Hiram Merrill

Hiram Merrill
18th Mayor of Janesville, Wisconsin
In office
April 1874 – April 1875
Preceded byJames Sutherland
Succeeded byJames W. St. John
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
from the Rock 5th district
In office
January 4, 1875 – January 3, 1876
Preceded byJohn Winans
Succeeded byJere A. Blount
Personal details
Born(1829-01-14)January 14, 1829
Adams, New York, U.S.
DiedSeptember 5, 1908(1908-09-05) (aged 79)
Janesville, Wisconsin, U.S.
Resting placeOak Hill Cemetery, Janesville, Wisconsin
Political partyRepublican
SpouseLouise Merrill (died 1921)
Children
  • Harry Merrill
  • (b. 1859; died 1893)
  • Louise Adele (Wiggin)
  • (b. 1868; died 1954)
  • Jessie Eugenia (Nowlan)
  • (b. 1870; died 1931)

Hiram Merrill (January 14, 1829 – September 5, 1908) was an American businessman and Wisconsin pioneer. He was the 18th mayor of Janesville, Wisconsin, and a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly.

Biography

Merrill was born on January 14, 1829, in Adams, New York, and came to what is now Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1837, where his father ran the Traveler's Inn at Walker's Point. Hiram worked in his father's shipyard, then headed west in 1849 for the California gold rush, where he sold water for hydraulic mining.[1] On October 20, 1856, he married Louise Ballard.[2] Merrill and his wife were Episcopalians. They had four children. He died on June 9, 1893.

Career

In 1866 the Merrills settled in Janesville, Wisconsin, where Hiram gained control of the New Gas Light Company.[1] He was elected to the Assembly in 1874, defeating incumbent John Winans, who later became a member of the United States House of Representatives. Other positions Merrill held include Mayor of Janesville. He was an Independent Republican.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b Nancy Belle Douglas (1979-05-18). "National Register of Historic Places Registration: Lovejoy and Merrill-Nowlan houses". National Park Service. Retrieved 2021-03-06.
  2. ^ THE COLUMBIAN Biographical Dictionary AND PORTRAIT GALLERY OF THE REPRESENTATIVE MEN OF THE UNITED STATES. Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company. 1895. pp. 200-202.
  3. ^ Portrait and Biographical ALBUM OF ROCK COUNTY, WISCONSIN. Chicago. 1889. pp. 567–568.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)