Orsamus Cook Merrill - Biography

Biography

Merrill was born in Farmington, Connecticut to James and Jerusha Seymour Merrill. He completed his preparatory studies in Farmington, and moved to Bennington, Vermont in 1791 where he was an apprentice to a printer (publishing). He worked on several newspapers, including the "Vermont Gazette" and the "Tablet of the Times" in Bennington, and the "Berkshire Gazette" in Pittsfield, Vermont.

He studied law, and was admitted to the bar. He served in the War of 1812 as a major of the Eleventh Regiment, United States Infantry and a lieutenant colonel in the Twenty-sixth Infantry and the Eleventh Infantry. After his armed forces service ended, he became Register of probate in 1815 and served as clerk of the courts in 1816.

Merrill was elected as a Democratic-Republican candidate to the Fifteenth Congress, serving from March 4, 1817 until March 3, 1819. He presented credentials as a Member-elect to the Sixteenth Congress and served from March 4, 1819 until January 12, 1820, when he was succeeded by Rollin C. Mallary, who contested his election.

In 1822 Merrill served as a delegate to the State constitutional convention. He served in the Vermont House of Representatives as judge of the probate court from 1822 until 1823 and from 1841 until 1847. He was the State's attorney for two years, and a member of the State executive council from 1824 until 1827. He served as a member of the Vermont State Senate, and as Postmaster of Bennington for several years. Merrill resumed the practice of law in Bennington.