Skip to main content Skip to office menu Skip to footer
Capital IconMinnesota Legislature
Skip Navigation Links
  • LRL Home
    • >
  • Legislators Past & Present
    • >
  • Member Record
    • Legislators Past & Present Home

    Merriam, William Rush "Wm. R., W.R."

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    House 1883-84 (District 27); House 1887-88 (District 26)

    Party when first elected:  Republican

    Counties Served:  Ramsey

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: 7/26/1849
    Birth Place: Wadhams Mills, New York
    Birth County: Essex
    Birth Country: United States
    Date of Death: 2/18/1931
    Gender: Male
    Religion: Episcopalian
    Reported Minority: None Reported
    Other Names: Wm. R., W.R.
    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; 01/09/1889 to 01/04/1893 [Elected]
    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.

    Total Days Served: 1470

    SESSIONS SERVED

    25th Legislative Session (1887-1888)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 26
    Elected: 11/2/1886
    Residence: Saint Paul
    Term of Office: 1/4/1887 to 1/7/1889
    Counties Represented: Ramsey
    Occupation: Banker; President, Merchants National Bank, St. Paul
    Party: Republican Party Notes: He was nominated for Speaker by the Republican caucus. (Hall, Harlan Page. H.P. Hall's Observations, 1904, p. 223)
    Committees:
    Leadership Position: Speaker of the House
    Leadership Notes: He was nominated for Speaker by the Republican caucus. (Hall, Harlan Page. H.P. Hall's Observations, 1904, p. 223)

    23rd Legislative Session (1883-1884)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 27
    Elected: 11/7/1882
    Residence: Saint Paul
    Term of Office: 1/2/1883 to 1/5/1885
    Counties Represented: Ramsey
    Occupation: Banker; Vice-President, Merchants National Bank, St. Paul
    Party: Republican Party Notes: "In the meantime, Mr. Merriam had become one of the young republican leaders of the state." (Minnesota and Its People, 1924, p. 320)
    Committees:
    • Banks
    • Finance
    • Public Accounts and Expenditures (Chair)

    OTHER INFORMATION

    Articles & Books About
    "Merriam, William Rush (1849-1931)." MNopedia, June 23, 2011.

    "Merriam Elected Governor." Minnesota and Its People. Chicago: The S.J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1924, p. 320.

    Baker, James H. "William Rush Merriam." Lives of the Governors of Minnesota, St. Paul: Minnesota Historical Society, 1908, p. 306-307.

    Shutter, Marion Daniel. "William Rush Merriam." Progressive Men of Minnesota, Minneapolis: The Minneapolis Journal, 1897, p. 184-185.

    "Ramsey County - Merriam Park." Minnesota Place Names (Electronic Resource), St. Paul, Minn.: Minnesota Historical Society.

    Governor William Merriam. Biographical Information from Minnesota Governors, 1849-Present.


    These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

    Legislators Past & Present Home