When Joseph Merrell was born in 1833, in Pennsylvania, United States, his father, David Merill, was 27 and his mother, Elisabeth Altman, was 21. He married Eliza Zents on 29 April 1856, in Coshocton, Ohio, United States. They were the parents of at least 5 sons. He lived in Mill Creek, Coshocton, Ohio, United States for about 30 years. He died on 22 December 1893, in Mill Creek Township, Coshocton, Ohio, United States, at the age of 60.