From Memorial and Genealogical Record of Dodge and Jefferson Counties, Wisconsin, publ. 
1894 - Page 139-140
 
HON. LORENZO MERRILL.  It is but just that those who have experienced the burden and heat 
of the day should retire from the active duties of life during their declining years and enjoy the 
fruits of their early industry, and no one is more fitted to do so than Hon. Lorenzo MERRILL, 
whose life has been one of the usefulness and honor and profit to the section in which he has 
made his home since 1846.  He was born at Hillsboro, N.H., June 21, 1818, a son of Samuel 
MERRILL and grandson of Samuel MERRILL, both of whom were born in New Hampshire also, 
and were of English descent.  Samuel MERRILL, the father of the subject of this sketch, grew up 
in the State of his birth and was there married to Abigail HEATH, a native of that State and a 
descendant of Gen. HEATH, of Revolutionary fame.  The father tilled the soil in New Hampshire, 
reared his family there, but about 1846 moved West to Wisconsin, located in Dodge County, and 
here spent the rest of his life, dying December 12, 1849, at the age of sixty-eight years.  His 
wife's death occurred many years before, February 6, 1829, after which Mr. MERRILL married 
again, and lost his second wife in New Hampshire also.  In the State of New Hampshire Hon. 
Lorenzo MERRILL arrived at Man's estate and received good educational advantages in the 
public schools and in the well-conducted Academic Institute of New London, N.H., which he 
attended for several terms.  After completing his education there, he began teaching school, and 
followed that occupation for some twenty years in the State of his birth.  After coming to Dodge 
County, in 1846, he continued to teach for some time during the winter months.  He then 
purchased a claim near the west line of the town of Burnett, consisting of 160 acres, and at once 
began the laborious work of improvement, and as his means permitted bought more land from 
time to time.  He broke his land, fenced it, built thereon, and there continued to live and till the soil 
for seven years, after which he sold out and moved to Beaver Dam, where he was engaged in 
clerking in a store for some time, then purchased an interest in a mercantile establishment.  While 
in that place he was elected superintendent of the town schools.  In 1851 he bought an improved 
farm of 140 acres, which is located about five miles from Beaver Dam and is a valuable and well 
improved place.  Although formerly a Republican in politics Mr. MERRILL has of late years been 
independent.  He cast his first vote for Franklin Pierce.  He has always taken great interest in 
local politics, and was elected and served as a member of the first Legislature of Wisconsin, and 
to this position was re-elected in 1859.  He served on the committee on railroads in 1859 and was 
given the position of chairman of another important committee.  He was the originator of the Old 
Farm Mortgage League, and held several minor official positions in the county, being 
superintendent of the public schools for four years, and discharged his duties in a very faithful 
and efficient manner.  He was quite an active Greenbacker at one time, and was a candidate for 
the State Senate on that ticket, and was a presidential elector of the Greenback party and helped 
to nominate Mr. Weaver for the presidency.  Mr. MERRILL was united in marriage in Merrimac 
County, N.H., November 2, 1842, to Miss Mary Ann FISK, a daughter of Richard FISK, of 
Hopkinson, in which town Mrs. MERRILL was reared and educated and successfully followed the 
occupation of teaching previous to her marriage.  Mr. and Mrs. MERRILL have five children: Hon. 
George F. is a successful lawyer of Ashland, Wis., and served one term as a member of the State 
Senate; Sarah J. is the wife of J. B. COLE, agent and operator of Burnett Junction; Frank H., who 
is engaged in the practice of law in Pasadena, Cal.; Charles L. is a successful lawyer of Miles 
City, Mont., and for a number of years.  He is now conducting the home farm, is married and has 
two children.  Mr. MERRILL is a member of the A.F. & A.M., has served as past master of his 
lodge, was master of Beaver Dam Lodge and also of Burnett Lodge.  He represented his lodge in 
the Grand Lodge of the State.  He has resided in Dodge County for a long term of years and has 
seen much of the growth and development of this section.  He is well known throughout Dodge 
and adjoining counties as a man of tried integrity, strictly upright character, and as a shrewd and 
successful man of affairs.  He was a candidate for member of Congress on the Greenback Labor 
ticket, 1878.
 
Submitted by Carol