Silas Mercer

SILAS MERCER, a prominent resident of Marion County, residing on section 15, Raccocn Township, is a son of one of the well known pioneers of the county, from whom he has inherited the qualities of thrift and energy that have largely contributed to his success. Upon the old homestead he still makes his home, and through excellent management and care in its cultivation has placed the land under first-class improvement, the farm being one of the finest in the township. This sketch would be incomplete without mention of our subject's father, David Mercer, who is remembered as one of the early settlers of Marion County and as a man of honorable character and upright life. he was born in Kentucky, and was one of a family of three sons and three daughters.

In 1828 he came to Illinois and settled in Marion County, but did not enter any land for some years. Finally he took up a tract that is now included in the Mercer homestead, and to the cultivation of that property he devoted his attention until his death, which occurred at the age of forty-six years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Cearcy, was born in Kentucky in .1798, and died in 1843. Their family consisted of three sons and one daughter, namely:

1. Silas, of this sketch;
2. Wyley G., who married Cynthia Hoppe and has six children;
3. Edmund M., who chose as his wife Miss Eliza Easley, and they are the parents of four children; and
4. Lucy, the widow of Andrew Copple, and the mother of four children.

Silas grew to manhood amid the pioneer scenes of Marion County, his education being limited to the meagre information obtainable in the neighboring schools, of which he was an infrequent pupil. In 1854 occurred the marriage of Mr. Mercer to Miss Caroline Gaston, whose family was prominent in the early history of Marion and Jefferson Counties, and took an especially active part in the establishment of the Covenanter Church of this section. Her father, William Gaston, was prominent in the Democratic party in this section and held a number of responsible positions, serving as Sheriff of Marion County for one term and as State Senator for four years. Mrs. Gaston still lives and is now (1894) eighty-four years of age. There were three sons and three daughters in the family, those besides Mrs. Mercer being:

1. Samuel,
2. Thomas Benton,
3. John Calhoun,
4. Louisa and
5. Margaret.

By a previous marriage Mr. Mercer became the father of three children, namely:

1. Martha, the wife of N. G. Huff;
2. David; and
3. Eliza A., who married J. H. Burt.

His present marriage has resulted in the birth of ten children, as follows:

1. Laura, the wife of Harvey Simms;
2. Lucy, who married Charles Hayes;
3. Sarah L., the wife of L. Kell;
4. F. E.,
5. W. S.,
6. Harvey J.,
7. George A.,
8. Rufus S.,
9. Hugh V. and
10. M. Luther.

The married children reside near their parents and are well known and popular in this locality. Hugh is now in Minnesota conducting his legal studies.

The family worships at the Christian Church.

Politically a Democrat, Mr. Mercer occasionally votes with the Populist party. For four years he served as Justice of the Peace, and was Treasurer of the school fund for sixteen years.

Source: "Portrait and Biographical Record Clinton, Washington, Marion and Jefferson Counties, Illinois"
Chapman Publishing Co, Chicago, 1894
Pages 535 - 536
Submitted by Sandy (Whalen) Bauer