughter who inherited and expanded the Postum Cereal Company into General Foods and amassed over $200 million by 1973 would surpass them both. Ella was crucial. As C.W. experimented with health foods in the 1890s, she presumably tested recipes and gave quiet advice. After launching Postum, a caffeine-free coffee alternative, in 1895, the family rose. Sales reached millions by the early 1900s. Cracks appeared. The 1904 divorce was caused by separations and C.W.’s ambitions. He remarried his secretary, Leila Young, that year. Ella, heartbroken like a broken vessel, moved to New York while keeping in touch with Marjorie in D.C.
Descendants and Extended Family Tree
Diving deeper into Ella’s legacy feels like tracing roots through a vast garden. Her influence bloomed through Marjorie’s three marriages and the grandchildren who carried the torch into society, business, and Hollywood.
Marjorie first wed Edward Bennett Close in 1905, producing two daughters: Adelaide Breevort Close (born 1908, died 1998) and Eleanor Post Hutton (born 1909, died 2006). Adelaide, a socialite, navigated high society with grace. Eleanor became an art patron, her life a canvas of philanthropy.
Marjorie’s second marriage to E.F. Hutton in 1920 brought Nedenia Marjorie Hutton, better known as Dina Merrill (born December 29, 1923, died May 22, 2017). Dina starred in over 20 films, including “The Desk Set” in 1957, her elegance lighting up screens like a star in the night sky.
From these branches sprang great-grandchildren. Through Dina: David Post Rumbough, Heather Merriweather Robertson, Stanley Hutton Rumbough, and Nedenia Rumbough. David pursued business ventures; Heather lived privately; Stanley invested wisely; Nedenia moved in society circles. Other great-grandchildren include Antal Miklas Post De Bekessy from Eleanor’s line, blending European flair.
To visualize this intricate web, here’s a simplified family table:
| Generation | Name | Birth-Death | Notable Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parents | John Hood Merriweather | 1808-1863 | Local Illinois worker; Ella’s father. |
| Elizabeth Hummel | 1813-ca. 1868 | Homemaker; Ella’s mother. | |
| Grandparents | Nicholas Merriweather | Unknown | Paternal grandfather. |
| Elizabeth Hood | Unknown | Paternal grandmother. | |
| Spouse | C.W. Post | 1854-1914 | Cereal magnate; divorced 1904. |
| Child | Marjorie Merriweather Post | 1887-1973 | Heiress; built Mar-a-Lago; philanthropist. |
| Grandchildren | Adelaide Breevort Close | 1908-1998 | Socialite. |
| Eleanor Post Hutton | 1909-2006 | Art patron. | |
| Dina Merrill (Nedenia Hutton) | 1923-2017 | Actress in 20+ films. | |
| Great-Grandchildren | David Post Rumbough | Living | Businessman. |
| Heather Merriweather Robertson | Living | Private figure. | |
| Stanley Hutton Rumbough | Living | Investor. | |
| Nedenia Rumbough | Living | Society member. | |
| Antal Miklas Post De Bekessy | Living | European descendant. | |
| Great-Great-Grandchildren | Heather Robertson | Living | Descendant via great-grandchild line. |
This table captures just 15 key members, but the family spans dozens more through marriages and adoptions. Numbers tell part of the story: Marjorie’s empire employed thousands by the 1920s, indirectly tracing back to Ella’s foundational support.
Later Years and Quiet Influence
Post-divorce, Ella’s life shifted to independence, a rare pivot for women in 1904. She held Postum stock, ensuring financial stability amid an era when women’s assets were often tied to men. Valued at perhaps tens of thousands by 1912 standards, it passed to Marjorie upon her death. Living in New York, Ella visited Washington often, her bond with Marjorie unbreakable.
Tragedy struck on October 22, 1912. While visiting a friend in D.C., Ella attended a theater performance, enjoyed a light supper, and retired around 1 a.m. Found lifeless the next morning, she had passed hours earlier, likely from heart failure at age 60. Buried in Oak Ridge Cemetery, Springfield, her grave stands as a silent sentinel near her roots. Marjorie later spoke of her mother’s “broken heart,” a metaphor for the emotional toll of betrayal.
Yet Ella’s influence lingered. Marjorie credited farm memories from Ella’s Illinois upbringing for innovations like frozen foods in the 1930s. Through 14 estates, including Mar-a-Lago built in 1927, the family echoed Ella’s quiet resilience.
Timeline of Key Events
Mapping Ella’s life reveals a rhythm of highs and lows. Here’s an extended timeline:
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1852 | Born September 18 in Springfield, Illinois. |
| 1860 | Listed in U.S. Census as part of family household. |
| 1863 | Father John dies at age 55. |
| ca. 1868 | Mother Elizabeth passes away. |
| 1874 | Marries C.W. Post on November 4 in Pawnee; wears gray silk taffeta gown. |
| 1887 | Daughter Marjorie born March 15. |
| 1891 | Family relocates to Battle Creek for C.W.’s health. |
| 1895 | C.W. launches Postum; Ella aids in early efforts. |
| 1904 | Divorce from C.W.; he remarries immediately. |
| 1905-1920 | Marjorie’s marriages expand family; Ella resides in New York. |
| 1912 | Dies October 22 in Washington, D.C.; buried in Oak Ridge Cemetery. |
| 1914 | C.W. dies; Marjorie inherits company at age 27. |
This spans 60 years, with 11 pivotal moments shaping generations.
FAQ
Who was Ella Letitia Merriweather’s spouse and what was their relationship like?
Ella married C.W. Post in 1874, a partnership that blended love with ambition. It lasted 30 years but ended in divorce amid strains from his business pursuits and health issues. She supported him fiercely, yet the split left deep scars.
What role did Ella play in the Post cereal empire?
Though not an executive, Ella contributed behind the scenes. In the 1890s, she helped with recipe testing and emotional support during C.W.’s innovations. Her influence indirectly fueled Postum’s success, which by 1900 generated annual sales exceeding $1 million.
Who are some notable descendants of Ella Letitia Merriweather?
Her daughter Marjorie built vast wealth. Grandchildren include actress Dina Merrill, with over 50 screen credits, and socialites Adelaide and Eleanor. Great-grandchildren like David Rumbough continue business legacies.
When and how did Ella Letitia Merriweather pass away?
On October 22, 1912, at age 60, during a D.C. visit. After a theater outing and supper, she retired and was found deceased the next morning from natural causes, possibly heart-related.
What is known about Ella’s family origins?
From modest Illinois stock. Parents John and Elizabeth raised her simply. Grandparents Nicholas and Elizabeth Hood provided roots, with sibling Mary Elizabeth extending the branch. The family numbered around six in her childhood home.
