House 1883-84 (District 27); House 1887-88 (District 26)
Party when first elected: Republican
Counties Served:
Ramsey
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
| Date of Birth: 07/26/1849
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Date of Death: 02/18/1931
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| Birth Place: Wadhams Mills, New York
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Birth County: Essex |
Birth Country: United States |
| Other Names: Wm. R., W.R. |
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| Gender:
Male
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Religion: Episcopalian
|
|
City of Residence (when first elected):
Saint Paul
Occupation (when first elected):
Banker; Vice-President, Merchants National Bank, St. Paul
|
EDUCATION
Racine Academy, Wisconsin; Secondary;
Racine College, Wisconsin; College Graduate; Class Valedictorian
OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE
| State Board/Commission/Council | Minnesota State Agricultural Society (Vice-President, 1886; President 1887) | | ??/??/1886 to ??/??/1??? |
| State Governor | Minnesota | Elected | 01/09/1889 to 01/04/1893 |
| U.S. Executive Branch | United States Census (Director, 12th National Census) | | ??/??/1899 to ??/??/1903 |
FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS
Spouse:
Laura E. Hancock (married on October 2, 1872)
Children:
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
John L. Merriam
- Father
GENERAL NOTES
He was of Scottish (English) and French ancestry.
He came to St. Paul, Minnesota in 1861, with his father.
William Rush Merriam and his father, John L. Merriam, both served as Speaker of the House.
"In the meantime, Mr. Merriam had become one of the young republican leaders of the state." (Minnesota and Its People, 1924, p. 320)
In the race for Minnesota Governor in the 1888 election, "he was named by the republican caucus as its nominee." (Burnquist, A.A. Minnesota and Its People, Volume 1. Chicago: The S.J. Clark Publishing Company, 1924, p. 320.)
The Merriam Park area of St. Paul, Minnesota was named for John L. Merriam and his son, William Rush Merriam.
He died in Fort Sewall, Florida.
He was a member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Religion provided by Progressive Men of Minnesota, 1897.