In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1915) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
From Biographical review of Des Moines County, Iowa (1905), History of Des Moines County, Iowa (1915)
JOHN M. MERCER.
John M. Mkkckk, j)practicing at the Burlington bar as the senior member of the well-known law firm of Mercer & Mercer, has not only attained prestige as an able representative of the legal fraternity, but also as one of the foremost re])resentatives of Democracy in his district; anil although his association with the party is not of as active a character as formerly, he is nevertheless a champion of the principles of Democracy, and has wielded a wide influence in political circles.
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Creek. Not desirous of making agricultural his parents to Burlington, where he was pursuits his life work, he learned the paintreared, and acquired his preliminary eder's trade in Allegheny City, Pa., and was afterward employed by the Burlington & Missouri Railroad Company, at Burlington, about 1867. Pie went to the West during the gold rush of 1863, and prospered cation through attendance at the public schools. He is also a graduate of the Aliens Business College, and on completing his course there he entered the law office of Newman & Blake, under whose diduring that trip. He spent about three rection he did his preparatory reading, prior years in the Pacific Coast country, being to entering the law department of the State in the gold fields of California, Idaho, and University, from which he was graduated
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Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which and forceful presentation of his cause hehe was a past noble grand. In early manhood he married Sarah Chambers Miller, who was born near Downpatrick, in County Down, Ireland, and came to the United States when about thirteen years of age, and is now living in Burlington. They were the parents of eight children: William G., who has charge of the Buffington 'heel Works, at Burlington; Elizabeth 'cede, the wife of W. H. Rhein, of Lander, Wyo.; Samuel Chambers, deceased; John M.; Charles and fore court or jury. He acted as private secretary to Judge Tracy for two years, while the latter was president of the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern Railroad, during its construction in the Northwest. Later he formed a law partnership with Samuel K. Tracy, a son of Judge Tracy, who was general solicitor for the Burlington, Cedar Rapids, & Northern Railroad Company, and who was succeeded in the firm by George S. Tracy, which con-
Laura, who have passed away: Margaret nection was maintained for several years
Jones, who has been a stenographer in the office of her brother John for twelve years: and Olive Ruth, who since her graduation has been a teacher in the North ( )ak public school of Burlington. The father and under the style of Tracy & Mercer, the dissolution of the partnership occurring in 1891. In June, 1904, Mr. Mercer was joined in a partnership by his son, Herbert [eller Mercer, and the firm style is now
Mercer & Mercer. Tluir clientage is large and of an important character, and the demands which his professional duties make upon John M. Mercer leave him little leisure time for outside interests. He is professionally and financially interested in several leading enteqiriscs of the city, being vice-president, solicitor, and a director in the Tabor-Burns Paper Box Company, and one of the incorporators, directors, and solicitors for the Evans Automatic Car Coupler Company, of Burlington, organized for the purpose of manufacturing an automatic couple which is pronounced by experts the most practical couple ever tested. The patents therefor have recently been issued and manufacture of the couplers will be proceeded with.
Mr. Mercer is a Democrat, and in former years was very active in the party councils. He served as clerk of Burlington township for four years, was surveyor of customs for four years under President Cleveland's first administration, city clerk for eight years, and city attorney for two years. In recent years he has not been active in the work of the party, his profession demanding all of his time and energies, and yet in the performance of his duties of citizenship he is never remiss, and labors earnestly and effectively for the welfare of his adopted city. Fraternally, he is connected with Iowa Camp, \o. 98. Modern Woodmen of America, and has represented the local organization in both the State and national camps. He became a charter member when the camp was organized in Burlington in May, 1885, and was its first camp clerk; during the nine years last ])ast he has acted in that capacity. He is also a member of the Royal Neighbors and the Fraternal L'nion, and was a charter member of Lodge Xo. 89, Benevolent and Protective Order of P'lks, and a member of Flint Hills Fodge, \o. 39, Knights of Iythias. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the 13a])tist church. He served for live terms as moderator of the Baptist Association and for five consecutive terms as trustee anil deacon of the Walnut Street Baptist church. He was also for many years a trustee and for several years secretary of the board of trustees of Burlington University, more recently known as Burlington Institute.
On Feb. 23, 1881, Mr. Mercer was married to Miss Jennie M. Bernard, a daughter of Cornelius and Martha M. ( White) Bernard. Her father was one of the pioneer settlers of Des Moines county and a public-spirited man, who aided in the growth and development of the city, contributing largely to its material improvement. He helped in a financial way to develop the street railway system and the railroads leailing out of the city to the north. Coming to the West from Wermont, he lived for many years in Burlington, one of its capitalists and leading men. His widow still survives him, and makes her home with her children. Mrs. Mercer was born and reared in Burlington, and is a member of the Stars and Stripes Chapter of the Daughters of the.American Revolution, being descended in the material line from five ancestors who fought in the war for independence.
Mr. and Mrs. Mercer have four children: Herbert Miller, Harry Bernard. Ralph Paul, and Jane Annette. The second and third sons are in the employ of the Tabor- Bums Paper Box Company, while the eldest son is practicing law with his father. He acquired his education in the Burlington public schools, the BurHngton Institute, and the State University, from the law department of which he was gradviated with the degree of Bachelor of Law in 1904. He is now the junior member of the law firm of Mercer & Mercer. This name has long figured prominently in connection with the legal records of the city, for John M. Mercer possesses the strong mental force, marked individuality, laudable ambition, and unswerving purpose which are ever concomitants of successful accomplishment.
