BIOGRAPHY: Samuel Merrill
From the A.T. Andreas Illustrated Historical Atlas of the State of Iowa, 1875

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Page 364

  Honorable Samuel Merrill, Ex-Governor of  Iowa.-- 
Samuel Merrill was born in the town of Turner, Oxford County, Maine, Aug. 7, 1822.  He is of 
English ancestry, being a descendant, and his mother's side, of Peter Health, who came from the 
last of England, and settled in Saco, main (now known as Biddeford), in 1653.  From this 
ancestry has sprung the most of the Hills of America.  On his father side he is a descendant of 
Nathaniel Merrill, who, with his brother John, came from Salisbury, England, and settled in 
Newburgh, Massachusetts, and 1636.  Nathaniel begat Daniel, who begat John, who begat Thomas, a 
farmer, born in Salisbury, Massachusetts, December 18, 1708.  Thomas begat Samuel -- the fifth 
generation, who was born Aug. 4th, 1728 -- was married, and had a family of 12 children.  
Samuel begat Abel, who was brought by his father to Biddeford, Maine, when but six months old, 
and to Boston and 1750.  Abel was married to Elizabeth Page, had five children, and served in 
the war of the Revolution.  Abel begat Abel, Jr., who married Abigail Hill, June 25th, 1809, in 
Buxton, Maine.  The soon moved to Turner, where they became the appearance of eight children, 
Samuel, the subject of this sketch, being next to the youngest -- the fourth and youngest son 
in the family -- and in the eighth generation from his Pilgrim Fathers.  Samuel was married to 
Catherine Thorns, who died in 1847, but 14 months after their marriage.  In January, 1851, he 
was again married, his second wife being a Miss Hill, of Buxton, Maine.  To this union there 
has been five children, three of whom died young, the oldest living only two years and a half.

  At the age of sixteen he moved with his parents to Buxton, where his time was mostly engaged 
in turns that teaching and attending school until he attained his majority.  Having determined 
to make teaching a profession, he set out for that purpose towards the sunny Sorrow, but as he 
says, he "was asked to his abolitionist proclivities, and finding the element not altogether 
congenial, he soon abandoned the land of the Palm and palmetto for the Old Granite State, where 
he engaged for several years in farming.  In 1847, he moved to Tanworth, New Hampshire, where 
he embarked in mercantile business, in company with a brother.  In this, as in all his 
industrial enterprises, he was quite successful.  Not being satisfied with the limited 
resources of northern New England, he determined to try his good fortune on the broad prairies 
of the new and more fertile West.

  Accordingly, in 1856, he turned his face towards the setting sun.  He made a final settlement 
at McGregor Iowa, where he established a branch house of the old firm.  McGregor was then but a 
queer looking village, with but a few scattering houses, and surrounded by a country with a 
sparse population.  But immigration poured in rapidly, new farms were opened, and barren 
prairies made to blossom as the rose.  With increased population their trade increased, until 
the house became one of the most extensive wholesale establishments on the Upper Mississippi 
River.  This result was owing to his correct an energetic business qualities.

  During all the shears of business Mr. Merrill took an active but not a noisy part in 
politics.  In 1854 he was elected, as an abolitionist, to the New Hampshire Legislature, at the 
same time that General N. B. Baker, now Adjutant General of Iowa, was Governor of the State.  
In 1855 he was returned a second term to the Legislature.  In this latter year he voted for 
Hon. James Bell for United States Senator, and for Hon. John P. Hale, to fill the unexpired 
term of Hon. William Atherton, deceased.  This was during the Kansas-Nebraska excitement, when 
political evolutions were sudden and fiery, in the beginning of  Pierce's administration; but 
Mr. Merrill performed his duty quietly, doing faithful service in the place assigned him by the 
people.

  In Iowa he was equally fortunate in securing the goodwill of those who knew him.  His 
neighbors, and those who had dealings with him, found a man honest in business, fair in his 
dealings, social in his relations, and benevolent and his disposition.  He took an active 
interest in the prosperity of the town, and ever held an open hand to all needed charities.  
These traits of character had drawn around him, though not realized or intended by himself, a 
host of personal admirers.  This goodwill resulted in his being nominated for seat in the 
Legislature, and the only one elected on his ticket.

  The session of the Legislature which convened in 1860 was composed of some of the best minds 
in the states, and did more real, hard service, and any session held in Iowa before or since 
that date.  Among the members were such men as Cyrus Bussey-- a fine speaker, and after words 
in the Union general --W. F. Coolbaugh, Alvin Saunders-- for six years Governor of Nebraska 
Territory -- James F. Wilson, Thomas F. Drummond, L. L. Ainsworth, John Scott, Rankin, Undell, 
Neal Anderson, Bowen, Duncomb, D.  S. Wilson, McPherson, Caldwell-- since Judge of the United 
States Courts -- Thomas W. Claggett-- the invincible --B. F. Gue, N. B. Baker, Ed. Wright, J. 
D. Jennings-- who for eloquence was a leader among the Iowa democracy -- Charles Paulk, Zimri 
Streeter-- the legislative wag --Gurley, and others.

