Realizing the genuine worth of the man, Delaware county republicans return to the house this year the Hon. Frank F. Merriam of Hopkinton. He was born on a farm near Hopkinton, December 22, 1865, and with the exception of the few years spent in school teaching in other towns, Hopkinton has always been his home. His parents now reside at Coggon, Iowa. Mr. Merriam, Sr., served in the Union army, first as a private and later as a lieutenant in the Twelfth Iowa volunteers. He received his initial education at the Hopkinton public schools, finishing with a thorough course at the Lenox college, of which institution he is now a member of the board of trustees and secretary of the board. After graduation from Lenox college Mr. Merriam was elected principal of the Hopkinton schools, which position he held three years-He was afterward principal of the Hesper and Postville schools. His inclination swerving to newspaper work, he purchased the Hopkinton Leader in 1893, and has succeeded most admirably in that field, editing one of the brightest weeklies in Iowa, During the first campaign under the leadership of the Hon. J. E. Blythe, Mr. Merriam spent one summer at republican headquarters. In 1892 he was clerk of the house appropriations committee, and in 1894 served as clerk of the senate judiciary committee. These two positions, combined with a natural taste for legislation, gave him a very clear insight into legislative duties and needs, making his work always effective. Two years ago he served on the following committees: Appropriations, telegraph, telephone and express, mines and mining, compensation of public officers, Agricultural college, hospitals for the insane, printing, labor, and elections. With Senator Healy and Representative Porter, Mr. Merriam was appointed by the extra session of the Twenty-sixth General Assembly as a committee to investigate the state institutions, which report will be eagerly listened to at this session. He was chosen secretary of this committee and chairman of the house portion of it. He was married July 10, 1889, to Miss Elnora Hitchcock, and to them three children have been born, only one living, Frank H. The Merriams are members of the Presbyterian church, of which the husband is a deacon. He is one of the best known and most popular members of the house.

The member of the House from Delaware county, the Hon. Frank F. Merriam of Hopkinton, is a new member, but one perfectly familiar with legislative methods and work. He was born on a farm near Hopkinton December 22, 1865, and has lived in the county almost continuously ever since. His parents are Henry C. and Anna E. Merriam, who now live at Coggon, Iowa. The father served in the Union army during the war of the rebellion, first as a private and later as a lieutenant in the 12th Iowa Volunteers. Frank attended the graded schools at Hopkinton and finished off with a course at Lenox College, Hopkinton. For two years after graduating he held the position of principal of the Hopkinton schools, then filled the same place at Hesper, Iowa. His last position in the public school service was as superintendent of the schools of Postville. Feeling that newspaper work would be more satisfactory and congenial, he purchased the Hopkinton Leader in 1893, since which time he has been conducting that journal. He was married July 10, 1889, to Miss Elnora Hitchcock of Scotch Grove, Iowa. They have one son living, F. Howard Merriam, aged 5, their second son, Robert M., dying in infancy. Mr. Merriam's political preferences have always been with the Republican party. He spent one summer at the Republican headquarters during the first campaign under the leadership of J. E. Blythe. In 1892 he was clerk of the House appropriations committee, and in 1894 clerk of the Senate judiciary committee. During these two sessions he learned the ins and outs of Legislative circles, so that this winter he will be able to attend to the duties of Representative as easily as any old member of either branch of the Legislature. At home Mr. Merriam stands well with the community. He is a deacon in the Presbyterian church and is a trustee of his alma mater, Lenox College.