History of Wadhams, (Essex County) New York United States of America

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William Rush Merriam, governor of Minnesota, was born at Wadhams Mills, Essex county, N.Y., July 26, 1849; son of John L. and Mahala (Delano) Merriam; grandson of William S. Merriam, and a descendant of Joseph Merriam, Concord, Mass., 1636. John L. Merriam removed to St. Paul, Minn., in 1861, and the son was graduated at Racine college, Wis., in 1870. Returning to St. Paul, he was a clerk in the First national bank, 1871-72; cashier of the Merchants national bank, 1872-81, its vice-president, 1881-82, and president from 1882. He was married, in 1872, to Laura, daughter of John Hancock, of Philadelphia, Pa. He was a Republican representative in the Minnesota legislature in 1882, and in 1886, when he was speaker of the house. He served as treasurer of the board of education of St. Paul, 1887-88, as a member of the St. Paul Chamber of Commerce, 1888, and was vice-president of the State Agricultural association, 1886-87, and its president, 1888. He was governor of Minnesota for two terms, 1889-92, and was appointed by President McKinley director of the twelfth census, March 4, 1899.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of Wadhams, (Essex County) New York

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