  Best crowded with men of Mark, the most of necessity to a vast amount of work, and do it 
well.  The revised decoder flaws known as "The Revision of 1860," a volume of more than 1000 
pages; provided assistant of county government; elected F. W. Palmer and state printer for his 
first term; re-elected Harlan as United States senator, and discussed the wisdom of Gov. 
Kirkwood in refusing to requisition of Gov. Letcher, of Virginia, for the delivery of Barclay 
Cappoc, an alleged fugitive from justice, he having been engaged under John Brown in the 
temporary capture of Harper's Ferry.  The debate upon the subject extended through several 
evenings, drew crowded houses, and was one of the finest displays of forensic combat ever 
witnessed in the state.  It was this legislature, also, that shaped our school system, putting 
it out in that progressive channel where in twelve years it has gained a degree of perfection 
scarcely equaled by that of any other state in the union.  The Legislature met in extra session 
in 1861, to provide for the exigencies of the Rebellion, in which Gov. Merrill render defective 
in unselfish service in providing for the defense and the perpetuity of our nation against the 
hand of treason.

  He continued in business at McGregor and tell the Summer of 1862, when he was commissioned as 
Colonel of the 21st Iowa Volunteer Infantry, proceeding immediately to Missouri, were active 
service awaited him. Marmaduke was menacing union forces in central Missouri, which call for 
prompt action on the part of Union generals.  Col. Merrill was placed in command of the 
detachment of the 21st Iowa, a detachment of the 99th Illinois, a portion of the third Iowa 
Calvary, and two pieces of artillery, with orders to make forced march to Springfield, he being 
at Houston, 80 miles distance.  On the morning of January 11th 1863, they having come across 
the body of rebels, from them advancing in heavy force.  Col. Merrill immediately made 
disposition for battle, and brisk firing was kept up for an hour, when the enemy fell back.  
Col. Merrill now moved in the direction of Hartsville, where he found the rebels in force, 
under Marmaduke, and from six to eight thousand strong, with six pieces of artillery, while 
Col. Merrill had but 800 and two pieces of artillery.  This was the first time the 21st had 
been under fire, and considering the numbers engaged, was one of the most remarkable 
engagements of the war.  Says Lt. Col. Dunlap in his report, "I make mention of no one as 
having distinguished himself above another.  Every man was brave, cool, active, and a hero.  
Too much praise cannot be accorded them."  In this engagement the rebels last several officers, 
and not less than 300 men in killed and wounded.  The union loss was seven killed and 44 
wounded, five captured and two missing.  The conduct of the officers and men engaged elicited 
the highest praise of General Warren.  The regiment performed severe marches and suffered much 
in sickness during the winter.  At the proper time it moved to take part in the campaign of 
Vicksburg.  It is sufficient here to say that it was assigned to the Thirteenth Corps, General 
John A. McClernand; that it bought gallantly at the battle of Port Gibson; that while the 
impetuous charge of Black River Bridge was being made, Col. Merrill was severely, and reported 
fatally, wounded.  The battle of Black River Bridge, the last of the series of engagements 
during the campaign of Vicksburg, in which the rebel spot without their fortifications, was 
assured that bloody combat of the 17th of May.  The rebels were posted in strong position.  The 
West Bank of the river here consists of bluffs rising abruptly from the water's edge.  On the east side there is an open bottom, surrounded by a deep bayou.  Following the bayou was a 
strong line of defenses, consisting of a series of works for artillery, and breastworks.  The 
Bayou served admirably as a ditch.  In rear of the principal lineup works was another line, 
shorter, but strong, and both extended in something like semi-circular shape, from the river, 
above the bridge which gives the battle its name, to the river below.  The works were well 
defended by artillery and infantry.  McClernand was ordered to take them.  Lawler's Brigade, in 
which was Col. Merrill's regiment, was ordered to make the charge.  It did so with the greatest 
gallantry.  The rebels were driven from their works in a very short time, leaving 18 guns, 1500 
prisoners, and many of their wounded, in the Union hands.  The charge had already occupied more 
time than it takes to tell of it.  But along its tracks the ground was covered with the dead in 
the dining.  The victims on the Union side, most of whom the long to the 21st and 23rd Iowa 
regiments, Col. Kinsman, of the latter command, being slain, numbered three hundred and 
seventy-three.  While Col. Merrill was leading his regiment in this deadly charge, he received 
an almost fatal wound through the hips, which laid him up from the 17th of May to January, when 
he again joined his regiment in Texas; and in June, 1864, on account of suffering from his 
wound, resigned his commission and return to McGregor.  He was unable to attend to his private 
affairs for many months.

