Farrand F. Merrill (October 24, 1814 – May 2, 1859) was a Vermont attorney and Whig politician who served as Secretary of State of Vermont and in other offices.
Farrand Fassett Merrill was born in Montpelier, Vermont on October 24, 1814.[1] His mother was Clara Fassett Merrill, and his father Timothy Merrill served as Secretary of State from 1831 to 1836.[1][2]
Farrand Merrill studied law and worked as his father's deputy while Timothy Merrill was Clerk of the Vermont House of Representatives and Secretary of State.[3][4] He was admitted to the bar in 1836, and practiced in Montpelier.[5] From 1838 to 1849 he served as Clerk of the Vermont House.[6] From 1849 to 1853, he was Vermont's Secretary of State.[5] In 1847, he received the honorary degree of Master of Arts from the University of Vermont.[7]
From 1854 to 1856, Merrill was state's attorney of Washington County.[8] In 1856 and 1857 he served as a member of the Vermont House.[9] Among the prospective attorneys who studied under Merrill was Charles Herbert Joyce, who attained admission to the bar in 1852, and succeeded Merrill as state's attorney.[8][10]
Merrill died at his office in Montpelier on May 2, 1859.[4][11] He had been ill at home during the days leading up to his death, but decided on May 2 to keep an appointment to discuss forming a law partnership with Whitman G. Ferrin.[4] He began to suffer chest pains at his office, and a doctor was summoned.[4] Shortly afterwards, Merrill died, probably from the effects of a stroke.[4] Merrill was buried at Green Mount Cemetery in Montpelier.[12]
His name sometimes appears in records as "Ferrand".[13]
In 1844, Merrill married Eliza Maria Wright of Montpelier.[14][15] They were the parents of three children: Chester W., Charlotte H., and Mary A. Merrill.[16]
Farrand F. Merrill was the nephew of Orsamus Cook Merrill, who served as a member of Congress from Vermont.[13]