Obit: Hull, Merlin (1870 - 1953)

Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Hull, Robins, Lamb,

----Source: Greenwood Gleaner (Greenwood, Clark Co., Wis.) 21 May 1953

Hull, Merlin (10 DEC 1870 - 17 MAY 1953)

Representative Merlin Hull, 82, Black River Falls (Wis.), the nation's oldest Congressman, in point of service, passed away at Lutheran Hospital in La Crosse on Sunday, May 17, 1953, at 3:20 a.m.

Mr. Hull underwent a major operation on April 15. Later he developed a congestion of both lungs and then pneumonia developed on April 22. However, his doctor reported on Saturday that he was progressing nicely, but shortly before midnight he took a turn for the worse and passed away at 3:20 a.m.

Mr. Hull was born Dec. 10, 1870 at Warsaw, Ind. The family moved to Sechlerville, Jackson Co., Wis. When he was a year old. He attended school there and also attended Gale College at Galesville. He learned the printing trade in the office of the Wisconsin Independent at Black River Falls.

In 1904 he bought the Jackson County Journal and in 1926 bought the Badger State Banner and combined the two papers into the Black River Falls Banner-Journal. In 1934 he was elected to the House of Representatives from the 9th District, and has been re-elected every two years since.

He was married to Miss Jessie Matchette Robins in 1896, who survives him, also a son, Perry M. of Stockton, Calif., a daughter, Mrs Marion Lamb, Milwaukee, two grandchildren and a sister, Miss Ellie Hull, Washington, D.C.