As printed in Biographical review of Des Moines County, Iowa (1905). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
JOHN M. MERCER.
John M. Mercer, a member of the Des Moines county bar, was born in Kewanee, Illinois, August 28, 1858, and has been a resident of Burlington, Iowa, since May, 1859. He was a pupil in the public schools of Burlington, afterward graduated from Allen's Business College, and became a student of the law in the office of Newman & Blake, then well known attorneys of Burlington. In June, 1880, he graduated with the degree of LL. B. from the law department of the State University of Iowa, and was licensed to practice in the United States district and circuit courts for Iowa and the supreme and other courts of the state.
In September, 1880, he established a law office in Burlington and later was associated as partner with Samuel K. Tracy, then general solicitor of the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern Railwav Company, and upon the retirement of Mr. Tracy from the partnership, he associated George S. Tracy with him, continuing the firm name Tracy & Mercer, as before. In 1891 Mr. Mercer was appointed solicitor for the city, which office he held for two terms with credit to himself and advantage to the city. During this period he made his first oral argument in the supreme court of Iowa, in the Water Works Company case, wherein a decision favorable to the city was handed down. In June, 1904, his son, Herbert M. Mercer, also a graduate of the legal department of the State Universitv of Iowa with degree of LL. B., became associated with him under the style of Mercer & Mercer, which continues. The subject of this sketch has proved himself to be an able lawyer, a wise and careful counselor and a forceful, capable advocate. As attorney and financially he is connected with a number of business enterprises.
In paternal and material line Mr. Mercer is of Scotch-Irish lineage. His father, William Mercer, was born near Listullycurran, in the parish of Dromore, County Down, Ireland, September 23, 1828, and when a lad of twelve years came to America with his parents, John Mercer, born October 10, 1800, died December 15, 1878, and
Eliza (Murphy) Mercer, born November 18, 1796, died September 15, 1858, who established their home at Allegheny, Pennsylvania, later removing west to Henry county, Illinois, where they settled upon a farm known as Virginia or Lost Grove, near Kewanee. William Mercer learned the painter's trade while in Allegheny. In 1867 he entered the employ of the then Burlington & Missouri River Railroad Company at Burlington, Iowa. With the exception of about three years spent on the Pacific coast during the gold rush of the '60s he was a resident of Burlington from 1858 until his life labors were ended by death April 4, 1890. By virtue of faithful, intelligent service he was promoted to the head of the locomotive painting department at Burlington. He was a member of Washington Lodge, No. I, I. O. O. F., and a past noble grand. His wife's maiden name was Sarah Chambers Miller, and she was born February 3, 1831, near Downpatrick, in County Down, Ireland, and was a maiden of thirteen at the time of coming to the United States. She died at Burlington, April 29, 1909, the mother of eight children. She and her husband held membership in the United Presbyterian church, but in later years they and all of their children, save John M., became members of the Episcopal church.
John M. Mercer was married February 23, 1881, to Jennie M. Bernard, born September 17, 1860, at Burlington where she was reared. She has the distinguished honor of having nine ancestors in direct line of lineage, who served in the war for independence and she and her daughters are members of the Stars and Stripes Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Her father was Cornelius Bernard, born July 5, 1804, died July 15, 1887. He was one of the early settlers of Des Moines county, arriving about 1839, and with the passing years he was closely connected with the agricultural and financial development of the community. He aided financially in the development of the street railway system of Burlington and of the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Missouri and Burlington & North Western Railways, leading out of the city to the north and in later years was a retired capitalist. He was a substantial citizen of the Vermont type and left the impress of his individuality and sterling qualities upon the history of this section of the state. He was twice married, first to Miss Root, and second to Martha M. White, born January 17, 1832, near Grafton, Vermont, died June 8, 1910. Mrs. Mercer was one of her daughters. Mr. and Mrs. John M. Mercer are the parents of three sons and one daughter: Herbert Miller, born December 27, 1 88 1; Harry Bernard, born June 6, 1 883; Ralph Paul, born November 6, 1884; and Jane Annette, born August 18, 1888.
Mr. Mercer, the subject of this sketch, gives political allegiance to the democratic party because of a firm belief in its basic principles, and has been an active, effective worker in its highest interests. He has filled public offices as follows: clerk of Burlington township four years; surveyor of customs, port of Burlington, four years during Cleveland's first administration; city clerk, eight years; and city solicitor, two years. He is a member of Iowa Camp, No. 98, Modern Woodmen of America and has repeatedly represented the county camp in the state camp, and the state camp in the national camp. He also has membership with the Royal Neighbors of America and the Fraternal Union of America. He was a charter member of the Elks Lodge No. 84 and was a member of Flint Hills Lodge, No. 39, K. P. He is a member of the Baptist denomination and now and during the past fifteen years has been the moderator of the Burlington Baptist Association. For some twenty years he has been trustee, and for some fifteen years has been a deacon of the Walnut Street Baptist church. For many years he was a trustee and for several years the secretary of the Burlington Institute and a trustee of Des Moines College, and a member of the state board and of various committees of the denominational state work. It will thus be seen that his activity has extended along beneficial lines into the political, intellectual and religious fields of activity and his work has been an element for progress in this connection as well as in his profession.
As printed in History of Des Moines County, Iowa (1915). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Named in this biography: Cornelius Bernard (b. 1804) Samuel K. Tracy (b. 1848)
Their biographies name John M. Mercer: Sylvester T. Bryan (b. 1833)
The printed record stops around 1905. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.