He was educated at the Munson Mass Academy and Hartford Public High School.
Established in 1838, the family business was the manufacture of knit cotton goods; it was the first of its kind in the country.
Joseph Merrow was the driving force behind Merrow developing new technology, growing the new business and transforming it from a regional supplier of crochet sewing machines, to the market leader manufacturing hundreds of models of industrial overlock sewing machines.
In addition he founded the Industrial Memorials Inc, a business group that devoted its time to commemorating pioneer manufacturers by funding and locating plaques and statues.
Merrow traveled the world, taking several dozen trips to Europe and Asia, while studying the industrial conditions of the countries he visited.