WILLIAM MERCER

WILLIAM MERCER, Ohio County, Ky. William Mercer Sr., was born in Northumberland County, England, December 28, 1819. In early manhood he engaged in business for himself in his native country, and remained in that country until 1854, when he immigrated to America, and settled in Schuylkill County, Penn., and followed mining. In 1869, he removed to Tuscarawas, Ohio, continuing in the same business, but soon after removed to Muhlenburgh County, Ky., and opened a mine at Mercer Station. He remained at the latter station until 1878, at which time he opened the Emporia Mine in Ohio County, Ky., near Beaver Dam, on the Chesapeake, Ohio & Southwestern Railroad. Mr. Mercer's first wife, Ann Stobs, of England, died in 1861, leaving a large family to mourn their loss: John James, died while in the army in 1865; he was a member of Company E, Forty-eighth Pennsylvania Regiment; Thomas, an engineer on the Chesapeake, Ohio & Southwestern Railroad; William and Walter, partners with their father in the Emporia Mine; the sixth son, Andrew, was killed in the above mine in 1881; Elizabeth, wife of Kinch Reno, conductor on the Chesapeake, Ohio & Southwestern Railroad. In 1865, Mr. Mercer married a most estimable lady, Mrs. Isabella Ingleby, a widow with three children. The fruit of this second marriage is one son — Ambrose. Mr. Mercer and his family are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, strong temperance men and members of the Odd Fellow and Masonic fraternities. They are prominent in the community for their strict integrity and fair dealing, and well merit the success that has crowned their efforts. 

Source: J. H. BATTLE, W H. PERRIN, & G. C. KNIFFIN 1895

Note:  John William Mercer died 16 Aug 1902 and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Paducah, McCracken County, KY.