also an elder in the Second and Fourth Presbyterian churches, the latter of which he helped establish in 1851. In addition, Merrill served as the second president of the Indiana Historical Society (1835–48). Death and legacy Merrill died on August 24, 1855, in Indianapolis at the age of sixty-two. Merrill was known among his contemporaries as an able businessman and for his sound judgment and attention to detail. Although Merrill was not a skilled orator, he was an avid storyteller and a valued counselor to his peers. Merrill was a modest individual, but he could also be impulsive in his actions and outspoken in expressing his opinions. As a public servant, Merrill oversaw the successful transfer in 1824 of the state treasury, state library, and state archives, which remain at Indianapolis, the permanent seat of Indiana's state government. He was also successful in banking, the railroad industry, and publishing. Merrill became the first president of the State Bank of Indiana, which continued to operate until 1859, and a president of the Madison and Indianapolis Railroad Company, provider of an early rail transportation link to Indianapolis. He also founded the Merrill Publishing Company, which later became known as the Bobbs-Merrill Company. The publishing company's backlist of titles and publishing rights were sold to Macmillan Company in 1985. Merrill was also an early civic leader, serving as the second president of the Indiana Historical Society, whose headquarters remain in Indianapolis. He was also a founder and trustee of Wabash College, which continues to operate in Crawfordsville, Indiana; and served as an elder in two of Indianapolis's Presbyterian congregations. The Second Presbyterian Church is located on North Meridian Street; the Fourth Presbyterian Church later merged with other congregations. Honors and tributes The State Bank of Indiana featured an engraved image of Merrill on the front of its one dollar bank note in the late 1850s. See also History of Indiana Notes References "Biographical Sketch" in (Collections of the Indiana Historical Society.) (Rev. April 29, 2002.) External links Samuel Merrill collection, Rare Books and Manuscripts, Indiana State Library 1792 births 1855 deaths Politicians from Indianapolis Dartmouth College alumni Wabash College State treasurers of Indiana People from Caledonia County, Vermont Members of the Indiana House of Representatives Indiana Historical Society People from Vevay, Indiana 19th-century American politicians