Ernst Merton was born in Prussia, Germany, and emigrated to the United States with his parents in the late 1840s, eventually settling in Wisconsin. He gained foundational experience through farm work and factory employment before pursuing a legal career. Merton was admitted to the Wisconsin bar in 1878 and practiced law in Burlington, where he also served as the village's first president. He later moved to Waukesha, where he continued his legal career and held various local government positions, including service on the Common Council and as school commissioner. Merton's career culminated in a stint in the Wisconsin State Senate.

Ernst Merton's political identity is shaped by an unwavering commitment to local governance and community-centric policies. His legislative focus on supporting local businesses and agricultural development, alongside infrastructure improvements, reveals a highly localized approach to economic growth. Merton's dedication to educational reforms, demonstrated through his roles as school commissioner and on the school board, underscores a nuanced commitment to public service. His strategic alignment on environmental regulations with opposing factions suggests a calculated method of balancing regional industrial interests with broader policy goals.