St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-07-14
WILLIAM II. MERRIAM.
The Youngest of the Disfin.
GUESIlcI GrOun

Conspicuously a financier of unde-
niable ability, ex-Gov. William r
Merriam is included in this seXtette of
mlillona1res. His wealth is estimated
TO be between two and three millions.
GOV. Merriam was born in the village
of Madham's Mills, Essex county, n.
Y, in July, 1919, and is therefore the
youngest of this distinguished group.
Ills remote ancestors on the paternal
side We're Scotch, but his parents were
American born, their ancestors having
come to this country in the early part
OF the seventeenth century, first set
Ting in New England. Gov Merriam's
mother was of French descent.
Gov. Merriam passed his childhood
in his native village. In 1861, when but
lad Of twelve, his father removed to
Minnesota and located in st. Paul. In
this city Gov. Merriam grew to man
hood. and achieved his success. In
1868 he attended school at Racine, Wis.
Subsequently he entered the Racine
college, his entire academic training
extending over period Of seven years.
At the close of every college year he
stood at the head of his class, though he
was far from being a bookworm, as he
was noted for his fondness for sport
and diversion, and his buoyancy of dis
position. His was a sound mind in
sound and active body. 1t was said
of him that he cultivated almost
equally his mathematics and his
muscle, and was equally proficient in
calculus and cricket"
Upon his return to st. Paul after re-
ceiving his diploma, he at once entered
upon his business career as clerk in
the First National bank, at a salary
of $50 a month. He soon manifested
his peculiar aptness for the work, and
won the confidence and esteem of his
employers. He remained in the employ
of the bank until 1873. Not long after
the Merchants National Bank of ST
Paul was organized, and Mr.. Merriam
was entrusted with the responsible post
of cashier, thus demonstrating the con-
fidence that his ability and honesty
inspired. This opportunity was a
golden one for the young financier, and
so rapidly did his rare business quail
| ties develop that in 1880 he was elected
vice president of the bank, and two
years later became president of the in
stitution, which office he now holds.
One who is conversant with the history
of the bank writes:
constant and faithful attention, that the
bank has grown to be one of the largest
institutions of the kind in the North
west
The political career of Gov. Merriam
is too well known to repeat in detail in
this connection. In 1882 he was elected
to the state legislature where he rem
dered valuable service as a member of
tn committee on finance and banks and
chairman of the committee on public
banks. For two years succeeding 1888
he devoted his entire time to private
business, but in 1886 he was again
elected to the Legislature. this time
from the Twenty-sixth district. He
was chosen speaker of the house, an
office which he filed with such signal
ability and fairness that his party
nominated him for governor in 1888.
He was elected over Hon. r. NJ. Will
son, of Minneapolis, most worthy OPP
ponent, by majority in excess of
"a, COO. His first administration of the
affairs of the state and his subsequent
reelection arr so recent as to be
within the knowledge of all citizens.
As a citizen of st. Paul Gov. Mer-
RAM enjoys the highest esteem. He is
( celebrated for his liberality and char
ity. Gov. Merriam is a man who in
spires the confidence of the people in
the success of all his undertakings, for
he himself is the personification of
confidence and self-reliance. Person
ally he is of jolly disposition, genial
and good-natured to a degree. fond of
field and athletic sports, and blessed
| with the disposition to enjoy life as we'll
| as the means which none begrudge him.