Samuel Augustus MERRITT, Congress, ID (1827-1910)

MERRITT, Samuel Augustus, a Delegate from the Territory of Idaho; born in Staunton, Augusta County, Va., August 15, 1827; attended the Staunton Military Academy and was graduated from Washington College (now Washington and Lee University), Lexington, Va., in 1848; moved to Mariposa County, Calif., in 1849; county clerk and public administrator of Mariposa County in 1850; member of the State house of representatives in 1851 and 1852; studied law; was admitted to the bar in 1852 and commenced practice; served in the State senate 1857-1862; moved to the Territory of Idaho in 1862; elected as a Democrat to the Forty-second Congress (March 4, 1871-March 3, 1873); was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1872; moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1873 and engaged in mining operations and the practice of law; city attorney 1888-1890; member of the Democratic National Committee in 1892; chief justice of the supreme court of the Territory of Utah 1894-1896; died in Salt Lake City on September 8, 1910; interment in Salt Lake City Cemetery.

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present