  During the gubernatorial career of Gov. Merrill, extending through two terms, from January, 
1868, to January, 1872, he was actively engaged in the discharge of his official duties, and 
probably no incumbent of that office ever devoted himself more earnestly to the public good, 
standing by the side of Gov. Fairchild, of Wisconsin.  The two were instrumental in placing the 
slack water navigation between the Mississippi and the lakes, in the way of ultimate and 
certain success.  In his message to the 13th General Assembly, the Governor says:

  "I have given the subject, during the past five years, much thought, and some personal 
examination.  It is receiving consideration in many parts of the country, and especially in the 
northwestern states.  Cheap transportation is the one question which is vital to the states, 
and to none more so than to Iowa.  It is of little consequence whether her products be moved by 
rail or water, but of the greatest consequence that they'd be moved at rates whereby the market 
price will give back the cost of production and a living profit to the farmer.  If railways can 
carry heavy freights as cheaply as waterways, it is certain that they will not, unless 
compelled thereto by water competition.  The improvement of water channels will reduce the 
charges on every ton of heavy freight, whether moved by water or by rail.  Our state has 
raised, during the past year, nearly fifteen millions of bushels of wheat for export.  With the 
freight charges on this quantity reduced, in the cost of transshipment and movement, only 10 
cents a bushel, the total savings will amount to $1,500,000.  But Iowa exports large quantities 
of other grains and other products, and imports greater amounts of lumber, merchandise, etc., 
so that this large sum would not be one-half of the yearly savings to Iowa alone.  To states of 
Wisconsin, Illinois, and Minnesota, and those lying further west, will be benefited, but 
perhaps in a less degree.  With wheat selling in the state of Iowa at an average price of 50 
cents per bushel, and on Lake Michigan at 70 cents per bushel, our representatives in Congress 
should not hesitate in assuming for their constituents their part of the necessary debt in 
order to open an ample waterway between the Mississippi and the lakes.  The full results no one 
can foresee.  It would unite the commerce of the lakes, with its 2000 vessels, to the commerce 
of the Mississippi and its tributaries, with their more than 2000 vessels; and the commerce so 
united, measured by tons or by values, would be greater than the existing foreign commerce of 
the country.  The highest estimated cost of this improvement, made by General G.  K.  Warren, 
government engineer, is about four millions of dollars.

  "I deem this question so widely important to the agricultural interest of our state, that I 
may (if time will permit) submit that more like my views upon the subject."

  So earnest was he in behalf of this improvement, that he renews the subject in his message to 
the 14th General Assembly.

  In the instigation of the work, the Governors of for several states interested called 
conventions; the first at Prairie du Chien, November, 1868, the second at Portage City, 
Wisconsin, October, 1869, and through the deliberations of these conventions, the aid of the 
General Government was secured.

  Under the administration of Gov. Merrill, the movement for the erection of the new state 
house was inaugurated.  The Thirteenth General Assembly provided for the building at a cost of 
$1,500,000 and made an appropriation with which to begin the work of $150,000.  With this sum 
the work was begun, and on Nov. 23rd, 1871, the cornerstone was laid in the presence of 
citizens from all parts of the state.  On this occasion the Governor delivered the address.  It 
was a historical review of the incidence, culminating in the labors of the day.  It was replete 
with historical facts-- showed patient research; was logical and argumentative -- at times 
eloquent with the fire and genius of American patriotism.  It is a paper worthy of the 
occasion, and does justice to the head and heard that conceived it.  

  Thus briefly have been reviewed the leading features in the record of the busy life.  Among 
the men who have been called from private enterprises to fill public positions of 
responsibility and trust, on account of their peculiar fitness for office, Gov. Merrill has 
made a record not less honorable than any of his associates are predecessors.

  It was the decree of the people that he should be the standard bearer of his party in 1867, 
in preference to several others of larger experience, and her reputation extending to the 
borders of the State.  The history of his administration proves the wisdom of this choice, as 
the successor of men of note, such as James W.  Grimes, Ralph P. Lowe, Samuel J.  Kirkwood and 
William M. Stone, all of whom he fairly equaled in the general administration of state affairs, 
and in some respects history will court to him the honor of leading the list.

  Mr. Merrill is a fair type of "Young America," and a faithful representative of the stalwart 
sons of Northern New England.  In stature he is fully six feet, and in avoirdupois not much 
below two hundred and fifteen pounds.